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Feeding, Behavior, Discipline and Care of Dalmatians
Feeding
Dalmatians require a special feeding regimen as adults. Dalmatians
cannot digest high protein levels. Dalmatians' kidneys are somewhat like
humans, as they produce uric acid from metabolizing certain types of
proteins that are high in purines. So, one must avoid most food with
high purines in it. If this is not done, your puppy/dog can develop
stones in the kidneys/bladder, resulting in serious illness or even
death. Foods which you should never feed your dog: organ meat, beef,
game meats, etc.. Foods which you might consider to feed, which are
considered safer, are lamb and chicken. NEVER give your dog,
steak/chicken bones or table scraps.
Below are general guidelines on feeding your puppy/dog.:
. 0-6 months - Puppy food - 26%-28% protein
. 6-12 months - Adult maintenance formula 22%-24% protein
. After one year - Lite or Senior formula - 16% - 18% protein
When switching over to a different level of food, gradually switch, take
about 2-3 weeks to make the transition, adding a little more of the new
food each day. There is no need to waste food or switch at exactly six
months, use common sense and you can't go wrong.
Currently the puppy is eating approximately one cup three times a day.
At eight weeks of age, I will change my puppy's schedule and switch to,
two feedings a day of one and half cups each feeding. Add warm water to
the top of the food. Water is important as it helps all cell
metabolisms. Secondly, it helps flush the kidneys. You DO NOT soak the
food, only add it and then give it to your puppy. We gradually reduce
the water in the food at eight weeks old and no water is in the food by
twelve weeks of age. Some people always add water to the dogs food,
which is just fine. ALWAYS have fresh clean water available for your puppy.
Proper weight - No dogs should be over or under weight. A dog that is
underweight can be noticed when the dog is standing still and you can
see its ribs. For obese dogs, it is quite obvious. If you put your hands
on the side of the rib cage and can feel the top of the rib, your dog is
of proper weight, if you cannot feel the top of the rib, your dog is too
fat.
Treats - use treats as a tool and a reward for positive behavior and
reinforcement of already established good behavior, i.e.: urinating,
defecating in the right spot. Treats I give are milk bones, or pieces of
chicken, cheese, raw carrots. For bones, buy femurs, boil them for 4-5
hours to remove the marrow. Be inventive and creative and your puppy
will love you for it.
Behavior, Discipline and house rules
RULE #1 - You are the leader of the pack at ALL times. Your puppy/dog,
at some point will try to challenge you as it is in the dog's nature to
do so. You have to set the ground rules from day one. What ever you want
your puppy/dog to do as an adult, only allow him/her to do so as a
puppy. The key is to be consistent and firm at all times, for
corrections shake the skin of the back of the neck or on the muzzle,
this should be enough to discourage inappropriate behavior. If you see
or catch your puppy exhibiting bad behavior, a loud firm NO, or clap of
the hands should stop your puppy from his actions.
Socialization is very important and I recommend puppy socialization
classes to start at three months of age. I know of several good places
to go. So please ask me when the time is right for your puppy to venture
out in the world. A well-behaved dog is a happy dog because the owner is
relaxed and confident with their dog's behavior. Puppies have short
attention spans, therefore it is good to teach your puppy 5-6 times a
day lasting 2-5 minutes each time. PARVO virus is very prevalent in
Calgary and is found in parks, streets sidewalks or wherever another dog
has been. DO NOT expose your puppy to these areas until after 12 weeks
of age, providing all shots are up to date.
Crate Training
Our dogs are crate trained from the time they came home from the
breeder. Crates are the best investment one can make in having a puppy.
The crate is their sanctuary, make the crate a happy place, give your
puppy chew toys in his crate. You will not regret using a crate for your
puppy, as puppies are very destructive and can ruin many things in a
short period of time. Therefore, when you can not spend time with your
puppy he should be in the crate until you can trust him/her. At first,
the puppy will not like the crate but over a period of time they will
adjust and enjoy being in their crate. Whenever your puppy is put in a
crate give your puppy a treat. He will soon associate the crate with
treats and toys. If your puppy is making noise in the crate DO NOT let
him/her out, unless it is time for him/her to go eliminate, only if they
are quiet should they be let out.
General Care
We are always here to answer any questions you may have. We would like
you to call us to let us know how your puppy is doing on occasion.
Nail care, we have already cut your puppies nails approximately six
times. This is very important and your puppies' nails should be cut
every two weeks to maintain the integrity of the feet. Have your vet
show you the proper method of trimming your puppies nails, or I can show
you when it is time.
Exercise
Start your puppy off with a lot of exercise in your back yard only,
gradually, after 16 weeks, start taking your puppy around the block
once. Until your puppy/dog is two years of age they should not be run
for long distances on hard surfaces, i.e.: jogging on roads or running
beside a bike. They need soft surfaces like grass or sand to protect
their joints until fully developed and hardened.
Remember: A HAPPY DOG MEANS A HAPPY OWNER!
Because we are human we tend to not understand our new puppies, or we
interpret their behavior as we do that of other humans. This is called
anthropomorphizing attributing human traits and emotions to our animals.
Animals do have emotions and feelings but they are not the same as we
experience our emotions. If we can understand the patterns and rules that they live
by, then we can better relate to them and teach them to abide by our codes.
So that you can better understand some of your puppy activities they are
included in what is called The Puppy Rulebook This is a set of rules or natural
behavior that a puppy is born to follow. By understanding the motivation behind some of the
behavior patterns and response you can teach new methods or react to situations more
rationally and in a way that your puppy will understand.
THESE ARE A FEW OF THE PUPPY RULES:
1. As a puppy, you must greet any other adult or higher ranking animal
by licking around their face.
a. this may include jumping to reach the face
b. if you are really submissive grovel
c. groveling may be accompanied by submissive urination
2. Greet everyone when you meet them or your etiquette is out of order.
Once this is done you may resume normal activity or get down to whatever needs to be done.
3. Toileting should be done outside of the areas you eat, drink, or sleep.
a. this may be an area you are taught to use
b. when in doubt, use an area or surface you are familiar with
4. At six to eight weeks of age you should learn social skills with your
peers. This should include proper greeting etiquette such as:
a. greet strange dogs by approaching from the side or at an angle while
touching the "calming" flap of skin near the hip
b. sniff and allow them to sniff you at the same time
c. circle around and repeat the procedure
d. break into play or mutual activity
e. attack or ritualistically threaten any dog that does not participate
in this type of behavior
f. screaming littermates should teach you to stop and be gentle or play
will end
5. You must follow a hierarchical order. Puppies are at the bottom until
you grow older and wiser. You may be the top ranking puppy if you are bigger, more
adventurous, or more vocal.
6. Top ranking dogs will usually:
a. carry their tails high
b. need to be greeted first
c. will eat first
d. will go through doors and gates first
e. lead the pack by being in front or the leader dog
f. reprimand you if your human gives you attention or food first or
scold them for making sure you are in the proper rank order
7. Eye contact:
a. You must never hold the gaze of a top ranking animal since it is
disrespectful or challenges them for their position
b. Humans do not understand this and will often try to get you to look
at them. Look away because it is the proper thing to do.
8. Since you are a pack animal it is abnormal for you to be isolated. If
you are prevented from reaching your family or pack by a door, gate, or other barrier, something is wrong!
You may be rejected or your family may be dead. If you are left alone
you may be hurt or killed. Proper response for help in these matters is to:
a. whine a little
b. whine a lot, and really loud
c. bark
d. scratch at the door
9. Your diet should be a good, consistent one. Once you finish nursing,
your mom will regurgitate food to help your transition to solid food. Your human
grandparents will usually help her by giving you gruel or puppy food. Rules about food:
a. Since you are competing for food with your littermates, eat as fast
as you can and step in the food to make sure you have the advantage.
b. Make sure everyone knows that you enjoyed it by jumping all over them
after you have stepped in it and eaten your fill.
c. Go potty immediately or within 5 to 15 minutes after eating.
d. If you are dominant you get to eat first. Growl and run others off if you have to
10. Dietary Notes: Food not purchased from pet stores, feed stores, or
veterinarians is not very good for you since it contains more fillers, dyes, and sugars.
Humans may purchase your food elsewhere because it is more convenient or because they think
it is cheaper. Usually they pay more since those foods have fancy packaging, and
gimmicks such as toys, audio tapes or coupons. You can live on it but:
a. Poor quality food will make you potty more and will make it harder
for you to control your bowels and bladder. Housebreaking will probably take longer.
b. Stools will smell more and there will be many more piles to clean up.
They may be loose instead of firm.
c. You will have to eat a whole lot more to obtain the nutrition you need.
d. The sugars and fillers will make you more hyperactive and unruly.
11. You should calm down when:
a. you are quietly stroked on the chest, behind the ears, or under the
flap of skin near your hip area
b. you are in the room with the rest of the family pack, after initial
ecstatic greeting, of course
12. Everything is either reinforcing or reprimanding.
a. Rewards are attention through sound, eye contact, posture, and physical
contact.
b. Reprimands are attention through sound, eye contact, posture, and
physical contact.
c. Note a & b are the same.
d. If you are trying to get attention, and
you do, consider it reinforcing and continue or increase your intensity.
13. You will learn faster with short, quick lessons. If you are asked to
repeat a successful performance while you are learning, misbehave or do not do it as well
the next time.
14. It is your job as a puppy to:
a. instill joy in humans around you
b. get into everything
c. make toys out of everything
d. explore with your mouth
e. wonder at each new experience or encounter
f. go 100 miles per hour and then drop into an instant sleep to recharge
so you can do it all over again.
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