Picture taken from www.dogbreedinfo.com
Good day and welcome everyone!
This is Sharda with another Lhasa Apso Puppies newsletter.
SAFETY
Just like having a new baby in the house, it’s important to make sure that the home environment is safe for the puppy.
Puppies are very inquisitive by nature, and often get into all kinds of things around the house.
Even something as simple as a cord hanging from a set of draperies can be a safety hazard for small puppy.
It can become wrapped around the puppy’s neck, or stuck in the puppy’s teeth.
When puppy-proofing your home, check the following:
- Pick up all strings or cords. A small string can easily be swallowed by a puppy and cause digestive problems if it becomes wrapped up in the intestines.
- Remove all small objects that the puppy may swallow.
- Check houseplants to make sure that they are not poisonous. If they are, remove them to a room or area that the puppy does not have access to.
- As much as possible, keep electrical cords away from the areas the puppy is in. If the cords cannot be removed, try treating them with a no-chew spray or rub them with laundry soap to make them unpleasant to the taste.
- Keep the puppy confined to the kennel, crate or puppy safe room when you are not home or able to watch the puppy.
TRANSITION
If the puppy has been living with its littermates and mother up to this time, it will feel lonely coming to a house where it is an only dog. Try having a hot water bottle, stuffed toy or ticking clock in the crate or kennel with the puppy.
Using a crate will really help the puppy feel that this is a space of its own, and will help you be able to confine the puppy at night or when you are not home.
In addition, you may want to place a piece of clothing that you have worn in the crate or kennel with the puppy. This will allow the puppy to adjust to your scent.
ATTITUDE
The best way to have a positive attitude when bringing your Lhasa Apso puppy home is to be knowledgeable. Read a book; ask friends, breeders, groomers and veterinarians any questions you may have before bringing home the puppy. The internet offers many suggestions and breed specific information for preparing for a puppy.
Schedule walks, exercise, feeding and play times as much as possible. This will help your puppy adjust, plus it will also make sure that the puppy is cared for properly. If there is more than one person caring for the puppy, make sure that everyone is using the same schedule and methods. In addition, take the puppy for a complete medical check up as soon as possible.
EXPECTATIONS
While all breeds develop at slightly different rates, there are some common stages that all puppies go through. Below is a general chart indicating the ages and stages of puppy development. Be sure to check with your breeder or veterinarian to get the specifics for your Lhasa Apso.
Birth
At birth, puppies cannot control their body temperature, cannot eliminate waste from the body without stimulation from the mother licking them. Nor can they see or hear.
They are born with a strong desire to suck from the mother, and they can smell, taste, and sense by touch. They are able to cry to signal hunger, fear or cold. A puppy will double in weight in the first week of life.
Maturity
For the rest of the dog’s life there will be a consistent behavior pattern. You may notice that there are issues that arise and have to be dealt with by re-training or reinforcing existing training.
Generally, there should be no extreme behavior changes if the animal is well cared for and checked regularly by a veterinarian. Changes in environment may cause a regression in behavior, but a little extra attention and care at this time will usually resolve the issues.
Bringing home a new Lhasa Apso puppy is an exciting time, and the start to a wonderful relationship. Making sure that you have everything you need for the puppy at the house will get this relationship off to a positive and rewarding start for both of you.
I hope I have given and provided with all you need to know in today’s Lhasa Apso Puppies newsletter.
Regards,
Sharda Baker