A few thoughts about puppies
Puppies are cute! At eight weeks they are sleepy, cuddly little bundles.
At 5 months they are nonstop balls of energy with teeth. All puppies chew. They will chew their toys, your children’s toys, your furniture and your clothing. Puppies will have accidents. Crate training helps, but all puppies will have accidents in the house. Puppies need lots and lots and lots of exercise. Sporting and herding breeds, in particular, need frequent and vigorous exercise from the ages of 3 months to 2 or 3 years of age.
Failure to provide sufficient exercise can result in destructiveness, separation anxiety and even aggression. Puppies need training. They need training to curb their natural instincts to jump up. They need training to learn indoor manners, to walk well on a leash and to come when called. An untrained dog is a nuisance to family members and guests in your home. They can be a danger in the community.
Puppies need socialization. They need to meet many people, experience new situations and encounter other animals. Failure to properly socialize a puppy can result in shyness, fear aggression and submissive urination.
Puppies are cute! They are also a lot of work. Families should thoroughly acquaint themselves to the task at hand before falling for that darling little bundle. |
