“Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot little puppies." 
Gene Hill

Are you considering a new puppy? Are you wondering how to choose the right one? Where should you begin? Having a dog is a huge responsibility and commitment that should be carefully considered. There are many factors to weigh before deciding on the dog for you.

 Your local animal shelter is an excellent place to start. Shelters can offer lots of information about dogs and help you to make the right choice. The Mount Washington Valley has two wonderful options, Harvest Hills Animal Shelter www.harvesthills.org  and Conway Area Humane Society. www.conwayshelter.org  Animals adopted from a shelter will have been checked and vaccinated by a veterinarian, and the adoption fee includes the expense of spay or neuter.    

 There are a few things to consider when choosing the right companion for you and your family.  Here are some questions to keep in mind as you make your choice.

Things to think about

Think about your lifestyle and the amount of time you will be able to spend with your dog. All dogs require a lot of time from you. Bigger dog breeds tend to require much more exercise than a smaller breed might. Do you have enough room in your home and yard for a large dog or is a smaller dog more appropriate? Will you need to walk on a leash or will you have a fenced in area? Another thing to keep in mind is the physical maintenance of your new friend. Some dogs require much more grooming than others and may need clipping and bathing on a frequent basis.

What size dog is appropriate? Consider your own age and physical abilities. Will you be able to offer the proper exercise? Are you alone or do you have family members to take part in the care of the dog? People who are alone or

people that have physical restrictions may want to consider a dog that could be easily picked up and carried in an emergency. Do you have someone to care for the dog if you are away? Do you know the name and reputation of a boarding facility that you can use? (Link white mt kennel)

If you are considering a purebred, be sure to do some research on the breed. What was the breed originally bred for?  Does your choice have the temperament that you would like in a companion?  Is this a good dog with children?

Remember, purebred or mixed breed, any dog can make a wonderful pet with the proper socializing, training and lots of patience and love.

We hope that you enjoy what you learn as you look for the right dog for you!

"There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face."
Ben Williams

Congratulations!

You are at the beginning of a long relationship with your new best friend! You and your new canine companion can look forward to many years together!

We recommend starting your puppy’s training right away. Both housebreaking and behavior training are crucial at a young age. There are many training resources and methods out there. Whichever one you choose, remember than consistency is the key. Be firm but gentle and always follow through with your commands. Reward good behavior with lots of praise and attention.

Links

Puppy Prep

Getting a new puppy is an exciting enterprise! Before your puppy comes home, you can “get the nursery” ready by planning ahead and doing a little shopping!

Proper nutrition will be the key to your pup’s good health. There are many, many different thoughts on how and what to feed your dog. There are great foods out there. Choose one that is produced by a company with a good reputation and history of animal nutrition.

Links

Toys

Every puppy needs toys! The proper toys for pup will help with a safe way to satisfy their desire to chew as well as giving them exercise and keeping them occupied with play.  It is important to choose toys that can NOT be easily torn, shredded or splintered into pieces that can be swallowed.  If your puppy can fit the toy comfortably into its mouth, the toy is probably too small. Avoid toys that are spongy, have sharp points or pieces that can fall or be chewed off and possibly swallowed.  We do not recommend giving any animal parts such as marrow bones, rib bones, pig feet, knuckles, or hooves. www.foryourpawsonly.com

Collar/Leash

These days you can find a collar and leash for every occasion and unless your puppy is in a confined area he/she should always be on a leash. Happy prints and holiday patterns abound! Combination collars that can be used as either a regular collar or a choke collar are a nice way to get two collars in one.  Flexi leads are an excellent way to give your dog room to roam a bit without losing sight of him/her.

Locally made Lupine collars are guaranteed from damage….even if your dog CHEWS it! www.lupinepet.com

Fencing

Fencing a safe area for your pet is a good way to allow your dog some freedom to run and play. There are many choices in fencing, (chain link,  wooden), to not only provide protection for your dog, but to have something to please your eye as well. Today it is very common to see little white flags all around a yard. During the training process, these flags show the boundries for an electronic fence. The dog wears a collar that receives a signal warning the dog not to cross the line. Invisible fence is an excellent investment for you and your dog. To see if an invisible fence is right for you visit www.invisiblefence.com 

Grooming

This is a great time for you and your new friend to spend quality time together and begin your bonding. Regular grooming not only keeps your dog looking and feeling good, it also teaches him/her to allow being touched all over. Choose the proper tools for your dog’s particular coat. Natural bristle brushes work nicely on short coated dogs. A long haired dog will require something different, perhaps a wide toothed metal comb or a mat splitter. Some breeds just have to have a bath and a clip now and then. North Country Animal Hospital has professional groomer Jill Moffat come in to our office on Wednesdays and Thursdays to beautify our clientele. Call our office any time to set up an appointment! Starting this routine early in your pup’s life, and doing so on a regular basis will help you to have a well rounded, good natured and BEAUTIFUL dog!

Vaccinations

Puppies should begin their vaccinations at 8 weeks of age and continue every four weeks until sixteen weeks.  Just like your child’s vaccine protocol puppies, kittens and young animals also need an initial vaccine series.  The mammal immune system needs to be challenged in order to mount an immune response.  Therefore, every time your young animal receives a booster vaccine, the immune system recognizes that booster and launches the appropriate immune response, thereby, protecting the animal from that disease process. Later in life (after one year old) a yearly booster is all that is needed to refresh this immune response, thus continuing immunity.

Now, what kind of vaccines, you ask?

Da2PP - Commonly known as the distemper vaccine, this shot is actually a combination vaccine that covers a number of canine diseases.

Distemper -  highly contagious and potentially fatal. Symptoms can include  fever, coughing, vomiting and may progress to neurologic signs as well.

Adenovirus – can cause infectious hepatitis and respiratory infection. Type 1 can cause severe kidney disease and/or death. Type 2 is a key factor in kennel cough.

Parainfluenza – a chronic respiratory disease, it can be more serious in conjunction with other viral or bacterial infections. The disease is spread through the coughing of an infected dog.

Parvovirus – extremely contagious, this disease can live outside of the dog for a very long time and can be easily brought home on the sole of a shoe.

It attacks the gastrointestinal tract, causing severe vomiting and bloody diarrhea, dehydration and less commonly the heart muscles.

Rabies

Rabies is a fatal viral disease that can affect all warm blooded animals, most importantly humans. Rabies is transmitted through the blood and/or saliva of an infected animal. Because dogs can easily come into contact with animals in the wild, it is imperative that your dog not only be vaccinated as early as possible, but also to keep their rabies vaccine CURRENT throughout their life. An unvaccinated pet that comes into contact with rabies or a SUSPECT rabies case may require strict confinement for a period of time or even euthanasia.

There is not a test that can be performed on a live animal to detect rabies.

Leptospirosis

This disease is caused by bacteria that can attack your dog’s liver, kidney and other major organs. Lepto can be contracted by dogs and even humans through an infected canine’s urine. Not all dogs have a high risk of exposure to this disease and your risk level should be discussed with your veterinarian.

Lyme

Dogs and people can contract lyme disease through the bite of an infected tick. It is the most commonly reported tick borne disease in the country. Lyme disease can seriously damage joints, kidneys and other tissue throughout the body. Vaccination and tick prevention is the best defense for your dog. 

Kennel Cough

Bordetella Bronchiseptica is an upper respiratory disease. A dog with “kennel cough” will likely have a dry “hacking” cough as well as runny nose and eyes. It is passed through the air from one coughing dog to another and is required by all kennels to protect you dog while boarding.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD YOU KNOW?

Internal and External Parasites

External Parasites

Fleas can be a real threat to your dog. Adult fleas feed on warm blooded animals which can cause skin irritation, allergic reactions. Severe infestations can cause anemia if left untreated. The best medicine for fleas is PREVENTATIVE medicine. Here is information on products that can help you with this battle against fleas.

http://frontline.us.merial.com/home/

Ticks also feed on warm blooded animals, and can carry serious or potentially fatal diseases. Lyme disease is probably the most commonly known, as well as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Ehrlichia. Again, prevention is the best way to fight these parasites

http://frontline.us.merial.com/home/

Internal Parasites

Intestinal parasites are quite common and often suspected by signs that a dog or puppy may display as described in this section. Most often your veterinarian will request that a stool sample be brought to the office for exam under the microscope when parasites are thought to be present. 

Roundworms are a very common internal parasite that is almost always passed from the mother to the pups before birth. Adults can get roundworms by ingesting eggs found in the general environment. You may see signs of this worm in your dog or puppy by noticing diarrhea, swollen abdomen, loss of weight and/or ability to gain weight or a dull coat. You might actually spy an adult worm in the feces.

Hookworms are an intestinal parasite that can also be transmitted when dogs ingest infective larvae from the environment OR the larvae enter the system directly through the skin. Signs can be diarrhea, weight loss, and pale gums. It has been fatal in young pups under severe circumstances.

Whipworms are, as with most intestinal parasites, ingested from the environment. Similar signs appear as with other internal parasites such as bloody diarrhea, weight loss and general malaise.

Heartworm is a very serious condition that, untreated, will eventually lead to heart failure. Heartworm is treatable, but it leaves your dog with a weakened system. Heartworm is 100% preventable if you are conscientious and use heartworm preventative as directed.

Today’s monthly heartworm preventatives also help with the prevention and control of many of the intestinal parasites mentioned earlier. For more information on heartworm prevention:

http://heartgard.us.merial.com/products/products_chewables.asp 
 

SPAYING AND NEUTERING

Neutering your dog is a very important health issue to consider. Not only for the obvious reasons of domestic animal overpopulation, but also for the general health and well being of your dog. Some people believe that allowing their animal to have one litter before spaying may improve the behavior and/or the health of the dog, but there is no evidence to show that this is true. Actually, there are studies that show that the chance for cancer goes up 7% with each heat cycle. Neutering before the heat cycles begin, (generally around 6 months of age) can result in your dog living a longer healthier life.

In males neutering reduces the risk of prostate disease, testicular cancer and infection. Males neutered at a younger age will be less likely to show negative behavior that can annoy and frustrate an owner such as urine marking and aggression. These behaviors can cause an owner to want to relinquish a pet to a shelter or worse.

Many pet owners do not consider the time, risks, and costs that can develop from breeding your dog. It requires a high level of time, commitment and funds, often times much more than the financial reward of what selling those pups would bring. For more information on the health benefits of spaying and neutering visit

http://www.avma.org/communications/brochures/spay-neuter/spay-neuter_brochure.asp