Puppy Bible: The Ultimate Week-by-Week Guide to Raising Your Puppy

Claire Arrowsmith is the author of Brain Games for Dogs, Correcting Bad Habits in Dogs and Instant Dog Training.

Alison Smith is the editor of Our Dogs, the UK's best-selling canine newspaper, and the author of several books on different aspects of dog ownership.

Introduction

Comprehensive and simple to use, this is the ultimate reference book on how to raise a happy, healthy dog, whether you are an experienced owner or a complete novice. It is uniquely designed to guide you on a week-by-week basis from the all-important planning stages up to those first exciting days when you collect your new puppy and bring him home, right through to the first 6 months of his life and beyond. It's so easy -- you can find out exactly how your puppy is developing, from birth to adulthood, and discover what needs to be done and the ideal time to do it.

The week-by-week planner is cross-referenced throughout to the second part of the book, giving you easy access to a more comprehensive resource when you require a more analytical approach. This fresh new approach features natural, gentle and positive training methods and socialization techniques, which are based on kindness and rewarding good behavior. By following the expert guidance in this book, you can learn how to have a friendly, well-behaved puppy that is healthy, happy and a pleasure to own.

How this book works
This practical book works in two parts, each of which complements the other, and together they cover all your everyday puppy care needs.

Part 1: Week-by-week planner
The first part of this book contains a week-by-week planner, which tells you what to do, when to do it and what to look out for in the first 6 months of your dog's life. There is also a weekly countdown before your puppy is born as well as information on caring for older puppies from 6 months onward.

This section shows you how your puppy is developing and what you should be doing as a responsible owner. It also alerts you to any significant calendar events that you should look out for and be aware of. There is expert advice on:

• Your puppy's physical and mental development
• What to expect from his behavior
• What you should do at every stage
• Common problems that might occur.

Part 2: The puppy encyclopedia
The second part of this book provides you with detailed information that will help to answer any questions you might have about looking after your puppy. It features in-depth insight into every aspect of puppy care, including the following:

• Choosing the right puppy for you
• Settling him into your home
• Socialization and habituation
• Everyday care
• Housebreaking
• Diet and feeding
• Exercise and playing games
• Reward-based obedience training
• Body language and recognizing the signs
• Solving common behavior problems
• Keeping your puppy safe
• Health and canine first aid.

There are also handy checklists and tables for quick and easy reference when you are in a hurry. Useful tips and pet care essentials are highlighted throughout in box panels.

Expert advice
Owning a puppy can be daunting, especially if you are a first-time novice, but the expert advice in this book will give you the confidence to train, socialize and care for your puppy as well as setting your mind at rest as you encounter new experiences and situations. It teaches you how to troubleshoot on a practical level and explains why puppies behave differently at key points in their development, taking the stress out of puppy ownership and making it more enjoyable for you and your family.

Responsible ownership
This book will not only help you to become a more responsible owner but also show you how to make quality time for your puppy -- however busy you are, you need to create space in your day to spend with your canine friend. This will enable you to develop a good relationship, based on mutual respect, and promote better awareness of what you must do to meet your puppy's basic needs. By communicating effectively and caring for him responsibly, you can get to know and understand him better, making socialization and training easier for both of you. Like any good human parent, you are responsible for your puppy's education, and the habits and behaviors that you teach him now from the earliest possible age will endure into adulthood.

Consult your vet
The information and advice given in this book are not a substitute for consulting your veterinarian. If you have any concerns whatsoever about your puppy's health or behavior, you should seek professional advice and discuss them with your vet and/or a pet behavior counselor.

Good behavior
By teaching your puppy good manners and how to behave responsibly in his early formative period, you can avoid many of the behavior problems that can occur later on in a dog's life, damaging good canine-human relationships. Dogs behave badly when they are insufficiently socialized as puppies, are bored or treated unkindly by their owners. It is your duty as a responsible owner to care for your puppy and actively promote his physical and mental welfare. This book tells you how to take this even further by motivating and stimulating your puppy with exercise, games and obedience training, and by providing pleasant encounters with as many people, other animals and different situations and environments as possible.

A rewarding relationship
This book is the definitive guide for puppy owners everywhere and will enable you to get organized in advance and enjoy the exciting journey ahead as you build a rewarding and enjoyable relationship with your puppy. By fulfilling his physical and psychological needs, he will not only be more relaxed but also more likely to have a long and healthy life. You will be proud to own a happy, well-behaved dog that you can take anywhere.

Introduction

Part 1: Week-by-week planner

Part 2: The puppy encyclopedia

• Choosing your puppy
• Preparing for a puppy
• Settling your puppy in
• Socializing your puppy
• Playing with your puppy
• Canine behavior
• Training your puppy
• Avoiding problems
• Daily care
• Puppy health

Index
Acknowledgments