PLYMOUTH DOG TRAINING CLUB
Kennel Club Registered
Founded 1957
President – The Lord Mayor of Plymouth
Puppy Socialisation Class
WEEK FIVE
Puppy’s name: ...............................................................
Puppy Class – Help Sheet
Practise your exercises little and often during the week and always be fun.
IMPORTANT – DAILY CHECKS
Always check your dog’s general health for any signs of illness. Everyday checks should include:
Reference: PDSA handout www.pdsa.org.uk
Pet Check
Ideally you need to be giving your dog a weekly health check, so that you are able to identify any small problems before they become serious. If you do notice any irregularities whilst you are checking your dog always seek veterinary advice.
Kennel Club Registered
Founded 1957
President – The Lord Mayor of Plymouth
Puppy Socialisation Class
WEEK FIVE
Puppy’s name: ...............................................................
Puppy Class – Help Sheet
Practise your exercises little and often during the week and always be fun.
- Practise the sit, stand and down positions. By now you should only be rewarding every 5th or 6th repetition and you can use a toy as well as titbits. The other positions can be rewarded by vocal praise. To start bringing your puppy on, ask them to sit while you are doing something eg paperwork or housework. This will teach your pup that you may ask them to do something, no matter what you are doing.
- Teach your puppy to stand still when you groom them, but don’t do too much at once. Try only running the brush over their back or dry one paw with a towel, reward and finish. Then next time try running the brush over their back and chest or dry two paws with a towel.
- Keep increasing the distractions when training the recall. Call them away from games in the house or when there is another dog around. Remember to increase the reward when you increase the difficulty. From your puppy’s point of view, think about what the best reward is, for example it might be running after a ball.
- Start introducing the stay command. This can be done in any position, but it’s recommended that you start with either the down or the sit, as it’s easier to stay in that position. Build up the time slowly, go back after a few seconds then make it longer. Don’t move away from them straight away – get them staying in one position before you move.
- Start teaching your puppy some tricks. They are great fun and help build a good relationship between you and your puppy.
- Read the hand outs and ask any questions
IMPORTANT – DAILY CHECKS
Always check your dog’s general health for any signs of illness. Everyday checks should include:
- Eating and drinking: any changes could indicate an abnormality such as diabetes and will need to be checked.
- Weight loss or gain: over-feeding is as damaging as under-feeding. Always follow the pet food manufacturer’s advice on the packaging. Weigh and worm your dog regularly.
- Exercise: while walking your dog, look for signs of stiffness in the limbs or breathlessness. A reluctance to exercise could indicate a heart problem and should be checked by a vet.
- Vaccination: make sure your dog’s vaccination programme is kept up to date.
Reference: PDSA handout www.pdsa.org.uk
Pet Check
Ideally you need to be giving your dog a weekly health check, so that you are able to identify any small problems before they become serious. If you do notice any irregularities whilst you are checking your dog always seek veterinary advice.
- EYES – must be clear and sparkling. Any sign of redness or discharge is an indication of possible infections. Eyelids should also be checked for warts or cysts.
- PAWS – check the pads for open cuts or signs of splinters or seeds, which may have become embedded in the flesh. Nails should be short and look healthy. Long nails need trimming and your vet will be able to advise you about this.
- MUZZLE – the nose should be free from any discharge.
- TEETH AND GUMS – wearing rubber gloves gently lift your dog’s lips and check that the gums are pink, gums not bleeding and the teeth are clean and white. If the gums are bleeding or there is a layer of yellow tartar on the teeth, or the breath smells, you should take your dog to the vet.
- EARS – should be clean and odour free. If the ears smell, they could be infected and will need veterinary attention..
- BODY CHECKS – run your hands over your dog’s body to check for lumps and wounds. Also part the hair to look for signs of fleas or ticks. A healthy coat should look glossy and tangle free.
- UNDER THE TAIL – look for signs of soreness or unusual discharge. These can be a source of great discomfort for the dog. Dogs: check their testicles, if they are not the same size then it can indicate a growth. Bitches: check around their mammary glands for any unusual swellings.