Your Child’s First Puppy


 

Do you remember buying your first puppy? Of course you do. It is, without question, one of the milestones in your life. It's an exciting time picking up a warm bag of fur with a wet nose and bright eyes. Licked for the first time...taking it home in the car...the incontinence trouble afterwards....

 

If you ask any adult about the day their parents finally let them have a puppy, they can surely describe it in detail. My first dog’s name was Raffles and I was the most excited six-year old in the neighbourhood that day. Years from now, I am sure I could re-tell the vivid details of that experience - immediately falling in love with my new best friend, how tiny his little paws were, the collar I picked out at the pet store. These are things you don’t forget, and long after the dog has passed and we are no longer children, the memories will still be with us.

A dog is a new member to the family and will be a good friend, confidante and playmate to your children. Having an animal they are close to will be something your children will never forget and will be fond memories for years to come. If you are choosing to get a four legged addition to the family, it will be something they will think back to many years down the line.

 


 

What to Teach Your Children to Expect About the New Puppy

 

Children are easily excitable, and a new puppy is certainly something they’ll get worked up about! Puppies are adorable and fun and a new family member to play with, so know that your children will be very excited. They will want to get to know their new friend, to pal around with him, play fetch, go for walks, play in the park. There are limitless options on all the fun your child can have with the puppy and they will be bursting at the seams to do all of them.

 

This dog isn’t the neighbourhood kid’s dog, it’s not a stranger’s dog, it is their dog and they will be very eager to start a solid friendship based on love and fun with their new friend.

 

More importantly, the dog is not a toy, nor is it an animal that can be mistreated. For example, it might be funny on television to tie dynamite sticks to a dog's tail....

 

However, being the parent, you have to consider things from the puppy’s perspective. The puppy is very young and very scared and in a new place around brand new people. It will likely be very stressed and afraid when you first bring him home. Because of this, the puppy will need some time to adjust. He will surely love getting to know you and your children, but initially he will need a period of time in which he gets the proper space and treatment for him to deal with the stresses of entering a new home.

 

The best way to address how the puppy should be treated when he first arrives is with pre-emptive strike: call a family meeting.

 

Let your children know that the new puppy is going to very nervous and scared and that even though they are going to be excited to play with him, they need to be careful not to hurt or frighten the new family member.

 

You should teach them several rules to abide by around the new puppy:

 

  1. Use indoor voices around the puppy. Shouting or raised voices could scare the puppy and should be forbidden.

 

  1. No aggressive play or roughhousing with the puppy. Let them know that a new puppy is very much like a new baby. It is very small and delicate and could easily get hurt.

 

  1. Siblings should not fight around the puppy. Dogs are very empathic creatures and a new puppy could easily sense tension or anger between your children and become stressed.

   

Make your children recite these rules aloud until you are sure they know them well. Keeping your children aware of the new puppy’s needs will start their bond with the new family member as a strong one and will keep the puppy happy and not stressed.

 

 

The Campbell Puppy Test 

 

Or...how to get yourself a healthy, happy puppy.

 

Why should you test a puppy?

 

A dog’s personality can be observed at a very young age. Is he dominant? Submissive? A comfortable medium? Knowing where your puppy falls on that range can help greatly when you decide to train him.

 

One might say that the Campbell Puppy Test will help you to pick the perfect animal. This is wholly inaccurate. The test merely allows you to pick a dog that has a generally agreeable personality (not too dominant, not too submissive) and that is mentally sound. There is no perfect animal, just as there is no perfect human and regardless, dog training is considered affected and driven 70% by the trainer's experience and personality and only 30% by the dog’s.

 

The bottom line is: you want a dog with an pleasant character, otherwise there will be a host of problems later on, as the dog grows up.

 


 

Before the Test

 

Make sure before you perform the puppy test that the dog is in a space not familiar to the dog and where there are no outside distractions to pull the puppy’s attention from the test.

 

At the age of 5 to 7 weeks, a puppy’s personality is mostly set, but they are not completely attached to humans. This is the optimal time range to perform the puppy test.

 

To avoid potentially inaccurate results, the test should be given by someone who has not met the dog before.

 

The Puppy Test

 

Below is the guidelines to follow to administer the Campbell Puppy Test. This test is not the only puppy test in existence, but is generally accepted as an accurate test to determine the personality type of your puppy.

   

There are 5 areas the test focuses on:

 

  • Social Attraction

  • Response to Obligation

  • Social Domination

  • Facility to Follow

  • Acceptance to be Lifted

 

To gauge social attraction, the tester merely sits several feet from the puppy and observes its reactions. Does the dog follow the tester? If it does come, what is its body language, is its tail held high or is it low? Does the dog run away? Does he check out the testing room?

 

To observe the puppy’s response to obligation, the dog is placed on his back and held down by his chest with the tester’s flat palm. How does the animal react? Does he squirm angrily or try to bite the hand holding him down? Does he protest at first but calm eventually? Does he lay quietly or try to lick the hand holding him down?

 

To test the puppy’s tendency toward or away from social domination, the tester should simply sit with the puppy and pet him. The puppy may try to run away or may roll onto his back. Does he lick the tester’s hands or bite them? Does he crawl onto the tester?

 

The dog’s facility to follow should be judged by the tester placing the puppy near him and then walking a few feet away. Does the puppy follow or wander off by himself? Does he eagerly follow and jump on the tester, or maybe even nip at his ankles? Does he follow closely or from a distance?

 

The last thing tested is the dog’s acceptance to be lifted. To do this, the tester should lift the dog away from him only by his chest, making sure the puppy doesn’t see him. Does the dog stay calm or try to lick the tester’s hands? Does he seem anxious and struggle or try to bite the tester’s hands? Does he squirm at first, but eventually calm down?

 

The way the puppy reacts to these small tests will give you a general feel for whether the dog has a more dominant personality, a submissive one or if he’s somewhere in the middle. The first time or beginner dog owner should try to avoid choosing a dog that is one extreme or the other. An overly dominant or submissive dog will require specific and advanced training from a someone who is familiar with training animals.

 

Bottom line: a dog with a balanced personality is the best way forward. Otherwise you will literally be 'dogged' with bad luck. Nor do you want to be 'hounded' by angry neighbours. Or find yourself reading blog content with bad puns. So, choose carefully.

 

 How Much Is A Can of Dog Food: Stevie Reeves.

 

Stevie Reeves is a terrier cross dog. He’s roughly two years old and was living rough until recently when he was adopted by Harry and Amanda. He now lives in comfort in Sevenoaks. Little is known about Stevie, other than his hatred of squirrels and fondness for nipping small children. He is wilful and he does have strong opinions on things.


When were you happiest?
On my last walk.


What is your greatest fear?
The bath.


What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Constantly standing behind my master (and finding a size 11 shoe on my paw).


What is your most treasured possession?
My tennis ball.


Who do you most admire?
Whoever is holding my lead or the treats.


What is your fancy costume of choice?
I don’t do dressing up, thank you.


If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
The ability to fly and catch squirrels.


What has been your most embarrassing moment?
I was busy ‘entertaining’ a young lady on the beach when I realised we were in the middle of an ashes scattering ceremony.


What is your favourite smell?
Fox poo.


Who or what is the love of your life?
My tennis ball.


What is your favourite food?
It used to be cheese, but I overdosed, so now it’s between ham and chocolate.


What makes you unhappy?
My inability to catch a squirrel.


Children or adults?
Definitely adults, although children can make a tasty snack.


What is your favourite word?
‘Paw’ which is always followed by a treat.


Where would you most like to be right now?
Lullingstone Park with my tennis ball.


Tell us a joke
Cats.


 

 

 

 

                                  Picking the Perfect Dog

 

Picking the perfect dog is often a difficult thing to do. Even so, the effort is well worth it because when you find one that is just right you’ll have a friend for life. On the other hand, picking a pet that is the wrong fit can make life hard for everyone.

 


 

If the dog is not suited for the family, this creates a host of problems. If you don't want a dog behaviourist to remedy its problems, the dog might find itself dumped in a dogs' home. And we don't want that.

 

There are many things to consider when choosing a pet. Some of the requirements are age, temperament, breed, and history. Beyond those criteria you also need to think about how you live. This might mean considering other pets in the home as well as the frequency of your travel. If there are children involved it is especially important to consider the dog that is right for them.

 

Another thing to think about is whether or not you can afford a dog. There are certain breeds that are more costly over the long run than others. If money is tight, you might want to consider whether you should get a dog in the first place.

 

Also, consult your family. If everyone in the household is going to have to live with this animal and care for it you must make sure they agree with the decision. This means evaluating the size of the animal and the breed everyone likes best.

 

If you’re going to want an adult dog be sure your follow these guidelines:

  • The dog behaves well around children

  • The dog gets along well with the pets you already have

  • The dog is healthy

  • The dog is friendly to family as well as guests

  • The dog has a good history

  • The dog fits in well with your current lifestyle

 

If you’re going to want a puppy be sure to follow these guidelines:

  • The parents of the puppy are healthy

  • The facility where the puppy was born and kept is clean and professional

  • The siblings of the puppy are active and explore their surroundings

  • The adults in the kennel are friendly

  • The puppy has clear eyes

  • The facility owners have references

  • The facility owners have a lot of experience

  • There is a return policy

  • The puppy comes with records of all vaccinations and health issues

 

If the dog or puppy does not meet these guidelines you’ll have to make a tough decision. You might want to look at other kennels and find a different dog. If you’re not hunting around in kennels you can also check animal shelters. Sometimes that’s the best road to take because you’ll be saving a life as well.

 

This certainly is not an exhaustive list of things you need to think about, but it can still give you a good head start. Good luck in choosing your pet!

 


 

 

Ten Reasons Why Dogs Are Great


 

Our Dog of the week: Stevie.

 

 

 

 They will always listen to you.

They always look forward to seeing you come home from work. That's why I love my dog.

They never complain about your choice of television programme, as long as they have your company.

They keep you warm when it is cold.

They keep you fit with all the walking you have to do together.

They are always grateful for the supper you feed them.

They like coming out in the car.

They are sociable.

They can sense you coming home from 50 miles away and undyingly wait at the front door, even if it is draughty.

They don't care how you dress, how rich you are, what you look like or how sick you are, they desire your companionship.

 

So if you see an advert saying dog 4 sale, look into it because you might find your life companion out there. Do also check out lost dog websites, in case any dogs have been put up for adoption.

 


More Articles...


Subscribe To Newsletter

 
 
 
 



Tell a Friend About Us!

Don't keep us a secret! Tell a friend about us!