WHI :: Puppies

HEALTH TESTING:

Young Puppies
See Health>Testing Protocols>Puppies

Breeders
Health Testing for parents, see Testing Protocols Prior to Breeding

The Puppy Pack
Record your puppy's growth and development. Log vital pedigree and medical information. Provides advice on diet, house training, grooming and health.

For the The Puppy Pack and other books on this subject, go to our Book Shop, and view the More on Puppies category.

While it is important to have tests for the health of puppies and parents, the importance of how a puppy is reared in the breeders home, together with the early formation of its life in a new home, will have an enormous impact on health and behaviour in adult life and therefore how you enjoy your life with your pet.

The Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of GB operates a puppy placement scheme to assist with this daunting task, however the following helpful extracts are reproduced with permission from the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT).

If you are choosing a puppy always visit the breeder’s home. Do not to have the puppy delivered because you will never really know what the mother is like in temperament nor will you know what type of environment the pup was brought up in.

It is important to meet the mother of the pups and if possible the father. Visiting also means you have a chance to talk with the breeder, look at any paperwork, see how the mother is with you and the pups, how the pups are with each other and their environment.

The puppies should look clean, happy and healthy. Their environment should be clean and warm with warm bedding and fresh water.

They should be moving around normally and not sitting in an unusual manner (could indicate underlying hip problems).

They should be eating a well balanced diet.

How often do they have human contact; it should be frequent throughout the day.

Are the puppies kept in the house? If not are they warm, dry and experiencing the normal background noises in a home such as the radio, people talking, and walking, sounds of the kitchen etc.

Have the puppies been experiencing an enriched environment; are the pups given different toys to play with and areas to explore? This helps to simulate them mentally and to develop their brains normally.

It is important for them to have a few objects and small amounts of new experiences to stimulate all five senses to help them develop mentally and physically. New experiences must be given carefully to a new pup.

Remember if you don’t like what you see make your excuses and leave. See more on this Link to Gwen Bailey's Puppy School, How to find a Good Breeder

Heard about buying on line, watch and listen to advice given by The Dogs Trust

Eight weeks - Ideally a puppy should be at least this age when they go to a new home as this allows for the mother to have completed her disciplinary training of the pups, such as teaching bite inhibition.

Pups and Mum

This time is very important for the pups as they learn how to interact and communicate with other dogs properly. However, not every mother is good at discipline and in large litters not every mother can interact with them all, so if they are left with their siblings too long some may become bullies.

For a photographic catalogue of puppies development from birth to leaving home, see the Puppies section of our Gallery

The breeder should supply all the necessary paperwork and a diet sheet detailing exactly what, how much, and when the pup is fed. It is very important not to change the diet immediately as this can cause stomach upset.

Remember it will be stressful for the pup to leave its family and to go into a new home with virtual strangers. Allow the pup time to adjust to its new environment and people. Try and keep everything calm and gentle in order that every new experience for your new pup is a nice one. It is important for the puppy’s happy adjustment that the puppy’s new life is not overwhelming.

DIET
Puppies should be fed four times a day until they are twelve weeks, three times a day until they are six months and then twice a day for the rest of their lives.

For a puppies first few months in its new home the breeders should give advice on the type and quantity of food.

For the adult dog there is a confusing amount of dog food on the market.

EXERCISE
Just how much exercise is enough for your young puppy?

Your puppy is allowed to go out after his vaccinations, but it is a big mistake to go for a long hike in the hope of tiring him out. His young bones and joints are just not developed enough to withstand this, he will become over-tired and grumpy, you may hurt the pads on his feet and he may well end up with an aversion to going on the lead.

Two fifteen minute walks are adequate for a young pup – couple this with some mental stimulation in the form of dog training and this will give you a tired and a happier pup.

Work up to taking your pup on two thirty minute walks when he is six months old and when he is an adult you can walk him for as long as you want.

HOME ALONE
One of the most appealing qualities of a dog is the desire to enjoy the company of other dogs and of their owners and other humans. But there are potential problems for the owner who does not take steps to build a healthy relationship with their dog nor teach their pup to be relaxed when left alone.

In many cases the importance of this aspect of caring for your pet dog is not apparent until things go wrong. In extreme cases, owners require professional help when their dog engages in such things as destructive chewing; whining or howling; urination and defecation; when left alone.

As always, prevention is better than cure and this sort of behaviour can be avoided by the following: -

GOOD SOCIALISATION. Take every opportunity to introduce your pup to new experiences, new people and new places. Seek out your local APDT member for advice and enrol in a puppy class. Your aim should be to build confidence and avoid over attachment to one person. Introduce your dog to your friends and neighbours and teach it to be relaxed with other people.

CRATE TRAINING. The crate offers many benefits. It prevents your pup following you all around the house; enables you to be separate but still in sight; gives the pup its own space and place of comfort and safety. Even older dogs can be introduced to a crate. Make sure the crate is comfortable, covering it with a blanket and give your dog a food-delivering toy, such as a Kong, while the dog is crated.

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT. The most stressful time for our pup is immediately after you leave. A simple training programme will help. Start by walking a distance away from your pup; turning to walk back; greet calmly and reward a good response (if your pup becomes over excited, ask for and reward a sit or a down). Then leave the room, pause briefly out of sight and return as before. Gradually increase the duration of absence. When your pup is secure and relaxed when you are out of sight, go out of the house and return as before. As before, gradually increase the duration of absence. Putting your jacket on before leaving will strengthen the effect of this exercise.

A CALM EXIT. Do not make a fuss before going out. Too much attention may increase your pup’s insecurity when the attention is removed. Your pup will not understand your words but will have a heightened sense of something going to happen.

A CALM RETURN. While it is nice to be greeted by a dog that is clearly delighted to see you, do not take too much fuss when you return this attention.

There is no single way to teach a dog to be relaxed when alone. Each dog is different and must be treated differently, but the points listed above will help you teach your dog to be content when left alone.

Puppies warrant a page of their own, such is the importance of 'getting things right' at the beginning. In making sure that a new owner can have a happy and healthy dog for the rest of its life means that it is a pleasure to own and a pleasure to be with.