9 Myths About Your Puppy—Busted By a Behaviorist · Kinship Leave a comment

Dispelling myths about elevating and coaching puppies helps change patterns of conduct which can be detrimental to the purpose of elevating pleased, wholesome, well-behaved, and well-adjusted puppies. That in flip could make it simpler for puppies to adapt to their new house in a manner that units up individuals and canines alike for a full canine’s lifetime of affection and pleased relationships. Let’s debunk 9 widespread myths so that you and your pet can begin your life collectively on the suitable paw (sorry, needed to).

Fable 1: Puppies can’t be round different canines in any respect till they’re totally vaccinated. 

Sure, they’ll, and they need to. For those who wait till a pet is totally vaccinated to introduce them to different canines, it is going to be too late for them to develop the conventional canine social expertise and the consolation of being round different canines that naturally happen after they meet different canines early on.

Puppies want to satisfy different canines within the vary of eight to 14 weeks previous after which maintain assembly new ones frequently as they’re creating into adults. Nonetheless, most puppies aren’t totally vaccinated till they’re 16 to 18 weeks previous, so in the event you wait till then, your pet shall be past the window when publicity to different canines does essentially the most good for his or her growth.

Fable 2: For those who consolation them, you’ll reinforce their worry. 

No, you received’t. Conduct may be bolstered, not feelings. Giving solace to a fearful pet is each variety and useful. When they’re afraid, whether or not it’s due to thunder, a charging cat, the large field within the entryway, or anything of their world, they want you. Your reassurance and loving method assist them really feel safer and extra assured.

You provide them emotions of security if you consolation them. To deprive them of this due to the priority that you just would possibly make them extra fearful is an concept with out benefit, so fortunately you may comply with the pure impulse to sooth them.

Fable 3: It’s good to take your pet operating for train. 

No, it’s not. Many canines develop as much as be nice operating companions, however puppies mustn’t go operating with us. Sustained operating isn’t good for younger canines, particularly if they’re operating on concrete, asphalt, or different onerous surfaces. That may be damaging to ft, joints, and different elements of the physique.

Puppies can run round and play, however that’s completely different than going operating for an prolonged time. The age at which canines can begin to run varies based mostly on many components, together with the dimensions of the canine and kind of the canine. A standard suggestion is to not run along with your canine till they’re no less than 9 months to a 12 months previous, however it’s important to seek the advice of along with your veterinarian for recommendation about your specific canine.

Fable 4: Puppies who reside with different canines know tips on how to get together with canines and don’t want play dates or different alternatives to satisfy canines. 

Sure, they do. Regardless that the opposite family canines are part of instructing a pet to be dog- social, it’s not adequate simply to know the opposite canines they reside with.

Canine who solely know the few canines of their household are more likely to be snug with these canines solely and never with different canines. In an effort to be snug with quite a lot of canines they know and don’t know, they want a number of experiences assembly unfamiliar canines. That manner they be taught to be snug with canines basically and never simply with a number of canines particularly.

Fable 5: Puppies want walks beginning if you deliver them house. 

No, they don’t. Puppies want train, psychological stimulation, and a focus, that are generally accessible on walks, however walks should not the one manner to offer them. Many puppies really feel overwhelmed by walks and do higher with time outdoors within the yard, play periods, and meals puzzles to perform the identical issues that walks do.

In case your pet appears to take pleasure in walks, that’s nice and you must completely stroll them. Nonetheless, in case your pet wants slightly time to regulate earlier than beginning a strolling routine, it’s additionally completely high-quality to ease into walks by utilizing a leash and collar in the home or within the yard or by meandering only one or two homes down the block after which returning house.

Fable 6: Puppies should meet a whole bunch of individuals within the first two months you might have them. 

Socialization is the method of exposing a pet to quite a lot of new experiences throughout the vital interval of their lives from three to 14 weeks. The prime quality of those experiences is essential in a manner that prime amount isn’t. What is crucial is that your pet has optimistic experiences with the individuals they meet.

Which means you need individuals to be calm with them and to supply them treats, play, or petting in the event that they take pleasure in that bodily contact. A handful of experiences which can be optimistic and fulfilling for the pet are much better for socialization functions than a big quantity that the pet finds overwhelming, scary, complicated, or in any other case disagreeable.

Fable 7: Puppies ought to go to the canine park for socialization. 

No, they shouldn’t. Sure, canines want to satisfy different canines throughout their socialization interval in an effort to be snug round different canines, together with when they’re assembly new ones, for the remainder of their lives. However the canine park isn’t the place to do that. Puppies want to satisfy canines one after the other, or in small teams, and these canines they meet must be rigorously chosen.

A pet ought to meet different puppies and good grownup canines with good social expertise so the puppies have a optimistic expertise and be taught correct canine social expertise. On the canine park, they’re more likely to grow to be overwhelmed by too many canines, excessive arousal canines, impolite canines, and even aggressive canines. Taking a pet to the canine park is much extra more likely to educate younger canines that different canines are to be feared than that different canines make good mates. Additionally, there’s too excessive a threat of contact with germs on the canine park that may trigger severe ailments in puppies. 

Fable 8: Crate coaching is imply.

No, it’s not. Instructing your pet to be snug in a crate is variety. Many canines love their crates and really feel snug in them regardless of the place they’re. A canine who has been crate educated will possible really feel extra snug and relaxed after they journey, go to another person’s home, or have to be on the vet or the groomer for longer than only a temporary go to. In any other case, these experiences may be extra anxious. Crates shouldn’t be used for prolonged durations of time and definitely not as punishment.

Fable 9: Puppies and collar/leashes are a pure combo. 

No, they aren’t, although I so want they had been. Most canines have to be taught to just accept collars and leashes or they’ll scratch at them or attempt to shake them off and get away from them. For those who begin when a pet is younger — two months previous or so — by placing a collar on after which later attaching a leash to it, they’ve a neater time accepting them than in the event you begin when they’re considerably older. 

To make it simpler and extra snug for them to get used to a leash, begin with light-weight variations of each (even presumably a cat leash for small or delicate pups!) and ensure the collar isn’t so tight it causes discomfort however not so free it strikes so much or may be slipped out of. Affiliate the collar and leash with treats and enjoyable. At all times do one thing they like, reminiscent of provide them treats or go outdoors to stroll or play after you placed on the collar and leash.

References:

You Can’t Reinforce Concern; Canine and Thunderstorms