Puppy Info 

Vaccinations

Most puppyhood diseases are preventable with vaccines although the vaccines cannot prevent disease if the puppy is exposed before the vaccine is given. Because many pups may not develop immunity against the diseases for several weeks, all pups must be kept away from dogs that are not current on their vaccinations. All puppies should start their vaccinations between 6-8 weeks of age. Below is a summary of the vaccination schedule we recommend.

• DHLPPV is given every 3 weeks until the pup is at least 15-16 weeks old, then repeated every 12 months after that.
• (D) DISTEMPER is an upper respitatory disease that resembles “kennel cough” but can be fatal.
• (H) HEPATITIS is a virus that affects the liver and can lead to death.
• (P) PARAINFLUENZA is a virus that causes flu-like symptoms.
• (PV) PARVO is one of the most common viruses that affect puppies. It attacks the intestinal tract and causes severe vomiting and diarrhea.
• (L) LEPTOSPIROSIS is a bacterial disease transmitted by contact with the urine of wild animals carrying the disease. It causes liver and kidney damage, and can be transmitted to humans.
• CORONA is another intestinal virus of dogs.
• BORDETELLA is one of the most common causes of “kennel cough” in dogs. Puppies usually receive this vaccine once at about 12 weeks of age. We recommend a booster every 6 months for life.
• RABIES is the only virus that can affect humans as well as dogs and other species. It affects the nervous system and is usually fatal. The first booster, by law, must be given by the age of 12 weeks and is required once yearly for life.
• LYMES is a tick borne disease that can also affect humans. We recommend this for dogs that may be traveling to or camping in areas where the disease is endemic.

Heartworm and Flea Preventatives

• Heartworms reside in the heart and are carried from dog to dog through mosquito bites.
• Dogs that live in the gulf state area stand about a 75% chance of developing heartworms during their lifetime if they are not placed on preventatives.
• All puppies should start on heartworm and flea prevention between 6-8 weeks of age. Dogs should be tested for heartworms once every year.
• There are several forms of heartworm and/or flea prevention available. We recommend Revolution due to the wide spectrum of parasites that it prevents and treats.

Heartworm and flea preventatives come in the form of a tablet or a spot-on. Pets should be treated year round on a monthly basis due to the heavy infestation of both mosquitoes and fleas in this area of the United States.

Crate Training for Puppies

Your puppy will need to have a place to call its own. Considered den animals, members of the canine species dig a hole in the ground where they live and raise their young. Part of raising a healthy dog is providing it with its own sanctuary, and a crate is a perfect solution. Crate training is neither cruel nor unfair, providing your puppy has sufficient exercise and an opportunity to eliminate before you place it in the crate. However, allowing your dog to wander freely through the home unsupervised, investigating, chewing, and eliminating is unwise and potenially dangerous.

Benefits:

• Puppies who are crate trained are more likely to be indoor pets and become a part of the family.
• Crates provide a sense of security for your dog.
• Crates often keep puppies out of trouble, preventing costly damage due to chewing and elmination.
• Fewer problems mean less discipline for your puppy and less frustration for you.
• Crates help your puppy become accustomed to caging, making travel and boarding easier for your dog.

Tips:

• When purchasing a crate, you must remember to leave enough room for your dog to stand and turn around even when it is full-grown. We prefer the kennel-cabs. These are plastic carriers with the windows on the sides and back. Tom Thumb, or most grocery stores, carries several sizes at good prices. We can order one for you, but we must know 1 to 2 days in advance as you will want your carrier there the first night you have your new puppy.
• Initially you may want to place the crate in an isolated area of the home (i.e. the laundry room) because, at first, your puppy may vocalize its objections to being confined. Once your pup has become accustomed to its crate, you may consider moving it into the den or the bedroom where they can be around members of the family even while in the crate.
• The first confinement session should be after a period of play, exercise, and elmination (when it is ready to take a nap). Place the puppy in its crate with a toy and treat, and close the door. Leave the room but remain close enough to hear your puppy.
• Never reward the pup by letting it out when it cries or whines. Ignore it until the crying stops, and then release it.

Behavior Training

Puppies learn best when training starts early. You must remember that puppies cannot reason. They only learn by repetition. There is no malice intended when they misbehave. They simple do not understand. Your body language, tone of voice, reprimands and praise are the only way a pup can tell if a behavior, at that instant, is pleasing to the owner. You cannot punish a puppy for something he did earlier in the day. He simply will not understand. More than likely he will relate punishment to some other behavior. If training is not consistent, the puppy will become confused. Your puppy’s only purpose in life is to please you. If he does not know what is expected of him, he will simply withdraw or act out in frustration. Many experts feel that raising a puppy is excellent training for raising children.

• We recommend starting simple commands at the same time you are house training your pup, about 6-8 weeks. You can start by training your puppy to sit and stay.
• Remember that you should only say a command one time and the assist the pup in performing it. Otherwise your puppy will learn only to obey when a command has been repeated several times.
• You can use a small treat as a reward. A ball or favorite toy also works well, but remember that it must be large enough not to swallow.
• Puppies must also learn the word “no”. Dogs can tell simply by the tone of your voice, and sometimes your body language, if you are unhappy. We do not recommend ever hitting a dog as this may lead to fear biting. Never call your puppy to punish it. You must always approach the puppy if you are planning to scold it, otherwise your pup will learn very quickly not to come to you.
• Taking your puppy to a training class is the best way to get expert advice and socialize your puppy. Remember to keep your puppy current on vaccinations especially if he is going to be around other dogs. Check with the receptionist about training classes held here at Main Street Veterinary Hospital.

Collars

We recommend using a head halter instead of a collar that fits around your puppy’s neck. The head halter is much more humane and gives you better control when walking or training your pet. These collars can prevent many behavioral problems such as pulling, lunging, jumping, barking, and even aggression.

We recommend using “The Gentle Leader”. This collar features two soft nylon straps - the collar portion fits high at the top of the neck, and the nose loop fits comfortably across the base of the muzzle. Each strap has a distinct and important effect.

• The nose loop Dogs are naturally “pack” animals with a highly structured social order. One of the ways the “pack leader” will demonstrate his position is to gently but firmly grasp a subordinate’s muzzle in his mouth. This is a non-aggressive but very clear signal regarding who’s the boss. Dogs feel more secure when they know who the leader is.
• The neck strap Have you noticed how puppies seem to melt in relaxation when their mother picks them up at the back of the neck? Gentle Leader applies pressure to the back of the neck rather than the front of the throat, working with your dog’s natural relaxation instinct with an amazing calming effect. Also, dogs tend to pull against pressure, so the gentle pressure at the back of the neck causes the dog to pull backward, not forward. This means an end to leash-pulling forever!