House Training your Puppy

The secret to house training is patience, perseverance and developing a routine. No more sleeping in, develop a routine where you take your puppy outside first thing in the morning, every time it wakes up after every sleep, after being left alone for a long period of time, after every meal and just before bedtime. Also watch out for simple signs such as stopping play to walk around in circles, sniffing the ground, sitting or whining at the door. Consider putting a bell on its collar to inform you that it has woken up is a good idea.

Accidents will still happen but if they do and you you catch them in the act, take them immediately outside without punishing them. Punishment does not work and is detrimental. Praise them when they do the right thing and soon you will have a house trained puppy!

Socialising your Puppy

Getting a new puppy is an exciting time for the whole household but it can also be quite demanding. Your new puppy needs a fair bit of your time, care and attention. How well behaved and socialised your puppy will be as an adult is often shaped in its first 6 to 18 weeks of age. For this reason we recommend that your new puppy attend Sanford Veterinary Clinic's Puppy Pre-School. It is here that you will learn the techniques and methods to raise a well adjusted, properly socialised and obedient pet.

Find out more about Puppy Pre-School here.

Driving them around

A good idea is to get you puppy used to being driven around in a vehicle. Short trips are the key. It is a good idea to get your puppy used to a dog carrier and later a car harness for safety. Once that is going well you can progress onto some longer trips.

Vaccinating your Puppy

Vaccinations are essential to protect your puppy against serious and often fatal diseases. Geraldton in particular has a high risk of Parvovirus, which if contracted is often fatal. In most cases your puppy will have already had its first 6 week vaccination when you get it, but it is essential to confirm this with your breeder. At this stage it is important to keep your puppy confined to your property as it does not have full immunization yet. Once you puppy has had its 10-12 week vaccination it can get out and about safely. To fully develop its immunity it will also require a 14-16 week injection. 

Vaccination protocols are;

Puppies

• 6-8 weeks Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvovirus
• 10-12 weeks Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Para-influenza and Bordatella
• 14-16 weeks Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Para-influenza and Bordatella
• ADULTS: Annual boosters for life.

Parasite Control

Worming

Intestinal worms are common in puppies, so worming should be be a regular part of health care for your new puppy. Many worms are not visible to the naked eye and worms can be transmitted to humans, so worming tablets should given regardless of whether worms are seen in the faeces.

Worms such as roundworm can be transmitted from dogs to humans and they are a significant hazard to human health and can cause loss of eyesight in children. Ask us about a suitable all wormer,  either tablet or chew-able for your new puppy.

Flea Control

No-one wants a flea infestation and a new puppy may be the source of fleas or flea eggs that will then lead to a flea problem on your property. Fleas are almost impossible to see on a pet. It is recommended to use a regular flea treatment to control and ultimately break the flea life cycle. This will ensure that your property remains flea free. Remember that all pets in the household need to be treated and simple effective treatments are now available including three monthly chew-able tablets.

Heartworm Prevention

Heartworm is a potentially fatal disease that is transmitted between dogs by mosquitoes. Treatment for the disease is very expensive and not always successful. Prevention is a much better course of action and is not expensive. Prevention can be started at 3 months of age and once yearly Proheart injections provide year round protection so you don't have to remember monthly treatments.

De-sexing your Puppy

We recommend that all pets other than those intended for breeding are de-sexed as adolescents and before they develop mating behaviors. De-sexed dogs are far less likely to roam and fight or develop undesirable behaviors. De-sexing also greatly reduces the incidence of illnesses such as mammary tumors and prostate cancer. There is no medical or social advantage in letting a dog have puppies before being de-sexed.

The best age for de-sexing your new puppy is between 6 to 12 months of age, ideally before first heat.

Find out more about de-sexing your pet here.

Feeding your Puppy

Puppies grow so fast in the first 12 months so you need to give them the very best nutritional start to ensure healthy development. Our nurses can give you specific advice on feeding your new puppy and we also recommend and supply high quality age based foods from Hills and Royal Canin that ensure all your puppy's nutritional needs are correctly met. We use these products for our own pets. A good diet is the foundation to a long and healthy life for your pet.

Checklist for your Puppy

Here is a quick list of essential items you will need for your new puppy.