May 25th, 2009 by admin

Researching your breed and finding a breeder are only two aspects of the ‘homework’ you will have to do before bringing your St. Bernard puppy home. You will also have to prepareYour home and family for the new addition. Much like you wpi;d [re[are a nursery for a newborn baby, you will need to that will be the puppy’s own. How you prepare your home will depend on how much freedom the dog will be allowed. Will he be confined to a specific area in the house or will he be allowed to roam as he pleases? Will he spend most of his time in the house or will he be primarily an outdoor dog? Ensure that he has a place that he can ‘call his own.

YOUR SCHEDULE…

If you lead an erratic, unpredictable life, with daily or weekly changes in your work requirements, consider the problems of owning a puppy . The new puppy has to be fed regularly, socialized (loved, petted, handled, introduced to other people) and, most importantly, allowed to visit outdoors for toilet training. As the dog gets older, it can be more tolerant of deviations in its feeding and toilet relief.

When you bring your new puppy into your home, you are brining him into what will become his home as well. Obviously, you did not buy a puppy so that he could take over your house, but in order for a puppy to grow into a stable, well-adjusted dog, he has to feel comfortable in his surroundings. Remember, he is leaving the warmth and security of his mother and littermates, as well as the familiarity of the only place he has ever known, so it is important to make his transition as easy as possible. By preparing a place in your home for the puppy, you are making him feel as welcome as possible in a strange new place. It should not take him long to get used to it, but the sudden shock of being transplanted is somewhat traumatic for a young Pup. Imagine how a small child would feel in the same situation-that is how your puppy must be feeling. It is up to you to reassure him and to let him know that he is going to like it his new home.

STRESS-FREE

Some experts in canine health advise that stress during a dog’s early years of development can compromise and weaken his immune system and may trigger the potential for a shortened life expectancy. They emphasis the need for happy and stress-free growing-up years.