MINI AUSSIES
TIPS & TRICKS
Knowing what a breed was initially bred for (e.g. hunting, herding, retrieving, guarding) is useful. And understanding which behavior problems are characteristic of certain breeds may also be helpful.
When picking an individual puppy from a litter, owners should note that predicting adult behavior based on puppy behavior is usually unreliable. Many factors will enter into a pet's adult behavior. Environmental factors, genetics, and breed characteristics play important roles. The behavior seen at 6 to 8 weeks of age is subject to change as the puppy matures.
However, it is important that of the ground work of socialization and skills has been instilled from birth.
A NEW PUPPY!!
They can be a handful...
Bonding with your Puppy
How do people bond with their new puppies? Puppies are impressionable at this age and are willing to bond with people. What is needed for bonding is calm, patient, and consistent attention. Allow the puppy to become familiar with the routine for eating, voiding, and playing and provide positive interactions, not negative. You should spend a lot of time with the new puppy. One method is to leash the puppy in the room the owner is in. This allows the puppy to be with the owner yet avoid getting into trouble. The puppy should see its owner as a source of affection, interaction, and comfort. Puppies deprived of human interaction for long periods will often resort to attention-getting behaviors such as jumping up, running, and play biting.
Crate Training
When making the transition to a new home, a puppy needs a quiet, safe place to stay when unsupervised. This can be a small room or a crate. A comfortable crate can minimize destruction and maximize house-training efforts. A crate also protects an unsupervised puppy from injury. The crate should be big enough to accommodate the puppy as an adult. When introducing a puppy to a crate, first use the crate as a resting and feeding spot and should always associate pleasant things with the crate. If the puppy cries at first, it should be kept in the crate until it is quiet, and then removed. A puppy should not be left in the crate for so long that it must eliminate in it. And you should avoid leaving food and water in the crate overnight. The puppy must have plenty of opportunities to exercise and to eliminate outdoors. A crate is not an excuse to ignore a puppy. An owner who is out of the house eight to 10 hours a day should not leave a puppy in a crate all day long. (See "How to housebreak your new puppy".)
Other Pets in the Family?
Supervision is important when introducing a puppy to other pets already in the family. The puppy and the other dogs should be on leashes, and the owner should organize short, supervised interactions, separating them before they get uncomfortable. The owner should gradually increase the time they are together and reward them for good behavior.
Disciplining a puppy
Young puppies are easily intimidated, and this needs to be kept in mind when disciplining them. Harsh physical punishment is unnecessary and may frighten a puppy and make it hand-shy. Properly training puppies, as described below, minimizes the need for disciplining and establishes the owner as the leader. When discipline is required, puppies are easily corrected with noise distraction and a change in vocal intonation. Other methods of discipline used in the past have included handling exercises that mimic how dogs may physically dominate one another. If these techniques are improperly applied, they can result in resistance and possible aggression.
Promoting socialization
Socialization in dogs takes place between 4 and 12 weeks of age, when puppies are most receptive to certain stimuli. During this period, puppies easily make social attachments and learn how to interact with other dogs and species. Although socialization is lifelong, what happens during this early period can be crucial. At this age, puppies should be exposed to many new people (e.g. delivery persons, people wearing uniforms, children, infants, teenagers, elderly persons). These meetings should be pleasant; for example, the people could offer the puppy a biscuit or treat. The message conveyed to the puppy is, "Aren't these people nice, they feed me." It's also advantageous to expose the puppy to new things: stairs, elevators, different types of vehicles, umbrellas, bicycles-the list is endless. By being introduced to people and things in a calm, reassuring setting, the puppy learns to handle new situations without fear. And as an added bonus, the puppy learns to trust its owner, therefore creating a stronger bond.
During the socialization period, an owner should continue allowing the puppy to interact with adult dogs and other puppies. One good way to accomplish this is to enroll it in a puppy class once preliminary vaccinations are given. The minimum age for puppies to start a puppy class is usually 8 to 10 weeks. Most puppy classes have a play time that allows the puppies to run, chew, and jump on each other and learn the important social lessons of the dog world.
"A good dog deserves a good home."
-Proverb
