GETTING THAT NEW PUPPY & RAISING A CONFIDENT DOG

MMaggie Weeks HOTNTOT CHINESE CRESTEDS

Living in today's society is stressful for our four legged companions as well as ourselves ..Stress is mentally and emotionally disruptive in response to upsetting conditions... All living organisms experience stress , not all stress is bad .. For example : the stress of hunger compels us to seek our food which keeps us alive . Good stress "Eustress " are associated with responses that are beneficial to comfort- survival- and reproduction ...

Common stressors in our canine companions are :Excessive confinement---Lack of exercise--Lack of attention --Loud noises ---Separation distress and Excessive punishment ..There are also other stressors which are too many to list here ..

Dog stressors mostly relate to the inability to predict or control their environment..Aggression--Fear and Separation anxiety are the most obvious ones .. If your companion shows signs of negative stimuli in his environment, often owners miss the subtle signs ..Panting --Excessive barking/whining ----Pacing--Licking ---Looking away---Inappropriate chewing ---Sniffing ---Foam drooling--Trembling when its not cold --Tense muscles , and dilated pupils .

All dogs are capable of biting given the right or wrong set of circumstances ..Each animal has a bite threshold ..Each stressor in a dogs life builds towards that threshold.. It is extremely important between the ages of 4 to 18 wks of age a puppy needs lots of positive stimuli in those important early months of his life,so that negative stressors do not build to the canine equivalent of canine road rage ..

It is extremely important in those first early months puppies are socialized and handled and puppies are taught from the very beginning that the world is a fun and safe place .
It is important when wanting a knew puppy to join your family you choose carefully ..The informative early months of that puppies life is extremely important to the dog he will become .

Puppies raised in outside kennels, puppies seldom handled then taken away from their mothers and litter siblings too early and transported long distances into pet stores, these puppies have lost their mothers and siblings too soon ..People bring this little puppy home , or rescue it, or buy it from an unreliable source and the deficiencies and adverse experiences are waiting to grow. Just add water and you have got behavioral problems .If you acquire a puppy from 7 to 8 wks old you have the back end of that period to work with and you are dependent on whom-ever you got that puppy from to have done all the correct things ..

Breeders who work towards improving their chosen breed , who breed for the sole purpose of improving the breed and not for puppy sales , who breed for temperament in their lines make a big difference in a puppies behavior .. So choose a breeder carefully and ask to see the parents and relatives , to observe their adult behavior and the conditions the puppies are raised and their adult dogs are housed . The breed you choose can also impact future behavior problems .. Be sure the breeder tests her adult breeding parents before breeding to insure no genetic defects are handed down to the offspring ..

If you adopt a puppy from a shelter and have no idea of its past history and formative early months , pat yourself on the back for your noble gesture , but be prepared for a little extra work ...

Puppies are like sponges absorbing the world around them .. When your puppy is fully immunized expose it to many knew places and people from the beginning of his life to gain confidence and trust . Under-socializing can lead to fearfulness- -anxiety--phobias and even aggression . Just don't overdo it :Taking a puppy to the grocery store and standing by the revolving door letting everyone touch him isn't socialization , that's flooding him .. You can over stimulate a young puppy causing the opposite effect: fearfulness and head shy behavior .

The trend today is not teaching obedience but good manners, to become polite family members. A default behavior is what your dog does when he is not sure what he is supposed to do .. For many dog "jump up " is a default behavior as it elicits desired attention .. ""Sit" is a better default behavior.. By teaching him early and rewarding him often , your dog will learn good stuff happens when he plops his furry bottom on the floor , he will offer "Sits' to get treats-praise and rewards.

Nothing in life is free , so to your dog must learn he earns good things in life by sitting which is good behavior as well as other good behavour.

Always train your puppy /dog with a soft hand and a soft voice .. Human emotional instability can cause canine instability , making our dogs neurotic. Neurosis is an emotionally maladaptive and persistent habit of compulsion that resists modification through normal processes of learning. As responsible pet owners you have the responsibility to teach your four legged companions how to be well mannered members of your family as we expect and teach our human children.

A reputable ethical breeder will raise that puppy in optimal clean and loving surroundings--Start potty training ---Vaccinate , and give complete instructions on the care and feeding for the puppy and insist on a spay neuter contract for all pet/companions and suggest that puppy when it is old enough is microchipped for his/her protection and safety.

A health record should accompany each puppy and a breeder should be available to answer any questions on the care and well being of that puppy to its knew owners.
Not only do you want a happy socialized puppy , it is also important to have a healthy one .

Not every puppy in any given litter will be good enough in the breeders estimation to reproduce or be shown in conformation .. Some puppies do not like the noise and activity of large crowds and dogs at dog shows and prefer a warm lap and a home environment .. These puppies make ideal pet/companions, to approved loving homes ..

A happy well adjusted trained puppy/dog will leave an imprint on your heart.

MAGGIE WEEKS HOTNTOT CHINESE CRESTEDS
July 2005