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Before You Get Your Puppy

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Image: Pixabay

Congratulations on beginning your search for a puppy. Please take your time making your decision. Your puppy’s quality of life as an adult dog pretty much depends on his socialization and training during his first few weeks in your home.

Puppies grow up fast. One day you have a bumbling ball of fur and the next you have a raging adolescent. It is essential that you know how to raise and train a puppy before you get one. The first three months of their lives are a critical period for socialization and training, during which time they will develop the foundation of their lifelong behavior and temperament. You need to be aware of their developmental priorities as well as the basics of raising a puppy and teaching manners and obedience.

Additionally, you should put a lot of thought into which puppy to choose. When and where you get your puppy, the type or breed to choose and the specific puppy you pick, then check our shopping list and buy the necessary puppy training tools so your house is ready to welcome your pup.

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Potty Training your Puppy

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Puppy potty-training often becomes an unnecessary burden to both puppies and their new parents. It creates stress for both parties and can also instil fear in your puppy which should be avoided at all costs. Here are some toilet-training tips that will ensure an easier, more pleasant journey to a house-trained pooch.

What it Takes for the Parent

House-training your fur baby requires immense amounts of patience and consistency on your part, as the parent. Showering them with positive reinforcement for favourable behaviour will also fortify the loving and trusting relationship between the both of you.

House-training can take between 4 – 6 months and in some cases, even up to a year so try to maintain a sense of humour throughout this sensitive process.

Size Matters

Smaller dogs tend to have faster metabolisms and obviously smaller-sized bladders than their larger counterparts, so they’ll need more frequent trips to relieve themselves.

Appropriate Age to Commence

12 – 16 weeks is considered a fitting age for a puppy to start learning where to do their business.

How to Commence

  • Maintain a regular feeding schedule for your puppy and don’t allow them any treats to snack on in between meals as this will set in cause for confusion.
  • Take your puppy outside onto the lawn immediately after a meal. Feeding generally stimulates the digestive system and puppies usually need to urinate approximately 15 minutes after eating. Mother Nature generally calls after your puppy has woken from a nap, so lead them outside to the same spot in the garden to do to their business.
  • Ensure your puppy has gone to the toilet just before you retreat to bed as well as just before you leave them alone for any amount of time.
  • Lead your pup to the same place to relieve themselves every time and stay with them until they’ve completed their task.
  • The most important thing is to make a fuss of your puppy with reassuring praises and scrumptious healthy treats.

Parental Blunders to Avoid

  • By punishing your puppy, you are not only causing them to fear you, which is unacceptable and damaging to the special bond between the two of you, but you’ll jeopardise all the hard work you’ve both put into the house-training process thus far.
  • Using ammonia-based cleaning products will only encourage your puppy to urinate again in the unsolicited area as the scent of these detergents resemble that of urine.
  • Rugs and carpets that bear a resemblance in texture to grass, should be either locked up or closed off from puppy’s reach until house-training is successfully achieved.
  • Set an alarm at intervals during the night to let your puppy outside to relieve themselves. They are too small and too young to go through the entire night without urinating.
  • Laziness on the parent’s part, especially in the middle of the night, is not an option when house-training. Your diligence and hard work will pay off and will swifly speed the process along.
  • Over feeding your pup or feeding them meals at the incorrect times will only stand to confuse them and put the whole system out of sync.
  • It’s unfair to leave your puppy alone for extended periods of time, thereby forcing them to relieve themselves indoors.
  • Exude a calm, patient and supportive attitude throughout the training process. Your intuitive little bundle of fur will pick up if you’re agitated, nervous and impatient with them and this will impede all you have both worked for

Remember that house-training is not a race! It requires patience and empathy from the parent and is also a wonderful opportunity to strengthen your bond with your puppy! By ignoring unfavourable behaviour and reinforcing positive behaviour through encouragement, praise and treats, you’ll be on your merry way to having a house-trained pup in no time!

Written for inFURmation
by Taliah Williamson

Help a guide dog make a difference

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(Picture) Joel Stavil with Ariel, who is being trained as a guide dog, during a visit to the Wilro Lions.

The Guide Dog Association of South Africa (GDASA) is looking for people who can help them raise their special puppies.

Puppy raisers are people who foster the future guide dogs for the first year of the pup’s life, and are responsible for socialising and caring for the puppies. Although it is a rewarding task, it can be very time-consuming.

In order to become a puppy raiser you need to be able to commit for at least 12–18 months, be able to attend training sessions during weekdays and live in Johannesburg, Pretoria or surrounding areas.

The pups are brought to the Training Centre for a 13-week puppy training and socialisation programme, which runs on a weekly basis. Thereafter, monthly group walks and home visits are done.

The puppies can only learn appropriate and desired behaviour when they are with their puppy raisers who will be able to teach them, that is why a home where the puppy would be alone all day during the week, would not be suitable.

It is very important that the pups are exposed to children of all ages throughout their upbringing as well as other pets, that is why multi-pet homes are preferred.

Puppy raisers will also need to ensure that the pups are:– Introduced to people of all races and ages, especially children

  • Taught to relieve themselves only on command when on lead and working
  • Introduced to and be able to behave in an appropriate manner in shopping centres, post offices, shops, restaurants, to name a few
  • Taught how to behave in the home
  • Taught how to behave around people
  • Taught how to walk calmly on a lead and ignore distractions in the environment

All veterinary costs incurred for pups on the scheme, in addition to vaccinations, deworming and micro-chipping, are covered by the GDASA and when puppy raisers go away on holiday or females are in season,the pups will be boarded in the GDASA’s luxurious, air-conditioned kennels.

For more information, contact Leigh on 011 705 3512 or send an email to LeighD@guidedog.org.za.

Source: Roodepoort Record

Prematurely Prying Puppies from their Litters

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Prematurely Prying Puppies from their Litters

Prematurely Prying Puppies from their Litters

Before deciding on introducing a bundle of fluffy joy to your human family, it’s crucial to ensure that the puppy has spent sufficient time with their biological mother and siblings so to avoid potential social, behavioural and even medical problems later in life.

But when exactly are puppies meant to be separated from their mother and litter? Find out more here…

The First Few Weeks of Life

During the first few weeks of a puppy’s life, they really aren’t much different from a human baby. They require the constant presence and attention of their mother because they completely rely on her for sustenance. Moreover, being a part of a litter is a form of socialisation for a young poochlet, where they learn how to ‘play’ with their siblings. A constant learning process takes place in the litter from the day a puppy first opens their eyes at the age of about two to three weeks, until they are separated from their litter, which should be no earlier than eight weeks of age.

The Eighth Week

By the time a little doggy reaches the eighth week of its existence, they have already undergone several developmental stages which help them acquire the skills they would need to survive and thrive as an adult dog.  The progressive sensory development gained from weeks three and four enables the pup to move around and process their surrounding environment. The pace of progress then accelerates from week four onwards due to the start of the socialisation phase where their mother teaches her litter basic manners, the concept of ‘pack leader’ and how to eat solid food when weaning occurs at about four weeks old. Weaning must be done gradually to ensure the physical and psychological health of both the mother and the pups.

As part of their socialisation development, by 8 weeks, puppies should have already been acquainted with their human equals. This introduction should be initiated from 3 to 12 weeks of age, so puppies grow familiar with their new owners. Special, individual attention must be given to each puppy daily thereby forming positive associations to interacting with people.

It is generally accepted that the brains of pups from 2.5 weeks through to 14 weeks of age are capable of welcoming new experiences with little fear and distress. This sensitive time period of what the poochlet experiences, (or doesn’t experience) shapes their character, behaviour and personality as an adult pooch.

Consequences of Early Separation

Before the puppy turns eight weeks old, it can be harmful to separate the baby from its mother for even more than 10 minutes at a time. Poochlets that are permanently separated from the litter at a young age can develop excessive behavioural problems such as anxiety, excessive barking and even aggression. From a medical perspective, such puppies are more inclined to have physical issues such as the inability to gain weight and an enhanced susceptibility to developing diseases due to an underdeveloped immune system. Psychologically, they may have increased tendencies to suffer from separation anxiety and their learning ability could ultimately be hampered. A puppy that is separated from their litter before eight weeks may also exhibit adjustment issues when brought into their new home.

When you do finally bring your puppy home and welcome them into your family, be sure to shower them with love, care and affection as from this day forward, you are their parent. Take every measure to make sure they adjust to their new home with ease and calmness, ensuring a stress-free transition into their new lives with you. They may initially cry for their mother, so be patient and compassionate, reassuring the pup that they have not been abandoned. Sleeping with your fur baby in a bed or crate next to you, playing with them and sincerely caring for and loving them, will not only boost their confidence, but will help strengthen their trust in you which ultimately translates into developing an unbreakable, lifelong bond between the two of you – and that is something precious that money cannot buy!

FYI – For Your Infurmation

Separating puppies from their mothers and litters before they are ready is a bold reminder of:

  1. the potentially destructive effects of lodging puppies in pet shops and other inappropriate housing environments
  2. the significance of suitable and time sensitive socialisation of puppies
  3. the critical need for behavioural intervention when a puppy has been prematurely separated from their mothers and litters and have spent time in a pet shop or other inappropriate housing environments

Written for inFURmation
by Taliah Williamson

The French Muse

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The French Muse

Image: Pixabay

That Frenchie sure is cute!

But where does is come from? The French Bulldog is a man–made breed, the breed was created by crossbreeding the Bulldog with smaller ratter breeds, resulting in the very first variation of French Bulldogs. This was back in the 18th Century.

They have since been bred to be more of a companion breed than a ratter breed. Their mussels have shortened, they have become a bit stockier and today they have many of the bulldog breed health problems that everyone prays to avoid. The French Bulldog is prone to many health issues, some of which are severe and worrisome. It is of utmost  importance that owners educate themselves on the possible health risks before adopting a French Bulldog of any age. Can these health issues be avoided? As a member of the public there is only one way to try and do so if you buy a puppy. The answer lies in the tests done by the breeder to ensure the parents are safe to breed with. You have the right to ask about these tests, whether they were done, whether they carry any genes for any of the major health problems, and of course you have the right to see those test results.

You should always insist on seeing both parents, if possible.

Photos can be deceiving;

  • You need to see them up close and personal,
  • Watch their breathing, watch them walk and run,
  • Look at their eyes, their nostrils and listen to the ever (in)famous snorts and grunts.

It will give you an idea of how your puppy could possibly grow up to be.

But what if you adopt? Well, then you ask the organization you are adopting from if they had the Frenchie vet checked. Every reputable rescue should always have every dog that comes in properly checked over by a vet. A good once over could potentially identify any of the most common Frenchie Health problems.

Source: English & French Bulldog Rescue SA

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Khayelitsha ten-year-old saves puppy

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Khayelitsha ten-year-old saves puppy

Khayelitsha ten-year-old saves puppy

Ten-year-old Andiswa Kwele has been hailed as an animal hero by the Mdzananda Animal Clinic staff in Khayelitsha. Andiswa Kwele was walking home from school when she saw a small puppy on the pavement.

“Many people would walk right past,” said Marcelle du Plessis, Fundraising and Communications Manager, “but this young child picked the puppy up and walked all the way to Mdzananda to get it help.”

The puppy, just three days old, was immediately wrapped in a blanket, placed on a warm water bottle and bottle fed with puppy milk.

“I was so proud of this young girl,” said Sr Heidi May, General Manager. “Seeing children act in this way shows me that our education programmes are working.”

The animal clinic has a strong focus on community education with a variety of programmes including on-site education, door-to-door education, school classes and events in partnership with other organisations.

Khayelitsha ten-year-old saves puppy Khayelitsha ten-year-old saves puppy

“We are proud to announce that we have gained permission to start animal education in four schools in their life orientation classes. We  started these classes at the beginning of this school term and will be working on entering more schools in the rest of the year,” says Mrs May.

In July they hosted educational events in Macassar and Gugulethu and did door-to-door education across Khayelitsha three days a week.

“We believe that a community that loves animals is a healthy community and that, through our educational and health care initiatives, we are helping to create a community with compassion and care for every animal,” says du Plessis.

The puppy, now named Jelly Bean, is doing very well and is being fostered by one of the clinic’s veterinarians until he is ready to be adopted.

About Mdzananda Animal Clinic (www.mdzananda.co.za)
The Mdzananda Animal Clinic is a permanent, veterinary council registered, NPO animal clinic and shelter in Khayelitsha, a township just outside of Cape Town, South Africa, home to 400 000 people (2011 census) and their pets. The reality is that the number is closer to one million people and that there is an estimate of 300 000 companion animals. The clinic serves over 1500 animals per month through consultations, hospitalisation, general and orthopaedic surgeries, continuous sterilisations, mobile clinics, an animal ambulance and a homeless pet shelter. Mdzananda has a strong focus on community empowerment and education to ensure responsible pet ownership into the future.

Source: Mdzananda Animal Clinic

TEARS launches ambitious vaccination campaign to protect community pets against Distemper and Parvo

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TEARS

Image: TEARS supports pet and community health in four under-resourced communities in the Southern Peninsula by providing free sterilisations and vital medical support that includes vaccinations, deworming, and parasite control to at-risk companion animals

Launching this month, and to coincide with World Animal Day last week, TEARS Animal Rescue will be undertaking a ground-breaking 6-month fundraising and community vaccination campaign to protect 3000 at-risk dogs and puppies against two lethal canine viral infections, Canine Distemper Virus (Distemper) and Canine Parvo Virus (Parvo) and decrease the risk of its spreading in the “Deep South” communities of Vrygrond, Masiphumelele, Ocean View and Red Hill.

The TEARS Mobile Clinics aim to vaccinate 500 community pets per month, between October 2023 and March 2024, at a cost to TEARS of R360 000.00 using a newly launched revolutionary vaccine from MSD Animal Health that provides puppies with immunization from these diseases between three (Parvo) and seven (Distemper) days respectively.  A single dose can be given from 4 weeks of age and functions as an effective two-in-one active protection against both viruses.

Says TEARS Head Veterinarian, Dr Tania Heuer, “Based on the recorded efficacy of the new Nobivac® Puppy DP (Distemper/Parvo) PLUS vaccine, TEARS is doubling the monthly number of pets we vaccinate and hopes to record a substantial decline in infection and mortality rates over the short and medium term. The Distemper and Parvo viruses are two of the most infectious diseases to dogs and remain one of the biggest challenges for companion animal welfare organisations working in overcrowded and low-income communities where the number of homeless and unvaccinated animals makes the spread of the disease all the more difficult to contain.”

The Distemper virus, which attacks a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological systems, takes between one and four weeks to incubate; while the Parvovirus can take from as little as three to seven days for symptoms to appear. Parvo mainly targets the gastrointestinal tract resulting in vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

Says Dr Heuer, “Unlike other Distemper and Parvo vaccines, the Nobivac® Puppy DP PLUS vaccine is the only canine core vaccine labelled for use in puppies as young as four weeks of age.”

TEARS supports the best vaccination protocols and advocates that all pets receive a second vaccination at nine weeks of age, a third vaccination at 12 weeks, and then again at 16 weeks. Adult dogs that have not been vaccinated as a puppy only require two vaccines one month apart and thereafter annually.

TEARS Head of Marketing and Fundraising, Lara Van Rensburg comments, “TEARS takes a partnership approach to extending our reach and solving systemic animal welfare issues that affect vulnerable pets and community pet owners. While the cost to TEARS is substantial, we have a duty of care to support community health by providing the most effective preventative measures to combat the spread of deadly viruses to pets in those communities. We are 100% reliant on donor funding, rebates, and sponsorships from our healthcare partners to provide sustainable companion animal healthcare solutions.”

To help TEARS protect vulnerable community dogs and puppies please donate to the TEARS Community Vaccination Campaign.  TEARS relies 100% on donations to provide rescue, treatment, rehabilitation, and rehoming services and is a recognised Level 1 B-BBEE contributor and Public Beneficiary Organisation. Donations to TEARS are tax deductible, with donors receiving a Section 18A tax receipt. Donations can be made to

  • Acc Name: TEARS
  • Bank: Standard Bank
  • Current Bank Account: 072062886
  • Branch No: 051001

Click here to donate:  https://tears.devman.co.za/devman/online/vetoutreach/ or visit www.tears.org.za.

Source: TEARS Animal Rescue

Why Is My Dog Sitting on Me? Five Possible Reasons

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dog

Image: Pixabay

Why Is My Dog Sitting on Me? Five Possible Reasons

Ever ask yourself, “Why is this dog sitting on me when there is a comfy spot right next to me?” Is it just funny or could there be some real motivation behind your dog sitting or lying on you? Here are five reasons why your dog may sit on you rather than next to you, and tips for when to encourage, and when to discourage, a dog from sitting on your lap.

Touch me, touch me not

Since hugging is not something that dogs engage in with each other, dogs generally do not enjoy being hugged by humans. However, dogs who have a good relationship with each other will often lie together touching each other or rest their heads on each other. So your pooch is just reminding you that they enjoy your presence. The sitting might be accompanied with some rolling around in your lap and even playful noises which is often an invitation to some light wrestling and playing, perhaps followed by your dog kissing you to death. Let the good times roll!

Pet parent pats

You may have referred to yourself as a pet parent for many years – the good news is that the research has finally caught up and shown us that dogs have the same relationship with their primary care-giver that children do. So your dog really does enjoy being close to you (they are not just looking for snacks), and they will also seek comfort from you when they are feeling a little unsure about something.

It’s just comfier

dog

Image: Pixabay

For large breed dogs, chairs and sofas just happen to be at a height that is more convenient than the floor, so they will often ‘perch’ their bottoms while keeping their front feet on the floor. For small dogs, the couch is generally more comfortable than the floor and has the added bonus of giving them a better view than their position on the floor allows.

But why do they have to sit on the human? Well, that is something that your clever canine has learnt will generally elicit a pat, stroke or massage from the human hands attached to the lap.

Dodging danger

Dog personalities are as numerous and varied as human ones, and not all dogs are lionhearts. When your dog feels uncertain or apprehensive about something, they will turn to you for comfort and being on top of you is the best way to ensure that they are safe. 

If you are finding that your dog can’t cope with unfamiliar situations unless they are sitting on you, then you should consider contacting a qualified animal behaviourist for help.

Laying claim

Your dog may have a favourite toy, bed, or treat that they will protect from other dogs by holding onto it and growling (or worse) if another dog looks like they may be making moves to steal it. Humans are not as easy to move to a more defensible location, so your pooch will make their claim by sitting on you. 

This is usually not a problem if all the dogs are respectful of each other’s communication signals, however, if this behaviour inevitably leads to fights, you should discourage it by asking your dog to lie somewhere else, or getting up and moving away if they are getting growly.Dogs may sit on you for a variety of reasons, but one thing is for sure: having a dog near you makes every day better!

Source: Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Tiny Khayelitsha puppy protects his family from gangsters

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Khayelitsha

Trouble, Mdzananda Animal Clinic

Tiny Khayelitsha puppy protects his family from gangsters

Four-month-old puppy, Trouble, has been hailed as a brave hero by the Mdzananda Animal Clinic staff in Khayelitsha. The crossbreed puppy put his life at risk trying to protect his human family and furry mom.

On Tuesday morning, a group of gangsters tried to break into his home. His fur mother scared the criminals off by growling and chasing them down the road. Fearlessly, the tiny puppy ran after them too, barking all the way. In his pursuit, the criminals attacked him, breaking his radius and ulnar of the front left leg. Trouble was collected by Mdzananda’s animal ambulance and transported to their NPO veterinary hospital in Khayelitsha.

“As trouble is still very young surgery wasn’t required. Being so small, his bones are still growing. With a splint bandage to keep the bones back in line, they will heal correctly,” says Marcelle du Plessis, Fundraising and Communications Executive. “The splint bandage will stay on for two to three weeks after which our veterinarians will be able to determine how well his healing process is going.”

Trouble is now safely recovering at home and will return to the animal clinic for a check up in three weeks.

“He is a fearless little puppy and a big hero in our community’s hearts. Moral of the story? Be brave, no matter your size,” says Phiwe Finca, Marketing Officer.

Khayelitsha

Trouble, Mdzananda Animal Clinic

If you would like to contribute to the costs incurred to provide Trouble medical care, please contact info@mdzananda.co.za or make a donation to Mdzananda Animal Clinic, Standard Bank, Account: 075595710, Branch Code: 025009, Savings account, Reference: Hero + Your Name.

About Mdzananda Animal Clinic (www.mdzananda.co.za)
The Mdzananda Animal Clinic is a permanent, veterinary council registered, NPO animal clinic in Khayelitsha, a township just outside of Cape Town, South Africa, home to 400 000 people (2011 census) and their pets. The clinic serves an average of 1500 animals per month through consultations, hospitalisation, general and orthopaedic surgeries, a sterilisation clinic, mobile clinics and an animal ambulance. Mdzananda has a strong focus on community empowerment and education to ensure responsible pet ownership into the future.

Source: Mdzananda Animal Clinic

Why Is Training Your Puppy Early So Important?

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puppy

Image: Pixabay

Why Is Training Your Puppy Early So Important?

How does a puppy learn?

Happy, sociable, well-behaved puppies are every owner’s dream. However, you’ll have to put in the effort to get the best outcome, and it’s always wise to start training your furbaby when they’re still young and impressionable. They may have even had some basic toilet training and obedience training from their puppy raiser. But now that they’re home, the task is now yours to reinforce.

Puppies tend to learn very quickly, and as obvious as it might sound, they don’t learn what they’re not taught, so you’ll need to teach them how to behave right from the get-go. There’s a ton of literature and advice available on puppy training, and a quick web search should also point you to training courses that may be available in your area. Alternatively, your vet would also be the best person to advise you on the best training professionals and centres for your specific breed, or may even offer their own training resources.

What basics should you keep in mind?

Puppy training can be approached in many ways, and no two trainers will train a dog in exactly the same way. However, they will mostly agree on these few basic golden rules!

  • Positive reinforcement for good behaviour in dogs: If your puppy does a good thing, reward it. Puppies learn by associating their actions with your reactions. If they get a reward for doing something good, they’re more likely to do it again. However, you have to reward them quickly enough to make the connection — about one or two seconds. You can reward your pup with a treat or with praise, or both. You could also turn it into a game to help reinforce their positive behaviour.
  • Ignoring naughty behaviour in dogs: Sometimes your puppy will be naughty, and you’ll need to teach them what not to do. Certain behaviour, like chewing, is part of how they explore their new world. However, your pup won’t know what to chew and what not to chew. Rather than shouting at your puppy or smacking it when it chews the wrong thing, it’s best to ignore them. Just pretend they’re not there.
  • Saying “no” to protect them or others: Occasionally, your pup will do something potentially dangerous, like chewing on a live electric cord. In this case, you will have to intervene, but without shouting and corporal punishment. Interrupt the pup with the word “no” to get their attention. Then, when your pup stops and pays attention to you, reward it. Again, praise or a treat will help to reinforce what they should or shouldn’t be chewing on or playing with.
  • Keeping the training short and digestible: Puppies, like kids, have a short attention span, so it’s best to keep training sessions brief. It’s better to have five or six two-minute sessions per day than one longer session. You should also train your puppy in a variety of environments, for instance, both inside and outside the house, and on walks. Just make sure that your puppy is not distracted. Your pup will have a better chance of understanding your requests when you have its undivided attention.

Source: Hill’s Pet Nutrition