THE RIDE HOME

Before you bring your puppy home you should be prepared for his arrival. There are many items you will need for him. You must also be prepared for the trip home with your new puppy. This will require a crate big enough for the pup to be put into and roomy enough to allow him to move about.

Lots of newspaper for the bottom of the box for any accidents and a few pieces of clean towels are also necessary. You can assume, especially if the trip home is to be a long one, the pup will become car sick and vomit. Clean newspapers and towels to wipe the puppy’s mouth and any body areas that become soiled will immediately be needed.

By keeping the pup in your lap accidents will be less likely to happen. Sometimes a lot of attention during a trip will keep him so occupied that he will not vomit, particularly if he had not been fed immediately prior to the trip.

PREPARING FOR YOUR NEW PUPPY

Preparations for the puppy’s arrival must include a bed, a collar and a leash, two bowls, one for water the other for food and a complete agreement between the members of your family as to where the puppy will sleep and where he will be kept.

Collar, leash, bed and bowls can be expensive or inexpensive according to your taste and your pocketbook. To the puppy the cost of these items couldn’t matter less. Just remember that the pup will grow out of in a short time unless, in buying the bed and bowls, you have taken this into consideration. Durability should be your aim when buying these items. A thin, flat or rolled collar is best.

Wide, heavy collars cut the neck hair, and mar the symmetry of the neckline. Your puppy will also need something to chew on. For puppies, the Gumabone products are probably the best, due to their softer composition.

Puppies should never be given a shoe, sock or household object as a chew device: not only can these be dangerous but they can also confuse the puppy about appropriate objects to chew.

Other essentials are a large supply of newspapers, a good carpet cleaner and a vast amount of patience and self-control. Armed with these necessities you are ready to face the future as a bonafide dog owner.

Housebreaking your Schnauzer

Crate training is the method I prefer. House breaking the dog by using the crate method of training is quickly becoming the most accepted process by professionals and dog owners alike.

Crate training requires a greater percentage of time and energy expenditure in the early stages, but if executed correctly is a quicker, more through method than paper training, thus saving time and frustration in the long run.

To housebreak a dog with the crate-training method, you will of course need a dog crate. A blanket or other suitable bedding, a safe chew toy, and a few other things which you feel the pup will appreciate can be placed in the crate, but do not clutter the crate. Size is very important: the crate should be large enough to allow the pup to stand and move comfortably but must not be large enough to allow the dog to recline at one end and soil at the other.

The key to crate training is routine. The dog must be allowed out the crate frequently and regularly. The crate should be permanently located in a restricted area to prevent the dog from evacuating at a place distant from its crate. When the owner can watch the dog, the door of the crate should be left open to allow the dog to come and go as it pleases, within the restricted area. The owner must watch carefully for signs that the dog is going to relieve itself. When it shows signs, it must immediately be taken to the selected spot until if evacuates.

As the dog relieves itself, warm and lavish praise must be given: the puppy must come to know that it is doing well by going at the spot to which the owner brought it. After praise, the puppy should be returned to its restricted area.

When acute observation is not possibly, the dog should be confined to the crate. However, it is imperative that the pup be taken to the selected spot regularly. If the pup is left to long in the crate, it cannot help but soil its crate; in this case scolding is futile and nonsensical. It is not the fault of the dog, and it will not associate punishment with an action of the past. Thus, successful crate training requires that the dog be led to the selected spot immediately after each feeding, every time it prepares to evacuate, and regularly throughout each day.

The dog must be kept in the spot until evacuation occurs, and praise must given. Young puppies cannot retain their excrement, and the owner must provide adequate opportunities for relief. Through praise, supervision, and the clean maintenance of the restricted area, housebreaking can be quickly and thoroughly accomplished.

Good luck.

Raising Puppies Is Like Raising Children

The opening scene of the animated Disney film 101 Dalmatians depicts dogs of various breeds being walked by their owner—who look like nothing less than human versions of their pets. This scene always gets a chuckle because we know that it’s true. Dogs and their owners are often very much alike not only in appearance but also in character. Why? Because, a dog will take after the person who raises it.
Raising puppies is a lot like raising children. They need to be fed and protected, taught how to behave in the world, and most all loved. If you trust your parental instincts and feelings, you will be successful at raising puppies. Nothing special is required; simply treat them as you would treat your children.

The only way bringing up puppies is different than raising children is that dogs are being taught to live among a different species, but otherwise the process is very similar. Every parent knows that raising children is not as simple as feeding them and watching them grow. Children must learn from and be socialized by their parents, siblings, teachers, and friends, and likewise puppies need to learn form their owners how to follow the regulations of human society. If in your training you make allowances for their behavior because they are dogs, you will end up teaching them halfheartedly or incompletely.

Dogs need a great deal of consistent and patient guidance. Just as parents must come to except their children for who they are and just as parents never stop caring for and loving their children even after they have grown and left the house, so you must have the same mind-set when raising a puppy. There are no concrete how-to’s. Each puppy is different, with its own personality, its own strengths and weaknesses, and you should train your young dog in the manner most suitable for its character. If you remember to always balance this training with love and enthusiasm, you will be successful.

 

We feed our Mommy and Daddy Schnauzers
Iams Mini Chunks.

Product Information:
Iams MiniChunks is perfect for dogs that prefer a smaller bite-size kibble. It is enhanced with vitamin-rich fish oils for a healthy skin, lustrous shine and overall health. High-quality chicken offers a rich, wholesome taste for normally active adults. Essential vitamins and minerals support the immune system and help maintain good health. A patented fiber source helps maintain colon health and enhance your dog's ability to absorb nutrients. When more nutrition stays in your dog, there's less backyard clean-up. Iams MiniChunks contains a patented carbohydrate blend of select healthy grains to help maintain normal blood sugar levels for sustained energy.

Recommended for: Normally active dogs-1 year and older.

We feed our Schnauzer Puppies
Small Breed Eukanuba.

Recommended For:
SMALL BREED - PUPPY - 20 LBS. AND UNDER AT MATURITY 1 - 12 MONTHS

Product Description:
Small Breed puppies may think and act like they are big puppies but they have significantly different nutritional needs. Eukanuba recognizes this, so our foods are customized for their unique needs. Eukanuba Small Breed Puppy has our highest protein and fat content in a puppy food and comes in a small nutrient-dense kibble - ideal for their higher metabolism and smaller stomach. Eukanuba Small Breed Puppy is made with more natural fish oil than our adult foods to deliver enhanced levels of DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) for optimal brain development and a smart, trainable puppy. Since small breeds can live up to an average of 50% longer than larger dogs, our food contains selected antioxidants like Vitamin E to support their immune system and longer life expectancy. Eukanuba Small Breed Puppy also contains fibers such as beet pulp and FOS (fructooligosaccharides), to help promote a healthy digestive tract.

HIGHEST QUALITY INGREDIENTS
• Chicken is the #1 Ingredient: Real chicken as the #1 ingredient provides an excellent source of protein
• Natural Fish Oil for DHA: Provides DHA, a brain-building nutrient that helps develop smart, trainable puppies. Fish Oil also provides Omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
• No Unnecessary Extras: No fillers, artificial preservatives, artificial flavors or colors added
• Wholesome Grains: Made with highly digestible corn, grain sorghum and rice to help maintain healthy blood sugar and energy levels
• Antioxidants: Made with antioxidants such as Vitamin E, to support your dog's immune system
DigestiCare Plus: Made with beet pulp fiber and FOS that work with your puppy's natural defenses to help maintain a healthy digestive tract