Q&A: Puppies Losing Teeth

Q: My miniature Schnauzer is 6 months old. I have found three of her teeth in the past week. Is it normal for puppies to lose teeth? If so, how long will this go on?

A: Yes, just like human children, puppies lose their first or milk teeth to be replaced by their permanent teeth and the addition of molars for chewing. While this loss of puppy teeth and arrival of adult teeth usually starts around four months and finishes around six months, the timing varies by breed and individual dog. So what is happening to your dog is normal and necessary. See the Puppies tip category for more information.

Licking the Problem

Dogs lick for a number of reasons. Puppies will often lick their littermates in a gesture of grooming. Mothers lick their puppies to help keep them clean. And adult dogs may lick as a sign of submissiveness or deference to a more dominant member of the "pack". Some dogs may just lick out of habit or because it gets them attention.

If your canine has a habit of licking you and you want to curb it, consider why she may be licking. If she's getting attention from you when she's licking, you're inadvertently rewarding her for licking. You'll have to concentrate on ignoring her when she's licking and lavishing her with attention when she's not.

To get her to stop licking the furniture, try bitter apple. It makes licking furniture and other household items less appetizing.

The Fastest Dog

The Greyhound is generally known as the fastest breed of dog, able to reach speeds of 45 miles per hour on a sprinting track. Built to move, her sleek body is narrow with a broad chest and her legs are muscular.

However, if you're talking about pole weaving, the Guinness World Records has pegged a Border collie by the name of Jazz as the fastest. Jazz made it back and forth between 60 poles in 12. 98 seconds. Now try that one!

Q&A: Trimming Puppies´ Nails

Q: How do I trim my puppy's nails? I´m nervous about this process.

A: Lots of people are nervous about trimming their dogs´ nails, but as long as you are prepared and careful, you´ll do fine. Even if you nip a bit of the live part of the nail, you can apply pressure to the nail and the bleeding will stop.

If you´re still uncomfortable doing this, I urge you to have your veterinarian or veterinary technician do it once while you´re watching, so you can see the technique first hand. That really helps.

Also remember that if you can walk your puppy on a sidewalk or other hard surface on a regular basis, the pup´s nails will be worn down naturally so you´ll have to trim them far less often.

Here is a helpful step-by-step article with more details on nail trimming and the equipment you´ll need:
http://ri.essortment.com/dogscareadvice_redh.htm

Tricks Dogs Can Learn

If you're trying to come up with a list of tricks you can teach your dog, the number is endless. Most breeds can learn to do simple tricks. Here's a list to keep you busy:

• Sit and shake hands
• Give a kiss
• Play dead
• Roll over
• Bow
• High Five
• Fetch or fetch and put away toys

For more suggestions and ideas, try these websites:

http://www.hut.fi/~mtt/belg_tricks.html
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/1210/tricks.html

Q&A: Ache of Teething

Q: How can I ease the ache of teething for my puppy?

A: There are several things you can do to help a puppy whose adult teeth are coming in and appears to be experiencing some discomfort.

First, you should provide safe chew toys such as tough nylon bones for your dog. This can help as the teeth come through. Then, you might try giving your dog ice cubes or a frozen wet cloth such as a washcloth, as these cold items can help ease the ache of teething. This is rather like giving a baby a frozen teething ring.

Here is a helpful online article on dog teething:
http://www.aspca.org/body_learn/body_teething.asp

And here is another:
http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/pupchew.htm

Rawhide Chews

There are pros and cons to giving your dog a rawhide to chew. Rawhides come in a variety of types, including rolled, pressed, and pressed and cut.

There are benefits to rawhides. Dogs love to chew and rawhides promote a good outlet for their chewing behavior. Rawhides leave little to no mess since dogs will usually gobble every last portion. They will also keep your canine occupied for hours since they don't tire of chewing on rawhides. Rawhides will help keep your canine's teeth in good shape by reducing plaque and tartar.

Unfortunately, dogs may have a tendency to chew off a chunk of the rawhide and this can become a blockage in their stomach. Rawhides can also be full of artificial stuff. Pressed and cut versions are often laden with artificial coloring, so this is one thing to consider if you're giving it to your dog.

Always use your best judgment if you decide to give your dog a rawhide. It's best if you are around to supervise.

Q&A: Puppy Chewing Problems

Q: How should my brother and sister-in-law teach their new beagle not to chew on them?

A: This is a very normal situation with almost all puppies, in part because they are used to chewing and nipping at other puppies in their litter as they determine which one is "top dog" in the group.

Your brother and sister-in-law need to begin immediately to teach their puppy not to chew and nip on people, but to chew on their own toys. This means stopping the puppy from chewing on improper objects and people, giving the pup its own toy and praising the pup for chewing its own toys. They must be consistent in correcting the pup, but this can be done positively not as punishment.

Please check the chewing and biting tips in my Puppies/Training tip category for several different approaches to teaching "no bite." Different training philosophies lead to different solutions.

Dachshund Sounds

The long bodied, short-legged Dachshund is intelligent, loyal, and playful. He makes a great companion animal for those who don't mind his stubborn nature. Dachshunds are a lively and courageous breed and have a hefty, hound sized bark for their size. However they are not known to be howlers.

Basset Hound

Basset Hounds are a sweet, gentle dog, originally meant to hunt rabbits and hare. They will enjoy the company of most everyone, including children and other pets. They do tend to drool quite a bit and make a mess of drinking, so they're not the best pets for a tidy household. They can also be stubborn and difficult to housetrain and need early obedience training.

If you're interested in learning more about this breed, visit the breed club website at www.basset-bhca.org.

Teaching Sit
and Lie Down

Teaching your dog to sit is one of the first fundamental commands in training obedience. To get your dog to sit, give the command, "Sit" and then squeeze gently at his waist with your hand and apply pressure downward. This should get him into a sitting position. When he responds, offer lots of praise and treats as a reward. Gradually, your dog will come to understand the command and you will no longer have to push down to get him to sit.

To teach your dog to lie down, use a similar concept. Teach your dog once he's mastered the sit command. Get your canine to sit first, then give the command, "Down". You can either lure your dog down with a treat and reward him then or gently place pressure on his back to get him in the down position. Always reward your dog promptly. Be consistent and patient and your dog will soon respond to both commands well.

Getting Enough Exercise

So how do you know if you're dog is getting enough exercise? How much exercise a dog needs depends on a few things. If your dog is an active breed, then he'll be happiest with vigorous playtime and space to run on a daily basis. Most toy breeds will be content with a short jaunt around the neighborhood once a day.

Also consider the age of your dog. A puppy often has spurts of energy and needs several opportunities to work his lungs throughout the day. An older dog is more sedentary and needs less exercise.

If your canine is restless or tearing up the house, it may be a sign that he isn't getting enough exercise. Always consider whether your dog is eating a proper amount of well-balanced meals. If he is, he should not be overweight. That could also indicate your pooch needs more time getting fit.

Q&A: Grooming a Puppy

Q: How do I groom a puppy?

A: Answering your question is hard because you don´t mention what breed the puppy is or how old it is. Both breed and age will influence the type of grooming you will need to do. Some medium- or short-coated breeds such as the Siberian Husky and many of the hounds are naturally quite clean. Puppies of these breeds will really only need a bath if they get in mud or roll in something smelly or if you plan to enter them in a dog show. They do need a good brushing and also need their nails clipped unless they go for walks on concrete as that tends to wear down nails.

Other breeds such as poodles are called "high maintenance" breeds and have many steps required for grooming, even as puppies. Here is a web site that has a helpful listing of grooming steps for such high maintenance breeds:
http://www.srv.net/~pcdude/acutabove/tips.htm

I encourage you to talk to an expert on your breed, or read the grooming section of a breed book for details for your particular dog. One tip is important for all breeds, however, and it´s this: all puppies should be regularly and pleasantly handled on their paws, their tails and so on so they associate grooming with pleasurable contact with their people. From time to time, offer a pup a treat or special praise for letting you handle their paws, for example. When you´re ready ready to clip nails, they´ll be less anxious and more relaxed, making it easier to do.

Shih Tzu

A Shih Tzu is a toy breed of dog that is a very happy, affectionate companion and is good with children. They have long, luxurious coats that will require time for daily grooming. You'll find Shih Tzus in almost every conceivable color, though black and grey, tan and grey, and white are the most common. This breed has a tendency towards carrying health issues like kidney problems and eye problems so it is especially important to obtain a Shih Tzu from a reputable breeder.

Q&A: Deworming Puppies

Q: When should a puppy first receive deworming medicine?

A: Because most puppies have at least roundworms transmitted to them in their mother´s milk, it is necessary to begin worming puppies when they´re quite young. Some breeders begin giving deworming medicine at two to four weeks of age. Anyone having a litter of puppies or bringing home a new puppy should have a veterinarian to guide them on health decisions such as this. Puppies need a sequence of vaccinations beginning at about six weeks of age as well as the series of dewormings. I encourage you to follow your vet´s advice. Also, see the Care and Puppies tip categories for more information.

Drooling After Eating

Some drooling is normal for most dogs. They may drool while waiting for a meal, when they are fearful, or when they are nauseous from a car ride. And some breeds of dogs drool more than others. However, excessive drooling from a canine that normally doesn't do so can also a symptom of a health problem such as bloat or a gum infection. If you feel that your dog may have be suffering from a medical condition, always contact your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis.

Signal to Go Outside

If you'd like to teach your puppy to signal when she needs to go outside, try using a bell at the door. It's an easy trick to teach and would be better than teaching her to bark. Simply hang a bell by the door low enough for your puppy to nose or bat with her paw. Every time you're ready to take her out, use a familiar command like, "Go outside!" and ring the bell yourself. Your puppy will soon associate the bell ring with going outside.

The next step is to encourage your puppy to ring the bell herself. Start with the familiar command, "Go outside!" Entice your puppy to ring the bell and offer her a treat or praise every time she does so. Then immediately take her outside to eliminate.

The Intelligence of a Boxer

Stanley Coren, a neuropsychologist and author of the book, The Intelligence of Dogs, has written on the subject of dog intelligence. According to Coren, there are three types of intelligence: adaptive, instinctive, and working/obedience.

Adaptive intelligence pertains to a canine's ability to learn and problem-solve new situations and relationships. Instinctive intelligence encompasses traits that are innate to a dog's breed like herding or hunting. And working/obedience intelligence places merit on how well a canine responds to commands.

Under Coren's criteria, a Boxer has an average rank in working/obedience. So even though the Boxer may be considered intuitively smart by some, instincts have no bearing on his ability to follow a command. Inherent traits like stubbornness and dominance all come into play in preventing a dog from responding to a command.