PLYMOUTH DOG TRAINING CLUB
Kennel Club Registered
Founded 1957
President – The Lord Mayor of Plymouth
Puppy Socialisation Class
WEEK FOUR
Puppy’s name: ...............................................................
Teething Timetable
A puppy’s first teeth come through at about 3 weeks old and by 6 weeks they will have all 32 needle sharp milk teeth. This first set will have no molars. Then between 14 – 28 weeks the puppy will lose their milk teeth and their adult teeth will erupt. By 7 months old the puppy should have a full set of 42 teeth. The change from milk teeth to adult teeth is usually accompanied by chewing. Puppies do this to remove their baby teeth and help the new adult teeth break through the gums. They may also drool, go off their food and be more irritable during this time.
Why worm 4 times a year?
Puppy Class – Help Sheet
Keep all your training fun, doing it all, little and often, through the week.
Next week: Bring your puppy’s brush, comb and an old towel
Kennel Club Registered
Founded 1957
President – The Lord Mayor of Plymouth
Puppy Socialisation Class
WEEK FOUR
Puppy’s name: ...............................................................
Teething Timetable
A puppy’s first teeth come through at about 3 weeks old and by 6 weeks they will have all 32 needle sharp milk teeth. This first set will have no molars. Then between 14 – 28 weeks the puppy will lose their milk teeth and their adult teeth will erupt. By 7 months old the puppy should have a full set of 42 teeth. The change from milk teeth to adult teeth is usually accompanied by chewing. Puppies do this to remove their baby teeth and help the new adult teeth break through the gums. They may also drool, go off their food and be more irritable during this time.
- To help your puppy through this uncomfortable stage and lessen the chances of damage to your belongings, provide plenty of chews, marrowbones and nylon bones.
- See if your puppy has a preference for hard or soft objects and offer a variety. Rubber toys can be chewed but tend to be better for play, although a good filled toy is rewarding.
- If your shoes or other items get gnawed, don’t let your puppy have them as toys
- Make a clear distinction between the puppy toys, which they can chew as much as they like and other items in the house.
- Always praise your puppy for chewing their own toys and keep your belongings out of harm’s way.
- Use a puppy den when you are unable to keep an eye on your dog so he cannot chew anything dangerous or valuable.
- The second and potentially more destructive phase between 6 and 10 months is perhaps less well known. Your puppy, now bigger and stronger, will use its mouth to explore and build up a picture of the world, through taste, feel and experimentation. To minimise damage continue to use a den and keep valuable items out of your dog’s reach. Use a repellent spray, such as Bitter Apple where appropriate. Rotate his supply of chews and toys daily, so that they always have something fresh to chew.
- Give your puppy a cardboard box to play with and increase their exercise and where damage does occur, try to remind yourself that it is not personal.
Why worm 4 times a year?
- There are 13 different species of roundworm and tapeworm which can infect cats and dogs in the UK.
- Their lifecycle can be as short as 2 weeks.
- Some worm eggs can live in the environment for 2 – 4 years.
- Pets can potentially be exposed at any time to eggs and larvae in their environment. Eg any area where cats, dogs, foxes have access, or eating animals that may have swallowed worm eggs such as mice, birds or fleas.
- Humans can be exposed to worm eggs or larvae in the environment, for example when walking the dog, or playing in the park, also stroking dogs as roundworm eggs can be found in the dog’s coat.
- Puppies can be infected with roundworm while they are still in the uterus and also via their mother’s milk.
- Some worms which can infect pets can also infect people and cause serious illnesses, such as Ocula Larva Migrans that can cause blindness; Cutanus Larva Migrans that can cause skin irritation and Human Hydatid Disease that can cause cysts on major organs an may lead to epilepsy.
- It has been suggested that 50 – 60 clinical cases of human Toxocariasis (migration of worm larvae through the body that can cause blindness) occur in Britain each year, although many are not reported.
- Worms can cause weight loss, poor coat, diarrhoea and vomiting in dogs.
Puppy Class – Help Sheet
Keep all your training fun, doing it all, little and often, through the week.
- Practise walking with your puppy on and off the lead, when you are in safe places and continue to keep their attention on you. Don’t always go the same way and practise the sits, stands and downs where ever you are. For example get your puppy to sit before you cross the road. If you practise the positions when out and about it will increase your pup’s reliability and keep your walks interesting.
- Teach your puppy that good manners are a must as not everyone likes dogs jumping up at them. You will need to decide what you will accept and what you will not.
- Keep practising the recall. Start to build up distractions. For example recall when your puppy is sniffing the grass or playing with a toy – you will need to increase the reward as you increase the difficulty.
- Practise getting your puppy to stand while you check them over. This will help when they need to go to the vets or the groomers.
- Start to introduce a ‘settle’ command. Once your puppy learns this you will be amazed how much you use it.
- Read the hand out and ask any questions.
Next week: Bring your puppy’s brush, comb and an old towel