Friday, July 8, 2011

First time raising a puppy (2-month-old), tips?

First off, raising a puppy is one of the most rewarding, yet one of the most challenging things you can do. It's just a hands on as raising a child. To answer your questions: 1. She's going to sleep quite a bit at first. After all she's still a baby & baby's need lots of sleep. I wouldnt worry about her getting too much or not enough sleep. She'll rest on her own as she needs to. 2. All puppies are going to whimper from time to time about any and everything. If you know that she's safe, she's not hungry, and she doesnt need to go out to pee or poop, then dont worry about her whining. She'll be fine and she has to learn to comfort herself. 3. She'll get used to having her bath. The reason she's whining at bath time is because it's a new thing for her. It takes puppies a while to get accustomed to everyday life with their humans. Give her time & she'll probably be running to get in the shower. 4. You should ALWAYS take her for walks. Walk her until she's got a good pant going & then take her back in. Never take away those daily walks no matter how hot or cold it is. My dog looks forward to his walks & it gives him a chance to burn off some that energy that puppies have. 5. Some people will disagree with me but I've found that leaving food and water out at all times is the best way. Dogs that are fed only at certain times can become food aggressive more easily. The only time that I dont have food out for my dog is when we're doing training sessions. I just always make sure that my dog has plenty of food and water & he ends up eating about 2 1/2 -3 cups a day. 6. Potty training should start as soon as your dog enters your home. The younger the puppy is when you start potty training, the better. It shouldnt take long for her to get it, just remember there WILL BE ACCIDENTS & if you keep that in the back of your mind, the whole process of potty training will be much easier. 7. You can leave your puppy alone in your home as long as you confine her to a crate or room where she cant get into mischief while your gone. You dont want your home wrecked or your puppy harmed on something that she shouldnt be playing with. I hope this helps & good luck with your pup! :)

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