Kids with Pets

Updated on November 06, 2008
J.W. asks from Elton, LA
11 answers

We just got a 5 week old puppy and I need advice on anything and everything having to do with a puppy. She will be an outside dog, and has plenty of room to run. I plan to "fix" her ASAP as the neighbors have other dogs running around. She's basically a mutt - looks like part lab. Fleas are already a problem! My daughter has been asking for a dog and couldn't be happier right now. My son - well he has a lot to learn about how to treat an animal! Looking for advice on flea treatment, sleeping arrangements, feeding schedule, and anything else that would be helpful! Thanks!

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So What Happened?

I would like to thank everyone for their insight and GREAT advice on our new puppy. It has been and will be very helpful!! Unfortunately, our puppy did not make it! I've been trying to think of every possible reason to tell my daughter, who is absolutely crushed! Like someone said, it may have been she was too young to be taken from her mother, or she may have been sick to start off with. When we chose her, she was one of 2 or 3 that were laying down, and I thought, would be a calm one to have. Hindsight is these may have not been well, as there were 1 or 2 others that were up and moving around.

It's been a roller coaster of emotions in just a short time, as my little girl was so excited to have a puppy, and then to watch it yesterday (she was home from school for election day) not play around like she thought it should, and hear the sounds it was making while breathing later on, and the traumatic ending...well she's still very sad. She found a page to color the night we got her (Gabby), and colored the page the same colors as Gabby. Last night all she could do was hold that paper and cry. Very Sad!!

I truly thank you for all your information and will work on my husband for when we decide to get another one, to allow him/her in the house. I grew up with a German Shepherd in the house, so I know it can work and would be great for the kids. I will keep all your responses in my file and bring them back up when the time comes again. Thank you again!!

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N.M.

answers from Texarkana on

the dog needs a dog house like an igglue can't spell it but its the like the houses in Alaska it is warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer and for fleas you know the ad with the puppy that says you mugs may have fleas but there are no bugs on me K9 Advantix but I think you vet has to give you a percription for it and it is also for heart worms you give it once a month or you can use another heart worm treatment like the one I use Iverhart Max which also takes care of tape worms which are caused by fleas and then use a flea treatment like Frontline Plus and Program I don't know how well Program works cause I have never used it but I have used Frontline Plus a once a month on the back of their neck we have 5 dogs 4 outside dogs and 1 inside for food dry dog food is best puppy food till one year old feed a couple times a dog usually there is a scale on the bay on how much to feed after one year adult food and use the weight scale but only feed once a day fat dogs are no good and they will eat till they get sick I used to help in a adopt a pet program and I had a friend that was studying to be a vet. so I learned a lot about animals don't let the kids hit or tease the dog and don't let the dogs run loose can get in trouble they are like little kids good luck

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T.G.

answers from Oklahoma City on

For fleas don't bother with anything you can get at Wal-Mart, etc. It may be less expensive but you will be completely wasting your money because it won't work. Go to your vet for Advantage or Frontline.

As far as the puppy, I would strongly encourage you to let her be an indoor dog and be part of the family. She will be much better behaved, and will become a very loved family member. Being a Lab mix, there is a strong chance she will be hyper and possibly destructive for three years. Labs "puppyhood" usually lasts three years rather than one. Fortunately, all dogs are different and don't always follow their stereotype though!

If she is an outdoor dog, this is what will follow the super cute tiny puppy stage. Through the winter she will grow into a much larger, strong, bull-headed adolescent outdoors. She won't get as much attention as you'd like to give her because it will be too cold and windy. So when you do go outside, she will be so happy to see you, she'll jump all over you, go wild, and knock the little one over. Which, of course, will make visits with her happen less often, and she'll get bored, bark often, and be destructive. Because of this, the spring is when adolescent dogs are most usually brought to animal shelters, often resulting in euthanasia.

The alternative is bringing her inside and reading up on training and crate training. Housebreaking and training those sharp little teeth is a must. Whenever you are gone or can't watch her, she goes in the crate. You have to be diligent, just as you do for a child. And, just like with a child, you may not see results right away, but if you are consistant, it will "click" and you'll have a wonderful, well behaved dog, whom your son can grow up with and always remember.

My son grew up with a Collie from about that age until he was thirteen. He has so many wonderful memories, and he has a huge, kind heart that I believe that dog helped shape. Don't think that because she's a large dog she can't be indoors - I have numerous photos of my son stretched beside my Collie watching Lion King, or using him for a pillow while playing video games! A large dog is easier for a toddler to hug, tell their secrets to, and cry into!

Good luck with your new fur-kid!

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A.W.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Just make sure you get the puppy shots because you don't want the puppy to catch anything.

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M.M.

answers from Enid on

Hello. Congratulations on the new puppy.

I don't know much about dogs as I work at an feline-only clinic, but I can tell you the safest, most effective flea/tick control is either Advantix or Frontline which are available through your local veterinary.

PLEASE don't use anything you get at Walmart or other over-the-counter flea meds. They are ineffective at the least and harmful to your pet at worst!!

I, too, am getting ready to adopt a puppy so it will be a new experience for me as well.

Good luck and I hope you get lots of good advice.

Chelle :)
www.enidmg.com

P.S. You might check with your vet about the age of your puppy. I've always understood that puppys/kittens should not be taken from their mothers until they are at least 8 weeks of age for emotional reasons. I see a lot of cats with emotional problems because they are removed from their mothers too soon. Not sure about dogs though...maybe it's different for them?

Also, Advantix & Frontline are for puppies and kittens OVER 8 weeks of age. Before 8 weeks, bathing with Dawn dishwashing liquid is preferred.

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A.J.

answers from Baton Rouge on

Well you have a puppy! congratulations. Now remember one of the most important things is how all treat, and teach it. What a joy this can be. However if it is not treat well and train well you will be a very disappointed family. You may want to go on line to www.ceasarmillan.com and obtain a dvd giving you tips on how to train it.

Regarding fleas suggest you talk to your vet to be. There is a product and I an Wal Mart may have it, you quirk the medication right below the middle of the ears.

God Bless

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S.B.

answers from Jackson on

Good luck with this new puppy! I worked for a great vet for 3 years, and know how much work a new puppy is for a famiily. You can get her spayed as early as 6 months old (which for a lab mix, I would suggest go ahead and get on someones books). She is safe for a dose of advantage for fleas. It goes by weight, so take her in to your vet of choice and weigh her and go ahead and buy a single dose of advantage. Its the BEST! They are going to try to talk you into buying a full four month supply, but with a large breed puppy, her weight will be changing quickly! Get her started on a high quality DRY dog food, and give her plenty of chew toys and love. Our vet suggested the KONG toys for large breed puppies. You can put peanut butter or dog treats inside and they will chase and play for hours! To get rid of the fleas that may be on her today, try bathing her in Dawn dishwashing detergent. It kills the fleas instantly and wont be harmful like some flea shampoos, because of her young age. Get her scheduled for puppy shots around 8 weeks old, and get ready to go back every 4 weeks for four rounds of shots. Again, good luck on the new puppy! Animals are so much fun and puppies are wonderful! And I dont know what area you live in, but Banfield Pet Hospital in Jackson and Flowood MS are two great places to get started with if you live nearby. Petsmart is a great place to get all the information and products you need as well. (I promise, I dont get a kickback for recommendations, haha) Have fun, and have patience!

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J.P.

answers from Oklahoma City on

A natural flea remedy that worked great when we had dogs was 2 parts water, 1 part vinegar and a healthy dose of generic lemon dishwashing soap. The soap has to be a citrus scent because the fleas hate it and yeah, it smells with the vinegar, but it worked great. You also need to put that solution in a yard sprayer once every couple of months and give your main yard area a good going over to help keep the flea population down.
As for feeding, puppies will eat until they are sick, so only give him a 1/4 cup or so of soft food three times a day until he gets a little bigger. Then you can change to dry and steadily increse his amount. By the time our labs were grown they were each eating a 44ounce cup of food twice a day. If he is part lab, he's going to dig more than other dogs. You can't stop it, just be prepared to fill in holes. :)
Enjoy your new family member!
J.

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L.J.

answers from Birmingham on

I'm so sorry about the loss. Lossing a loved pet is very hard. It brought my tough husband to tears (privately - but I did see him) when one of our dogs died years ago. I cried for days when I lost a loved cat once. Honestly, the best rememdy is to get another. Some of us just have so much love to give, that it takes extended members of the family to take it all in. I would definitely wait for the pet to be closer to 8-10 weeks old before bringing it home. It will be healthier and should have weemed by them.

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A.T.

answers from Oklahoma City on

The very best flea and tick treatment is Frontline Plus. If you intend on keeping the dog outdoors at all times, you should buy the dog a doghouse that is roomy, but not too big and line the bottom with cedar chips (keeps the dog warm and comfortable and repels odors). I feed my dogs twice per day, but the dog food you provide will have a suggested feeding amounts on the bag. Even thought it is an outdoor dog, you need to spend a lot of time with the puppy socializing it with your children and visitors to the house. It is the best way to ensure your family's safety around the dog. The puppy should be tolerant of your 2 year old so long as they spend time together and you enforce boundaries with your dog. There are lots of training books out there, and I recommend you get one. Dogs are great, but they take time and work to become fabulous loving pets.

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K.H.

answers from Birmingham on

Congrats on getting a puppy, they are a huge handful...
For the fleas, vets recommend not putting the prescription type med like advantage and all on them till they are a few months older. But you can bathe your puppy with dawn dishwashing detergent and the fleas will run for the hills. there is also a seed like powder that you can purchase for your yard and sprinkle it out. My aunt has outdoor pets and we go over about 2 a year and do both front & back. Helps out greatly.

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C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

I worked for 15 years as a vet tech.
THe flea products you get at places like Sprawl-Mart are NOT the same as the ones you get from the vet. I have seen more animals than I care to recall poisoned by store-bought flea treatments. I use Advantix on all three of our dogs, one of whom has a flea allergy (scratches holes in himself if even one flea bites him), and it even works for him. The skin drops only take a few minutes to be absorbed - just make sure that you get them on the SKIN and not just on the fur. If you get them just on the fur, they don't get absorbed into the animal's bloodstream and they won't work.
In the south, heartworm preventionis a must, as they are carried by mosquitoes. We use Heartgard - it comes in a meat-flavored chew that most dogs like. Both Advantix and Heartgard are a little expensive, but you only have to give them once a month, and they come in a six-pack, so when you average out the cost over six months, it really isn't that much - and it's a lot less expensive than treating a dog for heartworms or having to have an exterminatior treat your house for fleas.

PLEASE let your puppy come inside. Get an airline kennel that's big enough for him to stand up and turn around in. Put some soft bedding in it, and put him in it to eat and sleep. Dogs have a natural instinct not to soil the place where they eat and sleep, and they quickly learn to hold their bladder and bowels in the kennel. Take him outside to potty first thing in the morning, and about 15 to 20 minutes after he eats. Like potty-training a child, it will take a little time, and there will be accidents at first, but he will learn much faster this way. Also be sure to take him out after any time he's been playing boisterously with the kids. Excitement will sometimes trigger the need to potty, especially in a young dog. Taking him to the same spot outside each time will help, since he will be able to smell where he has gone before, and that will help him make the connection that this is where he's supposed to go.
Don't teach him to use newspapers inside - all this does is prolong the process, because what you're doing is teaching him that it's okay to go in certain places inside the house, then you have to un-teach that lesson.
Don't rub his nose in it if he has an accident. That doesn't teach him not to go in the house - it only teaches him that poop makes you mad, and if he has an accident in the house, he will try to hide it from you. Besides, dogs have little short-term memory. He will know you are mad, he will know that your anger has something to do with the poop, but he will not make the connection that you are mad because he pooped in the house. If you catch him in the act, take him outside immediately. If you find it after the fact, all you can do is clean it up, use an odor neutralizer, and watch him more closely for signs that he needs to go out.

Like babies, puppies have baby teeth, which fall out and are replaced with permanent teeth. You won't see too many baby teeth when they fall out, because they generally get swallowed. It's okay - Mama Nature designed them that way. Puppies chew when they are teething, and they NEED to chew. Give him toys to chew on, but DON'T give him toys that look like other things that you don't want chewed. If you give him an old shoe, he will think that all shoes are chew toys, and will not only chew the old sneaker you give him, but also your expensive dress shoes. If you give him a stuffed toy to chew on, he will think that your kids' stuffed animals are okay to chew as well. If you catch him chewing on something that he shouldn't, take it away and IMMEDIATELY give him his toy. I like rawhide toys for my dogs, because they don't look like anyhting else, and they last a long time. DON'T give him real bones to chew. Bird bones (chicken, turkey) have air pockets in them, and splinter when chewed. The splinters can be sharp and can injure the dog's mouth. They also can be a choking hazard. Rib-eye bones can get caught on their teeth, and sometimes require sedation to remove. The pulverized bone that your dog swallows ca become impacted in their large intestine, and that also requires a trip to vet.
Don't feed him from the table. People food often has too much grease and too much spice for a dog's digestive system, and can cause diarrhea. I have even seen dogs develop pancreatitis (which can be fatal) as a result of owners feeding them from the table. Don't feed him cheap dog food like Old Roy - the reason it's so cheap is that the protein source is not meat, but what is referred to as "meat or poultry by-product meal." This is a fancy way of saying "chicken feathers." While feathers are 100% protein, it is not a digestible form of protein, and all your dog will get from such food is a belly full of filler, but very little actual digestible nutrients. I feed my dogs Purina Beneful - it's reasonably priced, and Purina is a trustworthy brand.

I would also recommend obedience training. There's a guy in Baton Rouge by the name of Dick Russell, and he is excellent. He even makes house calls for his students between classes if need be. He loves dogs, and he believes that a well-trained dog is not only a happier dog, but the owner of a well-trained dog is a happier owner, and more likely to have a long, loving relationship with their dog. I have one of my dogs enrolled in his current obedience class, and am teaching the other two at home. Obedience training will not only make your dog better behaved and help you prevent destructive behaviors and bad habits before they get started, but it could save his life - in addition to learning to sit, lie down, stay, etc., he'll learn things like not running out the gate or the door when you open it. Dick's number is ###-###-####.

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