This guide will also provide owners with help training an adult dog. Sadly, a lot of pups find themselves in a rescue center if they haven’t picked up potty training quick enough and as a result, they may not fully understand house training when they mature. Similarly, rescue dogs may have anxiety and will need a bit of help training in their new home to understand where everything is.

When Should I Start Potty Training my Puppy?

First of all, it’s important to understand when the best time is to start getting your puppy house trained. Puppy owners should always start early to make sure that the lesson sticks however there is such a thing as too early. When they are especially young, they will not only be unable to hold their bladder but also too young to comprehend what you’re trying to teach them.

The ideal time to start potty training a young puppy is between 12 – 15 weeks (3/4 months). At this age, training will absorb better and they will be able to hold their bladder a little longer.

How Often Do Puppies Pee?

Since their bladders are small, puppies will need to pee more than you may expect. A puppy will need to urinate at least every hour or two and almost immediately after eating and drinking. This is why it’s important to create a frequent schedule in the early stages of potty training.

How Long Can Puppies Hold Their Pee?

Generally, a good estimated rule to follow is based on the pup’s age. A puppy should be able to hold its bladder for a number of hours equal to its age in months. For example, a three-month-old should be able to hold their pee for three hours and a five-month-old should be able to hold it for five hours and so on until they reach about nine months. However, it’s important to remember that though this is a good guideline, as they get older they shouldn’t be expected to hold it for a long time even when fully potty trained.

How To Potty Train A Dog – Before You Start

The house training process can seem difficult if you’ve not done it before but these initial steps will make a big difference. It will also be beneficial to read our additional advice and information as we also detail helpful methods and tools you can incorporate into their training.

Patience

For those who are new to puppy potty training, the first thing to understand is the importance of patience. The beginning stages will rely on trial and error and, as your puppy learns, there will be a lot of mistakes that will have you on your hands and knees scrubbing the floor.

Note: Although you can toilet train a dog at any age remember that a puppy will learn a lot quicker than an adult dog.

Make a Schedule

Creating a schedule will help you keep track of potty breaks depending on your puppy’s age, breed size, meals times, as well as their activity levels. This will mean more frequent trips to their potty area however a timetable is key when toilet training. Keep in mind that this schedule will change as your pup reaches maturity as the training will absorb into their behavior and their body will grow to be able to hold their bladder.

This schedule should not only contain each estimated potty break but should also include their walking and feeding schedule. If you decide to crate train your puppy, you may also want to allocate specific times for them to spend in there. Generally, you will need to allow young puppies potty breaks:

• First thing in the morning
• After mealtimes
• After drinking
• After crate time
• After waking up from naps
• After playtimes
• Before going to bed at night

To help keep to a consistent schedule you may want to write one up or print it so you will be less likely to find accidents. These breaks should happen at the same time every day. Some dog owners have used a whiteboard to be able to tick off potty breaks as they go.

Review and Record Accidents

Unfortunately, accidents will happen during the learning process. By taking note of accidents, you may be able to adjust training to avoid this in the future. For example, if your puppy has accidents not long after their potty time, you may need to extend the time allowed in their potty area. You may also learn of any patterns behind your dogs’ accidents so you may adjust their schedule accordingly.

How to Train a Dog to Pee Outside

On average it should take your puppy between 4 – 6 months to be trained. So you may be wondering what specific steps you must follow to make sure you are left with a fully house-trained puppy. Below we have detailed the training techniques necessary to help you potty train a puppy:

First: Take your puppy out to a potty spot of your choosing. Make sure you have your puppy on a leash regardless of whether they are simply going in the garden or not as you will be able to teach them where to go and what areas are off-limits.

Note: Observe your dog. By monitoring your puppy you will also be able to tell once they’ve done their business and you can reward them. Also, some dogs are easily distracted and if you allow them to do as they please you will prolong the potty training process as they won’t immediately understand the purpose of initially going outside. Therefore it’s extremely important that you keep them focused!

Secondly: Allow enough time so that your puppy eliminates everything. If you bring them in too early, you could find an accident only a few minutes later.

Next: Praise them! It’s always vital to reward your dog with treats or verbal praise as this will instill good behavior and good habits.

Next: When potty training a puppy it’s important to let them off the leash after they’ve relieved themself. If your outdoor area allows it let them explore a little so they don’t always associate the outdoors with going potty and that they can have fun out there too.

Repeat: Be strict in your training regime as the repetition will allow lessons to sink in sooner.

Important Information and Potty Training Advice

Understand Your Puppy’s Body Language Queues

Most dogs are able to tell you they need to pee by pawing at the door or by giving other cues. As your puppy grows and learns, they too will develop a clear signal, however, when they’re young you will have to observe them at all times. By watching them you will be able to identify indicators that they need to go potty. Some of these signals may be:

• Walking in circles
• Restlessness
• Sniffing
• Whining
• Tail tucked and rear end slightly dipped
• Many puppies may also sit by doors or frequently approach and/or stare at you.

Use Positive Reinforcement

Puppies and Dogs will naturally want to please their owners so when you reward them for successfully using their potty area, they will make the connection and get into the habit. Using treats, verbal praise or a favorite training toy as a reward will enforce that they did something good.

Unfortunately, not all puppies are ready and willing to learn. Some breeds are notoriously stubborn which can make training a little more stressful. With this in mind, it’s vital to keep your cool and stick to your training schedule. Typically, stubborn breeds will show more resistance and disobedience if you scold them so it’s important to remember to use positive reinforcement when they do something successfully.

If you’re house training an older dog, such as a rescue, this method is just as important as positive reinforcement will help them bond with and trust you sooner.

House Training Note:

A lot of sources will say that rubbing your puppy’s nose in their accidents will discipline them however this will only confuse and scare your dog. Rubbing your dog’s nose in poop or pee should never be done and will not help you to build a healthy relationship.

Choose Their Puppy Food Carefully

Potty training a puppy is significantly easier when you’re confident that the food you provide them is safe and healthy. Make sure that the diet they are on is made up of high-quality ingredients suitable for your dog’s age range and breed.

Consider Crate Training

Crate training is beneficial for a number of reasons. Along with providing a safe space for dogs with anxiety, it can also aid potty training as it will help your puppy learn to hold their bladder.

As dogs are considered den animals, having a safe living space to call their own will provide them with security. The familiarity of a crate will also mean they are less likely to become agitated if a crate is needed to transport them on vet visits.

Crate training is effective because your dog won’t want to urinate or defecate in an area that’s close to where he sleeps or eats so they are more likely to hold it in. Instead, they will try to get your attention to let you know when they need a potty break. However, it’s worth noting that if the crate you buy is considerably large, they will be content with relieving themselves in one corner and sleeping in the other. The more room they have, the more likely it is that your dog will utilize the space needlessly.

When looking for a crate you will need to consider the size of your dog or puppy and how much they are likely to grow. Your canine friend will need enough room to lie down, stand, and turn around without a lot of effort. However, you can find crates on the market that adjust accordingly.

Deal With Accidents as Soon as Possible

When your dog has an accident it’s crucial to clean the mess as soon as you can to prevent them from doing it again. Dogs often pee to mark their territory and the lingering odor emitting from a previous accident will likely mean that it will happen again. This will usually occur in the same spot in an attempt to top up the marking.

Useful Tools and Tips to Help Potty Train a Puppy

Potty training a puppy, and even an adult dog, can be made simpler with the tips and tools below especially if you live a busy lifestyle or don’t have frequent access to a yard.

Puppy Pads/Indoor Dog Potty

A lot of owners use pet pee pads in conjunction with dog litter boxes to help toilet train their new pet pup. Some use them for an adult dog who doesn’t have great bladder control or maybe needs to be re-potty trained. An indoor potty is also a good tool to consider if you live in an apartment complex.

Note: A lot of sources say that potty pads or ‘wee wee pads’ are a great short-term tool. However, most puppies, if allowed to use them for too long, will believe that you’re teaching them to do their business indoors.

If you need help finding reliable pet pee pads, take a look at our buying guide for support and recommendations.

Baby Gates

To eliminate the likelihood of finding accidents across the home you may want to limit the areas that your dog has access to. Installing a baby gate is perfect if you have a big home and it won’t be a permanent fixture. This is because as your dog learns, the more space you can give him access to until you can eventually take the gate down.

Hire a Dog Walker

Sometimes it’s impossible for you to leave work to be able to stick to your puppy’s feeding schedule and potty breaks. Others may not have other household members to rely on either so you may find the hiring of a dog walker incredibly helpful.

Communication in the Household

Having others in the household stick to and assist with a schedule will make the process run smoothly. If you have older children, understanding how to toilet train a puppy and why you should train them will even help to educate them about looking after a pet, puppy, or dog.

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The best shampoos work in harmony with your puppy’s sensitive skin and will not cause skin irritation or eye irritation. We understand how important it is to look after your puppy’s skin so we have carried out in-depth research into what the best puppy shampoo needs to contain. And perhaps more importantly, what it should not contain. As experienced dog owners we know what works and what doesn’t work in puppy shampoos and can help you avoid costly mistakes.

A Quick Overview of Our Favorites

The 14 Top-Rated Shampoos for Puppies

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To stop puppy biting, you might not need the help of a dog trainer. Bite inhibition can become a part of your puppy training schedule without any issues, and it’s a fairly easy skill for a new puppy owner to teach their pup.

Why Do Puppies Bite?

Let’s start this off with a quick look into the most common reason that puppies bite. As silly as it may sound, puppies bite hard because they don’t know any better. A puppy typically learns bite inhibition when they’re playing with their littermates. Nipping and biting are both completely normal parts of puppy play, and the young dogs will loudly let each other know if they bite too hard or play too rough.

All pups, both puppies and adult dogs, explore the world using their senses. Dogs sniff things, they put them in their mouths, they grab at them with their paws and claws. They use their eyes and ears to get a lot of information, but they need to use their other senses, too. Because of this, biting is a common practice. Puppies, especially, will want to learn as much about the world as possible. They’re curious little things, and learning, to them, means putting new things in their mouth to nibble on and taste.

These aren’t the only reasons, but they are certainly the most typical ones to explain a young pup’s sharp teeth sinking into your favorite pair of shoes.

What is Bite Inhibition?

Bite inhibition is a phrase that you’ll read and hear a lot when you research dogs and puppies that bite. Also referred to as “soft mouth”, this is a canine behavior that dogs learn as puppies which helps them figure out how strong they can bite without causing pain.

As we’ve already mentioned, puppies learn this behavior when they spend time with their littermates and mother. During their early weeks of life, puppies will often spend time nipping and biting each other. When the other dogs react to a pup’s bite, that pup starts to learn what level of biting is acceptable to their brothers and sisters. Through trial and error, this enables the pups to moderate their biting behavior to a tolerable level.

Why Didn’t My Puppy Learn Bite Inhibition?

If you have a new puppy that doesn’t seem to understand the concept of moderating their biting force, they may not have learned bite inhibition when they were supposed to. Bite inhibition is a natural learning curve for puppies, they aren’t taught the skill by humans, but through their daily interactions with other dogs.

In the event that your puppy (or your adult dog) doesn’t lessen the strength of their bites, it’s likely that something stopped them from having the interactions necessary to learn proper biting technique and behavior. It could be that your puppy left the rest of their litter too early – puppies who leave their mother and littermates early don’t have the chance to learn all of the proper canine behaviors that they should learn at a young age. Alternatively, the puppy may have been separated from the rest of their litter for one reason or another (such as a pup who was abandoned).

Essentially, it all comes down to that puppy not being given the appropriate amount of time with their fellow pups. Puppies are not supposed to be separated from their litter or their mother until after they are 8 weeks old, and this is one of the many reasons for that requirement.

Puppy Biting Phases

Puppies start teething around 3 weeks old, so you may notice an influx of mouthing and biting behavior around that age. Stopping puppy biting during this age is extremely difficult because teething causes puppy mouths to become very uncomfortable and painful. Between the ages of 3 to 6 weeks, it’s best to have some appropriate chew toys at the ready to provide mental stimulation and a biting deterrent for young puppies. This way, you can wait until your puppy is a little older to see if you need to teach your puppy to regular their biting habits.

Teething and Biting Timeline

• 3 weeks: Puppies start teething, starting with the growth of their incisors and fangs.
• 3 to 5 weeks: Expect puppies to mouth, nip, and bite while their teeth are growing in.
• 6 weeks: All the puppy’s teeth have grown in.
• 6 to 8 weeks: Puppies learn how to regulate their biting behaviors with their littermates.
• 8 weeks: Puppies can leave their littermates and mother.
• 12 weeks: Puppy teeth fall out, making way for their adult teeth.
• 6 months: All adult teeth will have grown in by this time.

When Does a Puppy Stop Biting?

Puppies will grow out of play-biting phases around the age of 8 to 10 months. As they become adolescents, they start to understand the world around them more, and they will become socialized enough to know that biting isn’t always the best course of action to take when they want your attention.

Adult dogs older than 3 years almost never resort to mouthing. If your dog is older than this and they’re still mouthing and biting, it might be best to enroll them into an obedience school or employ a dog trainer to assist you.

Fear Periods

Outside of teething and general rough play, there are other instances where young pups may feel the need to use their baby teeth.

Fear periods are a period of time in the early development of a dog. They usually occur once or twice in their first year of life, and they can be very alarming to new dog owners because of the sudden change from a puppy’s regular behavior and their normal developmental period to this new, fearful or aggressive behavior. Your pup may be constantly jumping at sounds or sudden movements, they may tear up their favorite stuffed toy, or they may seem much more alert than usual.

When a canine feels scared, they don’t always hide away. Like humans, dogs have a fight, freeze, or flight reaction to any stressful situation. Though it may not seem like normal behavior, these fear periods are totally normal because your dog is essentially developing their brain, which causes them to act out of sorts for a short time. Fear periods allow your dog to become more self-sufficient and independent.

It’s crucial that a dog learns to recognize things and patterns that are safe for them. Common times for fear periods are between 8 and 11 weeks of age and between 6 months to 14 months of age. The first fear period of a dog happens during the time they are being transferred from one home to another – which is why not all dogs have two fear periods. A puppy who is staying with their littermates and not moving homes may not have this first fear period.

The second fear period happens while the dog is going through adolescence. They may exhibit unwanted behavior as they test their boundaries in your home, and it can take quite a while for them to calm down. Just remember that this is a biological process, which is necessary for every dog to go through so that they can fully settle into adult life without the worries they carry with them as a pup.

During these periods, play gently with your dog, give them positive reinforcement and attention, be sure to reassure them when they come to you, and remember to socialize your dog so that they aren’t scared of other animals or people.

Stopping Puppy Biting When Your Dog is Excited

To stop a puppy biting you when they’re excited, offer them an alternative that they will find more pleasing than your skin or clothing. Play biting is a normal part of puppy behavior, but it’s not usually something that pet enjoys enjoy their dog doing.

The first way to stop puppy biting is to try giving your dog age-appropriate toys that will give them an outlet for their excitement. Many dogs that are of a young age don’t quite know what to do with themselves when they get hyped up. You could play tug of war, offer them some different teething toys, or take them out for some physical exercise. Your dog needs to shake off the energy that comes from being excited – and puppies are extremely excitable creatures!

Remember, do not punish your puppy for nipping or biting you. Punishing your dog is cruel and unnecessary. Instead, walk away from your dog to let them know that you’re not pleased with their actions. A baby gate or door can help create a barrier between you and your dog when you want to get your point across.

Take a look at our article on the Best Dog Gates.

How to Teach Your Puppy Bite Inhibition

To teach your puppy that their bite is painful, you need to react in the same way other puppies would when being bitten. Puppy bites are controlled when other dogs react to them because this lets the biting puppy know that their bite was too strong and caused pain. In the case that you have a pup who doesn’t understand their biting force, the best thing you can do for them is act as their littermates would.

The second your puppy bites you, register how hard the bite was and whether or not you (as the owner) believe that bite was too much. If it was, you can let out a sharp dog-like yelp or whimper. Your puppy will respond to these sounds as distress sounds because their littermates would have made similar noises.

Doing this should enable your puppy to come to the conclusion that the next bite needs to be softer. Your puppy is not trying to hurt you, after all. They just want to play!

If your puppy’s behavior doesn’t improve after using this tactic, it may be time to think about calling a dog trainer and signing your pup up for classes that can make sure your puppy learns what behavior is acceptable when it comes to mouthing and biting.

Things You Should Never Do if Your Puppy is Biting

If your puppy is biting, you should never use or do any of the following in their training or puppy classes:

• Strike your puppy
• Force your puppy’s mouth open/closed
• Separate your dog from other puppies in their litter
• Force your puppy to be in situations they don’t want to be in (such as interacting with young children who may be pulling them around)
• Scream at them

Even if you have puppies biting everything in your home, dogs don’t respond to negative reinforcement such as yelling or being struck. These behaviors as an owner will only serve to make your dog scared of you.

What if My Puppy’s Biting Getting Worse? Should I Be Concerned?

Before you worry yourself too much, calculate the age of your pup. Are they within the age range of either fear period that young dogs usually go through? If they are, this could be the leading cause behind your dog’s biting becoming a problem. That doesn’t mean you should ignore the issue, but do be aware that your canine is changing and they need to be eased through their biological process.

Your dog’s breed may also play a part in the strength of their bite. Some breeds of dog have extremely strong biting strength, so it makes sense for a puppy that just got their teeth or an adolescent dog with their new adult teeth to have a strong bite. Here are some breeds with particularly hefty jaw strength:

• American Pitbull
• Boxer
• Chow-Chow
• Doberman
• Dutch Shepherd
• English Mastiff
• German Shepherd
• Malinois
• Rottweiler

Of these, it is believed that the Mastiff has the strongest biting power.

FAQs:

Q: Why does my puppy bite me when I pet him?

In this situation, it could be that you have disturbed your puppy and they do not want to be fussed over at that particular time. However, it’s more likely that they’re taking your touch as an invitation to play and they are biting on you to encourage playtime. Instead of flinching away when bitten, react to the bite and try to figure out what your puppy wants to tell you through their actions.

Q: What to do if a puppy bites you and draws blood?

If your puppy bites you and manages to make the bite hard enough to draw blood, immediately step away from your dog and make a sound of distress similar to a yelp or whimper. This will let your puppy know that their bite was too hard and help teach them that it wasn’t an appropriate biting force to use. If they continue to bite you after this, remove yourself from the room and make sure they can’t follow you.

Q: Why do puppies bite children?

Puppies see children as other puppies that they can play with. It’s unlikely that your puppy will hurt a child, and they may just be mouthing on their skin or clothing (mouthing doesn’t employ the use of a dog’s teeth). Always supervise your children and dogs when they are playing together so that you can appropriately react to any incidences that may occur.

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When it comes to a puppy’s behavior, aggression is not normal. A Puppy’s aggression tactics will be very obviously different from the normal play that you expect from a puppy, and it’s important for dog owners to be able to tell the difference between puppies that play rough and puppies that over-react aggressively to daily situations.

Why is My Puppy Biting Me Aggressively?

If your puppy is biting you in an aggressive manner, this is a sign that they have aggressive behavior. A puppy’s behavior should not be inherently aggressive, which means that their life before coming to live with your family has forced them to learn that early aggression. Some aggressive behaviors can be breed-specific, just like breeds that show totally normal good behavior with little training.

Aggressive dogs learn to be aggressive. If you believe your puppy is biting you to hurt you, step back from the situation and consider why they believe that you’re a threat. To undo bad behavior, you must first try to understand your puppy and why he or she believes that it’s completely normal for them to try and hurt you when you’re together.

Some reasons that your puppy may behave aggressively are as follows:

• An emotional response to past harm.
• Strong negative emotion, such as your puppy thinking that they are going to be hurt.
• Overly excited rough play.
• Possessive behavior over a toy or food.

The truth may also be in the age of your puppy and how they were reared. Puppies learn how hard they can bite and the responses to their bites from their littermates. Oftentimes, puppies that leave their litter early have trouble with biting and other behaviors. Do you find your puppy possessive of their belongings? This can be a sign of a puppy who hasn’t been properly socialized.

10 Signs of an Aggressive Puppy

Any breed of dog has the potential to become aggressive. When a puppy reacts to an event in a way that you consider aggressive – such as chewing, gnawing, biting, and scratching – your puppy is exhibiting negative behavior and you can consider these aggressive puppy signs.

Warning Signs of Undesirable Behavior Include:

1. Dog bites where the bites break the skin
2. Chewing on furniture
3. Nipping at skin
4. Predatory aggression
5. Growling
6. Suddenly becoming still and rigid
7. Guttural barking
8. Mouthing
9. Tugging at someone to physically move them
10. Hitting someone with their muzzle

These ten signs are not normal puppy behavior and are potential warning signs for worse to come. Does your puppy assert any claims to certain parts of your home and act aggressively towards other dogs or people when they are near that area or touching something they’ve claimed? This is textbook puppy aggression, and an aggressive puppy can quickly grow into an aggressive dog. The sooner you can curb your dog’s behavior, the better their future will be.

Reasons Your Dog is Showing Aggressive Behavior

Now that you know how to recognize aggression in your pup’s behavior, it’s time to address the reasons behind this setback in your dog’s progress. We’ve already mentioned that puppies that are taken from their littermates too early have trouble with biting because they learn how to hold back from playing with their brothers and sisters, but that is just one reason that your dog is being aggressive towards your family members.

Fear Aggression

This is a defensive mechanism that your puppy will use when they feel cornered. When your puppy feels like they cannot get away from something that is scaring them, their fear turns into aggression in the form of biting and fast nips.

To help your dog overcome these kinds of aggressive behaviors, you need to learn to understand your dog’s body language and connect with them. Find the thing that is frightening your dog, remove it, and then attempt to calm your dog down.

Puppy Teething

Just because your dog seems aggressive doesn’t mean they actually are. Puppies that are teething can be in a lot of pain, and a dog in pain may show signs of aggressive behavior. When a puppy aggressively mouths at their toys or nearby furniture/clothing, they could be teething.

You may also like our guides on the Best Toys for Teething Puppies and Best Chew Toys for Puppies.

Puppy Protective Behaviors

Puppies can be protective and possessive over their toys and their food bowl. Have you noticed that your pup growls when another dog gets close to their food? Do they snap at you when you’re filling their food bowl up? Your dog is simply being protective of the items in your home that they consider to be theirs. It isn’t ideal behavior and should be something that you attempt to train out of your dog. You wouldn’t want them to snap at a guest, after all.

Puppy Parents

The final reason for aggressive behavior that we’d like you to consider comes from the parents of your puppy. When you adopt a puppy from a breeder, you may not stop to consider the personalities of the parents, but these are as important as the health of the dog you adopt.

When a puppy has aggressive parents, it isn’t unusual to see the puppy exhibit aggressive tendencies, as well. This is even more likely with breeds that are known for being aggressive.

How to Stop Aggressive Puppy Biting

Puppy bites are something that all pet owners experience at one time or another. Like other negative traits, you have the ability to change your puppy’s inappropriate behavior. It may surprise you to know that your puppy is wielding around 28 sharp teeth in their mouth, which can cause damage in seconds if your pup bites hard enough. Puppy aggression that takes the form of biting is unfortunate, but with the right tactics and behavior modification, you can stop this form of dog aggression.

Ways to Stop Your Puppy From Biting

• Give your puppy a range of chew toys, including food-based chews that they can enjoy.
• Make sure you spend enough time playing with your dog each day.
• Give your puppy an area in your home that they can go to when they want to be alone.
• Use baby gates and doors to give you the option to walk away from your dog when they’re misbehaving to get your attention.
• Submit your dog to obedience training with a professional dog trainer.
• Take your dog on walks to the dog park so that they can socialize with other dogs.
• Teach your puppy bite inhibition, which they would have started learning when with their littermates.

Read here our articles on the Best Dog Gates and Best Electronic Dog Doors.

What to Do When Your Dog is Biting You

The best thing you can do for yourself and your family members is to learn to recognize when your dog is going to bite you. We know that sounds hard, but if you can prevent the event before it takes place, you will greatly lower the risk of injury when helping your dog become less aggressive.

If you see your puppy lunge when someone walks past them, they are more than likely about to bite that person. When your puppy reacts this way, it is because they feel threatened. Your pup’s aggressive tendencies come from a place of possessiveness and dog aggression.

In a young dog, you can expect puppy nipping, mouthing, and biting quite regularly. Once you understand why your dog is biting you, you can begin to take immediate and appropriate action each time they bite you, and eventually, train them out of that behavior.

On the other side of this, you also need to know how to deal with the aftermath of a dog bite. This includes treating a wound when the bite breaks the skin and reprimanding your dog in line with their obedience training.

When your puppy bites you, even in a play setting, immediately take yourself away from the situation. This shows your puppy that you don’t want to play with them when they bite you and is a good way to start teaching bite inhibition. To further these lessons, you can yelp and imitate a wounded dog when your puppy bites you – this is the exact same behavior that your puppy’s littermates would have shown after being bitten too hard.

Once you’ve let your puppy know that you’re hurt and not interested in playing anymore, give them some time to calm down before you return to them. If you’ve been bitten hard enough to break your skin, seek medical advice as soon as possible.

How to Socialize an Aggressive Dog

Adult dogs can be socialized just like puppies can. Many dogs are re-socialized as adults because they weren’t properly trained when they were younger. To socialize an aggressive, adult dog, you’re going to need to put in some effort.

Older dogs showing signs of bad behavior are going to require a lot of positive reinforcement to have that behavior trained out of them. Positive reinforcement training gives real and fast results when training dogs of all ages, whether it’s your puppy taking playful teasing too far, or your older dog being aggressive towards your family (especially children).

To start socializing your dog, you should see how they react around just one other dog. This should be a controlled meeting, outside, where both parties have ample opportunity to walk away. Your dog should be on a leash as if you were taking them for a walk like any other day. The other dog in this scenario needs to be a well-trained pup so that they can resist being pulled into a scrap by the untrained dog.

By trying this exercise, you will be able to see how your pup reacts around other puppies and dogs without subjecting them to the many dogs that will undoubtedly be in your local dog park.

After this test, you can continue introducing your dog to more people and animals. Do this slowly, never any faster than your dog is comfortable with, and look out for any early signs of stress or anger.

Consider Dog Training

A dog behaviorist will be able to take your at-home obedience training to the next level. Though there are ample resources online that will tell you the various ways you can train your pup, nothing beats the advice and lessons that an expert can bestow upon you.

Even young puppies can benefit from the training offered by dog trainers. You can easily search online for local obedience schools and trainers who are taking on new dog students. If you happen to have a large dog that needs to have their behavior adjusted, remember to check that the trainers you’re researching cater to larger breeds.

A type of training that you may read about often is clicker training. Clickers can help you get your dog’s attention without raising your voice or showing them how frustrated you’re getting. A clicker is a great training tool – they’re cheap, effective, and portable, so you can carry one anywhere to keep your dog’s focus on you once they get used to the noise and what it means.

Become the Alpha

Something that may sound a bit out there is becoming the alpha of your pack. In a household with several dogs, where you have more than one aggressive dog trying to boss the others around, there needs to be a level-headed pack leader.

A good pack leader will be able to calm a vicious puppy and stop a puppy growling at things they don’t like. They’ll also be able to keep the pack working as a unit. Sometimes this alpha is a well-trained dog, other times the human owner can become a decent enough alpha.

Becoming the alpha does not mean that you become the boss of your dog and they must listen to you without question, but it does mean that you can teach your puppy to respect you and the commands that you give to them.

FAQs:

Q: How do you identify play biting?

A: As a rule, young puppies are more likely to be play biting than doing showing any signs of aggression. It’s rare for a young pup to be aggressive without a reason, so you should consider any biting, mouthing, or nipping to be play biting unless your pup is truly trying to hurt you. Help your dog learn bite inhibition and train them to stop mouthing, and you’ll soon see an improvement.

Q: Do I need to have my puppy examined?

A: If you have tried training your puppy and they don’t seem to be improving, it may be worth taking a trip to your veterinarian to have your puppy examined. Your dog may have underlying conditions that are causing them to be aggressive, bite, and be unsociable. Some neurological conditions in dogs have symptoms that come out as aggressive behaviors.

Q: Why is my puppy exhibiting aggressive barking?

A: When a dog barking in an aggressive way, it’s because they are scared or angry. Fear aggression is a very real trait that dogs show when they feel like they are trapped and can’t get out of the situation. Instead of freezing or cowering, they use their fear to make themselves seem more threatening. A puppy barking like this is distressed, and you should attempt to remove the stressor and calm your puppy down as soon as possible.

Source:

1. Warning Signs that Your Pup has a Behavior Problem – The Ohio State University
2. Aggression – ASPCA

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The 10 Best Puppy Food Recipes 

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When Do Puppies Start Teething

Depending on the age you get your puppy from, you may be dealing with puppy teething of the deciduous teething phase (baby teeth with no root) or their adult teeth (permanent teeth which have a root). Both of these can have different effects on your puppy, so the person who cares for them should be clued up on both types.

Deciduous Teeth

Just like humans, puppies have two sets of teeth. The first set is called the deciduous teeth and you’ll find that these should erupt (break through the skin of the gums) at around three weeks. If you’re a puppy breeder, you might find that your pup and their littermates will start mouthing at around this stage of growing up.

This process can be the most difficult phase, because your puppy is unlikely to have the capacity to understand your training techniques. However, there are still some things you can do to help with the discomfort and pain of puppy teething. There are usually 28 deciduous teeth, so do keep an eye on the number of puppy teeth popping through at this stage.

Adult Teeth

Adult teeth replace the milk teeth of your pup, and then some. In total, there should be 42 permanent teeth coming through during this phase. Again, if you breed puppies, you may find yourself inundated with puppy teeth at this point in the process. For those who have brought their dogs home, be prepared for a couple of changes in your dog during the teething phase. We’ll give you more information on what to expect, below.

Don’t worry too much if you notice your dogs’ teeth are missing from their gums, but you haven’t spotted any around the house. Puppy teeth are often swallowed as they come loose while eating, to no ill effect. Sometimes, you may not know at all, except for finding some blood spots on your dog toys. By around 3-4 months, your pup is likely to have begun teething, and dogs that are around 6-7 months old should have their full set of adult teeth.

How Long Do Puppies Teeth

For very young dogs, puppy teething begins at around 3 weeks and it usually takes around three weeks for your dog to have a full set of puppy teeth. So, the human family member is likely to spot some behavior changes at around this time, such as a tendency to mouth toys and any unfortunate person who happens to be playing with them. Consider yourself warned that puppy teeth are extremely sharp and prone to catching on anything and everything!

Adult teeth come in at around 3 months and may take up to 4 months to fully erupt. It’s around this time that pet parents will spot bite marks in everything from chew toys to furniture. The good news is that, during this phase, your pup is much more likely to respond to training steps. Luckily, we’ll be giving you all the training information you need, below.

When to See a Veterinarian About Puppy Teething Problems

Most of the signs and symptoms of puppy teething are completely normal and can be helped through the use of patience and persistence in training. A puppy who bites, mouths and chews a lot is definitely a sign of teething – but the process can be helped along with some strategic play with toys, some handy products and crate training. You might also notice that your puppy’s breath is not so pleasant. Again, this is completely normal – even if the smell isn’t so nice and their gnawing and chewing leaves the odor all over the house.

The biggest concern when it comes to teething (aside from having to buy new furniture and covering up furniture legs) is persistent teeth. This is when the puppy teeth stick around, even after the adult teeth have broken through. The stubbornness of the milk teeth can sometimes cause the adult tooth to break through the gums at an awkward angle. The result of this can be an abnormal bite, crowding and sometimes a gum infection.

This is more common in some dog breeds than others. So those dog breeds with brachycephalic heads (dogs with a short nose and/or muzzle) are prone to persistent teeth. While this may not always have a major effect on the life of your pup, it can sometimes cause problems and will require a visit to the vet. This is usually just to get the baby teeth removed, so that the adult teeth can grow normally.

While having these removed may not make a major difference to the behavior of the dog who will still be teething, it can help prevent further complications. Sometimes, a quick visit to the vet can help prevent the daily treat, dinner and debris from catching between the problematic tooth placement. Thus, you can ensure that your pup doesn’t suffer from tartar deposits, gingivitis, and ultimately periodontitis – simply by keeping an eye on their mouth and checking that the teething phase is proceeding smoothly.

What To Do For Teething Puppies

One of the best things you can do to help with the teething phase is to puppy-proof your home. Puppies that are teething love to get into anything and everything they can get their mouth on. No matter the object, all items that are in the way of your pup are prone to receiving bite marks!

For this reason, the biggest help we can offer pet parents is to hide belongings that you don’t want to be chewed. This includes any permanent object, such as the carpet, which you may find pulled up and torn apart if they’re loose. Similarly, shoes, the post, or something that simply looks chewable should be removed from the sightline of your pup, as these are all seen as prime pain-relieving resources.

There are also a couple of products that have been designed specifically to help keep your pup away from the carpet, off your hands and focused on their toy. One such product is a gel that you can rub on anything you don’t want chewed. While we can’t help you get to your post before your puppy, it will help them understand that some furniture simply doesn’t taste nice when it’s chewed.

What To Give A Teething Puppy

Now that you know what NOT to give a puppy that is teething, it’s time to discuss what they CAN have. Do remember that any items you pass to your pup should be age-appropriate. As an example, some Kong toys can be too tough for very young dogs, and should be avoided until they have the jaw strength suited to this kind of toy. Teething relief for puppies is remarkably easy to find – once you know what your pup loves. These are just some of the alternatives to giving a treat more times than you may like!

Cold Chews

Chew toys are some of the best options to keep your hand free of any nipping. Bully sticks and yak’s milk chews are great choices on their own, and these products even help to keep your dog stimulated physically and mentally. However, popping them in the freezer before handing them over to your pup can provide additional relief from the mouth pain that comes with teething.

For very young puppies, ice cubes can be an absolute lifesaver. Dogs aren’t as inclined to chew on these, but licking cold ice cubes can provide relief and may stop your pup from chewing on items that may harm them in the long run. Carrots can also be frozen and work brilliantly as a treat for dogs, without worrying about the nutrition content of a dog treat.

Another good idea for a younger pup can also be to freeze some dog food in ice cube trays and let them focus their attention on those. Chicken broth is always a winner in this department – for both adult and younger dogs! Simply boil some chicken stock with water and let it cool, before placing these in the freezer.

You may also find that your dog toy has been created to help with teething problems. One such toy is the kong, which will often come in different strengths, sizes and gaps. The gaps in the toy can be filled with water – though you may have to use some cling film to help, here – which can then be frozen and given to your dog. If that’s too fiddly, filling them with some peanut butter or cheese can work wonders. You may even be able to combine these with carrots. Simply blend the carrots into a puree and use this in the toy.

As much as you may not want your hand to consistently be the source of your pup’s chewing, we generally would not recommend bones. If you do want to give your pup bones, be sure that they are raw and your pup cannot fit the whole thing into their mouth. Avoid larger marrow bones and those which have been sawn in half or sideways, as these are more likely to splinter.

Distractions

Another great option to keep their attention, reward good behavior and prevent bad habits is to use dog toys as a distraction. Just be sure to keep your hands out of the way – ideally at the end of the toy that is farthest from their mouths, as puppies have a tendency to be a little clumsy with their nipping.

For this reason, rope toys are some of the best options for helping both your training steps and as a distraction from chewing the furniture. Rope toys also have the added benefit of being able to withstand extensive chewing. Just be aware that you may find some string in your pup’s poop if they’re left along with their toy for too long! For older, tougher puppies, rubber toys can also do a great job of resisting constant chewing behaviors. Finding something that works for your dog can take a little time, but the benefits of having the right toy for the right pup go way beyond the con list!

How To Stop A Puppy From Nipping

While the average pup is unlikely to give you a full-blown bite, it can still be horrible to subject your hands to constant chewing and nipping. On the one hand, you may prefer your hands getting caught up, rather than anything else around you – whether that would be your carpet, post and shoes, or whether that would be a tree when you’re out walking. On the other hand, we understand that going through an endless supply of chew toys isn’t really the answer, either. Instead, we recommend some of the following options:

Puppy Training

Firstly, we would always recommend taking your pup to a puppy class. These can be found the world over and you’ll often find tips from other classmates on what worked for their pup. It also comes with the added benefit of ensuring your puppy and you learn how to communicate with each other and will help you form a closer bond.

Remember that stopping your puppy from nipping is all part of the training process that comes with having a young dog. Do remember that this is something that will pay off in the long run and you may come up with a unique idea that works for you and your pup, that isn’t on this list.

Sources:

1. Krista Williams, BSc, DVM, Teeth, Teething and Chewing in Puppies, VCA
2. Puppy Teething 101: What to Watch Out For, Vetstreet

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Why Is My Puppy Not Eating?

There are many reasons why puppies refuse to eat. If it skips a meal or two, for some pet parents, it’s perfectly alright. But if your young hound has not eaten for a couple of days, then that should raise an alarm.

Most pet parents base their judgment on the ability of their dogs to consume the recommended dog food serving by their dog food manufacturer. For instance, if the label says they need to give half a cup of dog food every meal for their 6-month old puppy, yet it is only able to finish perhaps three-quarters of the serving, most pet parents already label this as a decrease in the puppy’s appetite and can be interpreted as not eating well.

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Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Experts observe that perfectly healthy hounds usually eat only about 60 to 70 percent of the feeding recommendations of their brand of dog food. As such, to really ascertain whether your puppy has decreased appetite or is clearly experiencing anorexia – total absence of food intake – it is critical to look at its feeding habits. If your pup is still eating part of its meal, then it is still perfectly okay granted that it is not less than half of what you’re serving. If your young dog has not been eating for several days, a condition called anorexia, then a veterinary evaluation is a must.

Here are some of the main causes why your puppy is having anorexia.

• Illness

One of the most common reasons why your young pet doesn’t want to eat is that it is sick. Diseases have an uncanny way of changing the appetite of an organism. It is important to evaluate whether there are other signs or symptoms that accompany the decrease in appetite or anorexia. This is a critical hallmark of an illness-related anorexia. Other clinical manifestations aside from not eating are present to help support the existence of a disease. This is why veterinary consultation is important to help identify the exact disease that is causing a change in your pet’s appetite.

Examples of diseases that can produce a decrease or loss of appetite include systemic infections, kidney failure, liver problems, and even cancer. Pain and inflammatory conditions can also make your puppy not want to eat.

• Recent vaccination

If your puppy just had its shots, you can expect it to show loss of appetite, albeit temporarily. This will typically last a few days so it is important to determine if the loss of appetite occurred about a day or two after the vaccination. Count a few more days and your young dog’s appetite should return to normal. This should not be made a reason not to have your puppy vaccinated as studies show puppy shots are important in the prevention of contagious and serious diseases in dogs. Aside from loss of appetite you may also notice other side effects of vaccinations such as lethargy and slight fever.

• Oral or dental problems

Puppies that are going through the period of teething will usually have decreased if not loss of appetite. This is secondary to pain and inflammation that may result from the erupting teeth. It is also possible that puppies that have loose tooth, broken tooth, or even gingivitis can also make them not want to eat. Your veterinarian can help you determine if such is the case for your pup.

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• Travel or being in an unfamiliar situation

If you just brought your new puppy from the shelter or from the kennel, there is a great chance that it will not eat regardless of the type or quality of puppy food that you give it. This can be attributed to being in unfamiliar surroundings. Some older puppies also exhibit the same behavior when traveling or when brought to a different environment. Some are also known to have motion sickness which can also affect their appetite.

• Behavioral and/or psychological issues

Some puppies are known to be very picky eaters. Puppies that are depressed or are under extreme stress will also not want to eat. Some pups don’t like to eat because they are not really comfortable where they are eating. Some don’t like the food that is being offered to them. It is therefore crucial to identify the presence of an organic disease or any other reason before attempting to diagnose that your puppy has a behavioral or psychological problem that is affecting its desire to eat.

You may also like our Dog Food for Picky Dogs and Dog Weight Gain Supplements.

What Can I Do to Help My Puppy Eat Again?

There are many things you can do to help your puppy regain its appetite. However, these should always be initiated with the collaboration of your vet. It is imperative that any organic disease be clearly identified first so that the root cause of the problem is properly addressed. Typically, your vet may prescribe a therapeutic diet for your pet. Unfortunately, since these are hardly palatable you will have to discuss with your vet alternative ways without coercing your young dog to eat the prescription diet. In some cases, appetite stimulants can be administered or a nutrient-rich liquid diet can be given via syringe feeding.

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If your puppy’s loss of appetite is mostly behavioral, here are some of the things that you can do to help your puppy eat again.

• Give the Right High-quality Puppy Food

Regardless of the cause of your puppy’s loss of appetite, it is crucial to give it the right type of high-quality pet food. Don’t give dog food that is designed for other life stages. Give a breed-specific puppy formulation for your young dog as this has the right nutrients that are required by its breed and life stage.

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• Consider Giving Wet Puppy Food

Especially for puppies that may have dental problems or are down with an illness, wet or canned puppy food is always a great choice since it is softer and comes with more flavor. The increased palatability and aroma of the wet puppy food can help entice your young pet to eat.

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• Moisten or Warm up Your Pup’s Kibbles

If you don’t like getting wet food for your puppy, you can try warming its kibbles for about 10 seconds in the microwave. This can help release and heighten the aroma of the puppy kibbles so your young pet will be motivated to start eating again. Alternatively, you can moisten the kibbles with plain water or even plain chicken broth to enhance the flavor of its food.

• Try Puppy-friendly Chew Toys

If the reason your puppy is not eating is because of a teething concern, then you should consider getting it a puppy-friendly dental chew toy. There are also dog chews that come with more flavors which are more enticing to chew on compared to conventional kibbles. Just make sure to get something that is formulated specifically for puppies.

• Consider Home-cooked Dog Food

If you try feeding your pup a small slice of unseasoned lean beef or chicken and it will gobble it up immediately, then you’re most likely looking at a very picky eater. In such cases you might want to consider giving home-cooked dog food.

• Add Peanut Butter

Peanut butter has a very strong aroma and is something that all dogs, from puppies to seniors, love. You can add a teaspoon or so of peanut butter to their puppy food just to enhance the flavors and aromas of its meal. Alternatively, you can also put peanut butter in treat dispensing chew toys.

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• Take Your Puppy for a Walk Just Before its Meal

The natural reaction of the body is to seek food once its energy reserves have been depleted. That’s the whole idea about taking your pup for a walk just before you give its meal.

• Try Adding Yogurt or Cottage Cheese to Your Puppy’s Food

Just like peanut butter, puppies and dogs love yogurt and cottage cheese, too. If you can get Greek yogurt or plain unsweetened or unflavored yogurt, then you can add a small amount to your puppy’s food. The same is true with plain cottage cheese. These should help entice your puppy to eat.

Puppies require high-quality food to support their optimum development. That is why it is understandable for pet parents to become worried if their young dogs simply refuse to eat. With the added knowledge on what causes puppies to lose interest in food and the things that you can do to help restore their appetite you can be sure your young dog will be regaining its appetite real soon.

For some help and guidance on what to buy, make sure you read our review of the best puppy food.

Related Post: Best Chew Toys for Puppies

Sources:

1. Ellen Malmanger, DVM, Why Is My Dog Not Eating?, PetMD
2. Dog Not Eating? Possible Causes and Appetite Solutions, WebMD
3. Feeding Your Pet, Animal Humane Society

The post Puppy Not Eating: Causes & Advice appeared first on .

Nutritious Puppy Food

You may not realize it, but puppies have different needs to adult dogs. If you have only ever adopted adult dogs, or never had a dog before at all, you might think that grabbing any old dog food will do. However, just like babies have a different diet from adult humans, puppies have different nutritional needs from their parents.

These differences stem from all the developing and growth that puppies are going through. Their organs, joints, muscles, bones, immune system, and much more are growing and getting stronger every single day, and this requires a huge amount of minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients. The best puppy food will support every aspect of their growth through high concentrations of protein for growth, fat for energy and more essential minerals, such as calcium for strong bones. The worst puppy food may not only lack these essential ingredients, but will have high levels of salt, preservatives and sugar, which can lead to obesity.

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Although there are many sides to the debate, we would recommend that you offer your puppy dry puppy food. This is because wet puppy food can be as much as 75% water, which waters down the nutritional content of the food. Dry food is also considered to be better for your puppy’s teeth because it can remove plaque and is less likely to stick between the teeth. You may, however, want to consider a mixed diet of dry and wet puppy food to ensure you are getting the best of both worlds.

You should switch to dog food after about one year. The reason behind this is that it usually takes approximately this long for puppies to grow to at least 80% of their adult size, which is when their rapid growth begins to slow down and, gradually, stop. Without this growth, they no longer need extra protein and fat to support their high metabolisms. There are circumstances in which your puppy may need to move to dog food earlier, but this would be under the advice of your veterinarian.

Essential Grooming Equipment

Keeping your puppy healthy is not just about eating good food and preventing any internal problems, it is also about caring for potential external issues that could crop up with their coat, paws, and teeth. You must be prepared to regularly groom your puppy, and the absolute bare essentials of puppy grooming require:

• Toothbrush for dogs
• Comb
• Nail clipper
• Puppy shampoo

You may consider going to a professional groomer to groom your puppy, but this can be expensive and can waste a good opportunity to bond with your puppy. By all means, seek the help of a professional to help guide your own grooming techniques and to ensure your dog gets one or two seriously good cleans a year, but cleaning your own puppy gives them the opportunity to get used to grooming from an early age, and will allow the two of you to build your relationship.

Brushing your puppy’s teeth, for example, is vital for their health. Gum disease is, unfortunately, far too common in dogs, and the early stages have usually already developed by the time a dog is just 3 years old. Ideally, you would brush your dog’s teeth after every meal, but, as that can be a bit of a struggle, most professionals advocate a schedule of three times a week. There are a number of toothbrushes you can try, from specially-sized small brushes to easy-to-control finger brushes. You may have to try out a few different types to find what works best for you and your best friend. The most important thing is for you to make the experience as positive as possible to encourage cooperation in the future.

Your puppy’s coat also needs regular care and maintenance. Coats can vary widely from breed to breed, so it is difficult to offer one-size-fits-all advice. Generally, short, smooth coats require less care than long or curly coats. Many coats may also require multiple different brushes and combs to de-tangle and then smooth the coat. Your routine is also likely to be affected by your puppy’s shedding cycle. Broadly speaking, there are five coat types that your puppy may fit into:

• Smooth coats, which are relatively low-maintenance
• Double coats, which have an extra layer of fur for insulation
• Long coats, which will require daily care
• Wire coats, which can get tangled and matted very easily
• Curly coats, which will also encourage tangles

Similarly, your puppy will require a bath. However, it is actually a bad idea to wash a dog too often, as you will be stripping them of essential oils that their skin and coat needs. Under normal circumstances, you should give your dog up to four baths a year when they have gotten particularly dirty. Do not bathe a puppy until they are older than 6 weeks because very young puppies struggle to regulate their own body temperatures and water can cause a serious chill. The bath experience may also be too stressful for their little bodies to handle.

Other grooming techniques that you need to know about, and get your puppy used to, include:

• Clipping their nails, which can vary depending on puppy activity and lifestyle.
• Expressing anal glands, which are the glands that secrete the smells other dogs will use to identify your puppy.
• Cleaning their ears, which also relies on your puppy’s ear type, fur and breed.

It is important that you take care of every part of your puppy’s health from day one as puppy preventative health care can do a lot for their future longevity and quality of life. Having a puppy who has learned to enjoy teeth cleaning, brushing, and even bathing, will encourage you to groom them more often, which is in their best interest, and will create a closer bond of trust and affection, which you can use to support their training. You can also use these moments to give them a quick little health check by looking for bumps, scrapes and other unexplained physical changes. The earlier you catch a health problem, the more you increase treatment possibilities.

Check out some of our dog grooming guides, such as Dog Ear Cleaners, Dog Bath Tub,  Puppy Tear Stain Remover, and Dog Shedding Brush.

A Dog Crate

At some point, you are going to need to transport your puppy, whether on holiday or to the vet. Puppies often need more regular check ups than adult dogs, and taking them to the vet is much easier when they are secure inside their crate. This means you must have a dog crate ready from day one.

Getting a dog crate can be tricky with a puppy because you will need to estimate the size they will be when they are an adult. Crossbreeds, in particular, are difficult to guess. Any dog being put into a crate for any amount of time must be able to sit, stand, lie down, turn around and stretch out inside the crate. If you wrongly estimate how big your dog is going to be, you must buy a new crate to suit their bigger size.

You must also factor in the bedding and other items you may put in the crate with the dog when you consider how much space they will have. You should line the crate with a soft pad to make your puppy as comfortable a possible, and they may want a toy in there with them to make it a happy space to be in. Do not overload any crate with furnishings, particularly when you are traveling as loose items in the cage can hurt your dog if you find yourself having to brake suddenly.

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Puppies and dogs both often hate dog crates, so it is a great idea to start training them to use them as soon as you can. Crate training can take a long time and requires patience and positivity. The crate should only ever be used to create a safe and secure home for your dog, whether it is permanent, temporary, or for transportation. It is not to be used as a punishment tool. Not only will this risk making your puppy anxious and fearful, but it will make your life much harder when you need to use the crate because they will resist you if they associate it with negativity.

Some Fun and Useful Toys

A bored puppy is an unhappy puppy. All dogs are more intelligent than we often give them credit for, and some breeds are even more intelligent than that. They need attention, and mental and physical stimulation. A great way to do this is to pay with them and provide them with fun toys. Make sure they are appropriate for your puppy’s age and size, and look out for any choking hazards and other dangers.

Young puppies in particular need chew toys. All dogs love a good chew toy, and many can help strengthen or clean their teeth. However, puppies specifically require chew toys to soothe their gums as they go through the teething process, which starts at 2 weeks and goes on until they are six months old. Just as babies are born without teeth and often cry and struggle with sore gums while they are teething, puppies also experience difficulties growing their teeth.

Puppies generally grow their milk teeth from  2 to 8 weeks old, when these teeth will start to fall out and be replaced with permanent, adult teeth. This period, which usually occurs week 12 to 16, is usually when puppies start to gnaw at you and your furniture. It soothes their gums to chew on something. This is typical and perfectly normal puppy behavior, but if you, understandably, are worried about your furniture being ruined, chew toys for puppies and redirection are the way to go.

Do not scold your puppy for their perfectly natural behavior. They can’t help it, and they will just be hurt and confused. Instead, firmly say ‘No’ when they start to bite, remove what they were biting, replace it with a chew toy, and praise them for using the chew toy. This should help redirect their negative behavior towards a positive one.

A Veterinarian That You Trust

The most essential asset you will have as a pet owner is a great vet who you trust. The earlier you start to build a relationship with your vet, the better they will know and understand your puppy as they grow into a dog. This will be hugely beneficial in the future for diagnosis and treatment as a vet that has a deep relationship and knowledge of an individual dog will be in a better position to understand what may be wrong and which treatment will work best.

Don’t be afraid to look around to find a vet that fits best with you. After all, you could be in each others’ lives for up to a couple of decades, and a strong relationship between vet and owner is essential to the well-being of your puppy. It is a good idea to ask your friends and family for recommendations and to think about what you want for your vet. Is your puppy a rare breed? Do you want to be supported by a specialist with experience treating your puppy’s breed? Does your puppy have a condition or regular treatment that needs administering? What is your budget for veterinary visits?

Once you have found your veterinarian, you will want to bring your puppy in for an initial assessment and check-up. It is important that you aren’t afraid to ask any questions you have – there is no such thing as a stupid question. Topics that you should discuss may include:

• Feeding advice
• Grooming advice
• Training advice
• Behavior advice
• Teething advice
• Vaccinations
• Sterilization

Puppies often have a number of checkups in their first year to check that they are developing as they should be, but after this it may be up to you to ensure you are visiting your vet at least once a year. As a general rule, you should make sure you never leave your vet without scheduling your next appointment, even if that appointment is a year away. Make sure you write it in your diary and give plenty of notice if it later needs to be changed.

Sources:

1. Crate Training Your Dog, The MSPCA–Angell
2. Sherry Woodard, Dog Toys, Best Friends Animal Society
3. Finding the Right Vet for Your Cat or Dog, WebMD
4. How to Make Your New Dog Feel Comfortable in Your Home, The Humane Society of the United States

The post 5 Things Your Puppy Can’t Live Without appeared first on .

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Weaning Your Puppy

Like infants, young puppies should be fed exclusively by their moms for up to 4 weeks, even longer if possible. This is to make sure that all of the antibodies that the mother has developed throughout her lifetime are also transferred to her puppies and provide them protection against diseases.

By the time your puppy is around 6 to 8 weeks, you can start introducing solid food. Take note that the weaning process – that activity that calls for the gradual removal of one item and its replacement with another item – doesn’t happen overnight. You don’t remove your puppies from their mom’s breast milk one day and then give them wet puppy food the following day. It doesn’t happen this way.

In weaning your puppy from its principal source of nutrition, you will need to dedicate about 2 to 3 weeks of careful and gradual replacement of the breast milk with semi-solid and eventually solid dog food.

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Your Puppy’s Nutrition

Here’s what is tricky. The milk provided by mommy dogs is nutritionally-balanced for puppies. That is why it is imperative that the food you are going to replace the milk with should have the same nutrient contents as the mommy dog’s milk, or at least very close to its nutritional profile. Unfortunately, the nutrient profile of doggie breast milk varies from dog to dog, depending on the current health and nutritional status of the mommy pooch.

Here are a few guidelines to help you determine the kind of dog food to give to your puppy.

• Puppies require high-protein and high-calorie diets that are enriched with minerals and vitamins. Proteins are needed for organ development while calories will supply their energy requirements without significantly impacting protein stores.
• Puppies need healthy fats especially DHA for optimum development of the central nervous system as well as the eyes.
• Large breed puppies require a slower and more sustained growth if you want to prevent joint and musculoskeletal problems.
• Small breed and stocky puppies will require slightly lower-calorie diets because of their smaller built and uncanny susceptibility to hip dysplasia.

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How Much and How Often Should You Feed Your Puppy?

We already said that your veterinarian can help you determine the right kind and amount of dog food to give to your puppy. However, if we are to look at current veterinary guidelines, you can adhere to the following:

• If your puppy weighs not more than 5 pounds, give it anywhere between ½ cup and 5/8 cups per day.
• If your puppy weighs between 5.1 and 10 pounds, give it ¾ cup to 1 cup per day.
• If your puppy weighs between 10.1 and 20 pounds, give it 1 ¼ cup to 1 ¾ cup daily.
• If your puppy weighs between 20.1 and 40 pounds, give it 2 ¼ cups to 3 cups every day.
• If your puppy weighs between 40.1 and 60 pounds, give it 3 to 4 cups daily.
• If your puppy weighs between 60.1 and 80 pounds, give it 3-2/3 cups to 5 cups per day.
• If your puppy weighs between 80.1 and 100 pounds, give it 4 ¼ cups to 6 cups every day.

The suggested amounts of feeding are on a daily basis. Puppies that are between 8 and 12 weeks old can be fed up to 4 times a day. So if your pup is supposed to eat a cup every day, that means you have to give it ¼ cup every feeding 4 times every day. If your puppy is already 3 to 6 months old, you can divide its feeding into 3 servings. By age 6 months, your puppy is ready for a twice daily feeding which should already resemble the feeding pattern of an adult dog.

Feeding puppies can be tricky especially during the weaning process. Dog food brands typically have recommendations for how much and how often you should feed your puppy. However, the best person to help you decide on this matter is your veterinarian.

Sources:

1. Jennifer Coates, DVM, How Much Should Dogs Eat?, PetMD
2. Sherry Woodard, Feeding Your Dog, Best Friends Animal Society
3. Dog Nutrition Tips, ASPCA

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