The 3 Month Old Stage Puppy or Barracuda

The past year or so has been a busy one, and I ended up ignoring my blog... which is really too bad because a lot of things happened in that time. Ill go over it all in another post, but just so I can get to the subject matter, Ill mention a few things quickly. In August, 2014, I lost my beloved black Lab, Berkeley. In September of last year, we adopted a new puppy, a Golden Retriever mix my daughter named Piper. Although I was used to training puppies, I hadnt had one myself in quite some time. Raising a young dog over the past year has helped me become both a better dog owner and a better dog trainer. And with so many people contacting me with young puppies, I thought it was important to devote a blog specifically to the 3 month old puppy stage. Why? Because puppies bite. A lot. And at this age, it can be difficult to know what to do about it.

Training your puppy should not start after he gets his first set of shots nor any time after that. Training  should start the first day you take him home. Getting him used to a crate and used to his routine will make a big difference in how he behaves as a teenage and an adult. Since theres so much I could say about puppy training, though, Ill focus on the stage approximately between 8 weeks and 16 weeks old.

If you own a puppy, perhaps the above picture looks familiar. You try to pet your puppy and he tries to bite the crap out of you. He bites your ankles, your feet, your hands... and really anything he can get his mouth on. If you tell him "No," sometimes he might stare at you with a devilish look and lunge at you, even at your face. Is this something to worry about? Do you have an aggressive dog on your hands? Chances are that you dont. What you have is a puppy testing his limits, treating you like another puppy and "trying" out his dominancy skills.

Ive had almost all breeds act this way, although the pressure of their bite can vary. You might be tempted to run away, put the dog in his crate or put the dog outside. But you are just avoiding a situation that could really be used as a learning tool for your new little beast. So be prepared for a few puppy bites (yes, those razor sharp teeth HURT!) but if you practice with your puppy, teaching him what behavior you like versus the behavior you dont like, it will click... eventually... I promise.

If you are a parent, you might remember those days when you didnt have a lot of control over your toddler. Maybe your child would reach for something she shouldnt have or something dangerous, and you would redirect her to an acceptable item. (No, no, dont put that pen in your mouth... heres your toy!) Its the same thing for your puppy. If you sit on the floor with your puppy and a couple of toys (not hundreds... lets make the puppy excited about the toys, not bored because there are too many), try giving the toy to your puppy. If hes chewing on the toy, tell him with a positive tone, "Good dog" or "Yes." If he mistakes your fingers for a toy or chomps down on you instead, make a startling noise ("Eh! Eh!"). In most cases, the puppy will release. Then replace your hand with the acceptable toy.

Here I am with a chocolate Lab puppy, Dakota, teaching him that its okay to bite the toy, but not okay to bite me.

The one thing to keep in mind is that before 4-5 months old, a puppy doesnt care that much about verbal praise or even that much about petting as a reward. A tired puppy might like to snuggle or be pet, but if your puppy is full of energy, chances are that he prefers to bite than to be pet. Pick your battles. Dont force him to accept cuddles if hes feeling rambunctious. Likewise, if you dont have time to work with him when his energy level is high, give him something to occupy his attention (kong with frozen peanut butter in it, a bone filled with treats, an interactive toy). Sometimes you may need to put him away in his crate or behind a baby gate. Work with your puppy if you are able, but its okay if you sometimes dont have the time. Just be prepared to choose another time to play with your puppy and teach him what is acceptable to chew on. There were definitely days when I told my kids not to interact with Piper because she was in "Hyper Piper" mode. Instead of making my kids afraid of their puppy, I told them to come back and play with her once shed settled down.

There is so much more I could say about puppy training, but youll just have to hire me to find out. :-) Meanwhile, if you have a young puppy that is biting you, acting more like a shark than a puppy, dont worry too much. It is definitely a stage young puppies need to go through... and there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

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3 dog training tips for dealing with dog emergencies

3 Tips For Dealing With Dog Emergencies
by Antonius Januar

Have you ever thought about what you need to do should your dog – or another dog – ever suffer a serious, life-threatening injury? What if they have a severe allergy to an insect bite or a bee sting? It’s great to know your vet’s phone number, but what if something happens during off hours? What if you don’t know where the closest emergency animal clinic is located?

Augh! Enough with the questions already, right? Any emergency is stressful and scary, and one involving that furry little four-legged member of your family is no exception. The toughest of owners can be instantly reduced to helpless balls of mush if something’s wrong with their dogs and they can’t figure out what to do.

1. Preparation is key.

The key to getting through a veterinary emergency is preparation. You may think you have that covered with a first aid kit and having the phone number to your vet handy, but what if there isn’t enough time to move your dog? You need to be well-versed in some of the more common animal emergencies just in case a situation ever arises. And hey, if a situation never arises, you’ll still feel more confident knowing that you have the ability to deal with one.

2. Know how to care for wounds.

Did you know that you shouldn’t use hydrogen peroxide on a bleeding wound? Nope. It slows clotting to the area, which means your dog could actually lose more blood than he would if you didn’t use the peroxide at all.

In fact, the best way to treat a deep, severely bleeding wound is to apply a clean cloth and hold it in place for five minutes, then tape the cloth to the wound. That original cloth should never be removed – that also slows clotting – and should instead be layered with more clean cloths if blood soaks through.

3. Know what to do about poisoning.

Did you know that certain varieties of toads, salamanders, newts, and other amphibians are poisonous if licked? Hey, guess who loves to hold little woodland critters in his mouth! Your dog.

If you notice your pup drooling, whining, and wiping at his mouth after a trip into the forest, get him to a clean water source and rinse his mouth thoroughly. While the poison can be fatal if left in the mouth, it’s fairly easy to cleanse from the tongue and glands.

Now imagine all of the scenarios that can happen to your dog, from fractured limbs to choking and everything in between. Do you really want to risk not knowing how to handle them? You don’t have to anymore, since I’ve written Secrets to a Healthy and Happy Pooch to help you learn how to cope with nearly any emergency as well as have the basis for handling all of the everyday and lifelong problems and situations you’ll face with your dog.

From choosing toys to cancer and everything in between, it’s all in the book… as well as how to create the most effective first aid kit and handle the most common emergencies. Listen, even the most experienced dog owner needs a little help and advice now and then. Secrets to a Healthy and Happy Pooch is that constant source of help and advice.

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