Questions, Questions, Questions

[yaivi]

Hello! ^_^ I’m a newbie here at Dogz Online, so please be kind. I also bring a great number of questions which I’m hoping all you lovely people can help me answer! They concern the befores and afters of getting a puppy. Please bear with me, everyone; I have a lot to ask!

Right, so I’m currently fifteen and at the end of the year our family is planning on getting a puppy--how exciting, especially when I get to do pretty much all of the training and looking after seeing as it’s my summer school holidays! We’ve settled on a breed already (the papillon), and I’ve already contacted a number of breeders around my region (I reside in Canberra). And, before anyone says anything, our family isn’t looking to adopt a rescue dog. Please don’t attack me for not getting a pet from the as some people have done on other sites. >_<

So, now, onto the questions!

1. 
   
   
2. Which sex is “better”?
   I’ve looked up the pros and cons of each sex, but I’d just like some input from people who’ve had experience with dogs. Is it true that dogs are more affectionate than bitches? Are dogs more outgoing and more “puppy-like” for their entire lives whereas bitches are more reserved with the “you love me” attitude (instead of vice versa)? Is it true that bitches are easier to housebreak and easier to train? What about marking and dominance? And just so you know, I’m planning on getting my puppy desexed.
   
   
3. How to tell if a breeder is reputable, what questions should one ask a breeder before they purchase a puppy from them and how to choose a puppy?
   I find telling a reputable breeder apart from a non-reputable breeder a job that isn’t particularly easy as non-reputable breeders try and seem reputable. What types of papers/documents should I ask to see? What if they haven’t screened for some of the health problems common in the breed (all the breeders I’ve contacted haven’t done this and I’m slightly worried…)? What should I expect to see from a good breeder? What questions should I ask about the puppy’s parents? What questions should I ask about the puppies? Are there any good rules to follow when selecting an individual puppy out of the litter? Use the temperament test? How to tell if a puppy knows bite inhibitation?
   
   
4. What specific items should one purchase before getting the puppy?
   Any particular toys? Hard, soft, rubbery or other? What brands of food and treats are good and are mostly natural (no preservatives, additives… etc.)? Nylon, leather or other material collars? Leashes or harnesses, and how long? What types of grooming equipment? Brushes? Shampoos? Conditioners? Clips? Dental equipment? What about the crate, lining and the such?
   
   
5. What to do the moment the puppy is home and how to schedule a timetable to include play, exercise, training, housebreaking and socialisation?
   When he arrives, what’s the first thing to do? Introduce him to his bed? Play with him? Take him out to the toilet? How do you schedule a timetable to include all the important things that a dog must know/go through/have, especially as a puppy (therefore to have it last for their lifetime)?
   
   
6. What to do about socialisation? What about the diseases that the puppy may catch?
   Where to socialise? How to best avoid diseases? Should I keep my puppy away from everything until he has all his vaccinations? What about fear periods?
   
   
7. What to do about toilet training?
   What are the signs that most puppies give before they do their business (e.g. maybe sniffing or circling)? How to train a dog so that he tells you when he needs to go to the toilet? Get him to ring a bell? What if he abuses that and uses the bell to get outside and play in the backyard? What if no one’s home and he rings the bell and there’s no one there to let him out?
   
   
8. How long should training sessions last and how many sessions should there be on average per day?
   How long does it take for a puppy to get tired of training, and therefore lose interest and not pay attention? How many repetitions (on average) does the papillon need to learn a command? Is it possible to train a dog in more than one language (same hand signals will be used)? I’m bilingual, and my family has difficulty in English so I thought it might be more convenient for us to have a dog understanding two languages. Is it too much to ask for?
   
   
9. How long should daily walks be for puppies? And how to teach them not to pull on the leash?
   Is there such thing as “too much walking”? What are the instructions on teaching a dog to walk beside you and not in front?
   
   
10. How to prevent separation anxiety, or solve it if it occurs?
    Any procedures to follow to prevent it? What if, for most days people are going to be home (my grandparents are retired) and then suddenly, for a day or two (at the most) no one’s going to be home? Will these cause any problems with these sudden complete absences of people?
    
    
11. Any tips on preventing barking from becoming a problem and how to teach bite inhibitation?
    
    
12. Any grooming, trimming, nail-clipping tips and procedures?
    

That’s all I can think of now, and I’m sure that’s plenty enough for me to take in for now! Any input will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

P.S. Please ignore the other thread with the same title and topic description as this one. My computer did something dodgy and I ended up posting when I hadn’t finished typing yet. Now it won’t let me edit it (hence this topic was created). *blushes*

[RoxyNHemi]

Hi I've just got a new puppy, I'll try to help as much as possible, as my last pup before this one was 5 yeasrs ago

1. 
   
   
2. Which sex is "better"?
   I prefer males, they seem to be more sooks. I think the toilet training depends on the owner...
   
   
3. How to tell if a breeder is reputable, what questions should one ask a breeder before they purchase a puppy from them and how to choose a puppy?
   Good breeder should health test for all issues within the breed, no excuses. A good breeder also will be registered with their states controlling body. perhaps find out how often they breed, and if they show, how well their dogs do.
   
   
4. What specific items should one purchase before getting the puppy?
   Normal stuff, food, bedding, leads (i prefer soft collar with lead) Breeder will be able to give you advice on what food you can raise your puppy on
   
   
5. What to do the moment the puppy is home and how to schedule a timetable to include play, exercise, training, housebreaking and socialisation?
   Do what is comfortable, put him down and let him explore. he needs to familarise himslef with your house and you. Toilet training, you need to put him out whenever he wakes, eats, and about every half hour apart from that. RE: Socialisation, i took my puppy into work for a day, and OH work for a day, I am good friends with the breeder, so am lucky to take him to her house for socialization with her dogs, and to my future MILS to socialise with her dogs. He is now 12 weeks and had his last shot, so can take him out into the big wide world
   
   
6. What to do about socialisation? What about the diseases that the puppy may catch?
   Try and socialise him 'close to home' family and friends house, where you know that their animals are healthy and havent had any issues recently
   
   
7. What to do about toilet training?
   perhaps you can look at crate training him, this may be beneficial if you arent going to be home to let him out all the time. Not all puppies give signals, so you just have to take out when he wakes, eats and every possibly half hour, and then extend it, as his bladder grows
   
   
8. How long should training sessions last and how many sessions should there be on average per day?
   I do 2 x 10 minutes sessions a day with my 12 week pup, and have done since he was about10 weeks. Make sure you are clear with your commands, and I would just start with one language for now, to not confuse the lil puppy
   
9. How long should daily walks be for puppies? And how to teach them not to pull on the leash?
   I took my westie pup for a little walk (15 mins) yesterday now that he has finished his injections. I would say that is sufficient daily for their little legs
   
   
10. How to prevent separation anxiety, or solve it if it occurs?
    Pay no attention to the attention seeking habits
    
11. Any tips on preventing barking from becoming a problem and how to teach bite inhibitation? with the bite, if he bites an hurts i just say Ow and he stops now
    
12. Any grooming, trimming, nail-clipping tips and procedures? for nail clipping, as soon as you get him home, teach him to lay on his back, and play with his feet, and then he will learn to lye still when you cut nails
    

Hope this has helped

Sarah

[massie]

Yaivi, you might find this book a good place to start, you just need to download it from the net.

http://www.siriuspup.com/beforebook.html

Hope you find it useful

[huski]

[*] Which sex is “better”?

I’ve looked up the pros and cons of each sex, but I’d just like some input from people who’ve had experience with dogs. Is it true that dogs are more affectionate than bitches? Are dogs more outgoing and more “puppy-like” for their entire lives whereas bitches are more reserved with the “you love me” attitude (instead of vice versa)? Is it true that bitches are easier to housebreak and easier to train? What about marking and dominance? And just so you know, I’m planning on getting my puppy desexed.

- There is really no sex that is 'better' than the other. Each sex has its merits and ultimately it is really about the individual pup. Do you want an outgoing pup or a quieter pup? etc - your breeder will help you pick a pup that suits you as they know the litter the best. Seeing as you don't already have a dog I would go in with an open mind and see which pup the breeder thinks would suit you best or see which one you bond with the most. I wouldn't say dogs are easier than bitches or vice versa, or that one is easier to house train than another etc. One of my bitches pees on everything when we are out walking whereas my male is easy as.

[*] How to tell if a breeder is reputable, what questions should one ask a breeder before they purchase a puppy from them and how to choose a puppy?

I find telling a reputable breeder apart from a non-reputable breeder a job that isn’t particularly easy as non-reputable breeders try and seem reputable. What types of papers/documents should I ask to see? What if they haven’t screened for some of the health problems common in the breed (all the breeders I’ve contacted haven’t done this and I’m slightly worried…)? What should I expect to see from a good breeder? What questions should I ask about the puppy’s parents? What questions should I ask about the puppies? Are there any good rules to follow when selecting an individual puppy out of the litter? Use the temperament test? How to tell if a puppy knows bite inhibitation?

- First of all, a reputable breeder will be a registered breeder - an ANKC breeder reigstered with their state body (i.e. in QLD it is the CCCQ, in NSW, dogsNSW). They will have a kennel name and will likely show their dogs, and they will do all appropriate breed health testing on their dogs before breeding - and they will be open about the health testing they do.

If a breeder is not registered and does not health test run a mile.

I always recommend going with a breeder who you like, and find approachable and easy to talk to. someone that you 'click' with, because they will be there to help you for the life of your pup.

[*] What to do about socialisation? What about the diseases that the puppy may catch?

Where to socialise? How to best avoid diseases? Should I keep my puppy away from everything until he has all his vaccinations? What about fear periods?

- IMO - and everyone is different - I take my pups out and about from they day they get home, but I use common sense. I will not take them to dog parks etc, but I will carry them around with me to shops, to visit friends etc. There is a topic pinned in the top of this puppy forum written by K9 Force that outline fear periods etc.

[*] How long should daily walks be for puppies? And how to teach them not to pull on the leash?

Is there such thing as “too much walking”? What are the instructions on teaching a dog to walk beside you and not in front?

- Pups don't really need daily walks until they are 4-5 months of age, and then the daily walk is more about teaching them how to walk on the leash properly. With a small breed like a pap I would start on small walks about 10 minutes and work your way up gradually from there.

[*] How to prevent separation anxiety, or solve it if it occurs?

Any procedures to follow to prevent it? What if, for most days people are going to be home (my grandparents are retired) and then suddenly, for a day or two (at the most) no one’s going to be home? Will these cause any problems with these sudden complete absences of people?

- I would get the pup used to being alone by leaving the house in small increments i.e. 10 minutes, 20 minutes etc so you build up to leaving it alone. Don't make a fuss when you leave or come home.

[*] Any tips on preventing barking from becoming a problem and how to teach bite inhibitation?

- A lot of dogs bark out of boredom, so give your dogs things to do i.e. plenty of mental stimulation (i.e. training) and exercise, leave them toys and things to play with that will occupy them. Bite inhibition is something that develops as the pups are with their litter mates, so start by ensuring the pup you buy is at least 8 weeks of age. Then if nipping is an issue, teach the pup that biting you is a no no but give it something to chew on instead i.e. a toy.

You sound like you've done a lot of research, congratulations A lot of the things you've asked about are things your breeder can help you with as you narrow down when you are bringing your pup home etc. Especially with things like training etc as everyone has differing opinions.