Curious Weims Suggestions for Bring Your New Weim Home
Bringing home your Weim can be difficult and somewhat scary, but we put together this list of suggestions to help you have a smooth transition from our home to yours!
Welcome Your New Weim
It’s finally time to bring your new friend home. Give him the best welcome possible. With love, patience and mutual respect, he will feel like part of the family in no time.
Let Your Weim Adjust
Give your Weim the time to adjust to his new home. Your pup is bound to feel insecure and frightened by a change in environment, and a pup may be homesick for his mother or litter mates. Show him to his crate or bed, and where to find food and water. Then leave him alone to explore the new surroundings.
Name Your Curious Weim
Your Weim will need a great name. Your breeder may have suggestions or even requirements for his AKC-registered name, but his call or informal name is up to you.
Make Introductions
Introduce your pup to your household slowly. Many pairs of hands petting him at once will only frighten him. Later, introduce him to neighbors, regular visitors and other family members. Give your Weim a sense of who your friends are and who his friends are. Other companion animals in your home should also be properly introduced to your new puppy. Don’t expect them to get along right away, and don’t try to force them to play together. Give them time to adjust to one another.
House Train Your Weim
Whichever method of house training you have chosen – crate training, paper training or litter box – make sure that all members of the family enforce it consistently. Accidents happen, so have a procedure for clean-up.
Set House Rules
Teach your puppy from the beginning what is and is not appropriate behavior. If something is “OK” today, your puppy will think it’s OK forever. Make sure that every member of the family enforces the house rules. Consistency is the key to having a well-behaved pet.
Keep Your Puppy Healthy
Go to the Veterinarian
Set up a schedule for regular check-ups with your veterinarian. Ask the vet questions about your puppy’s diet, behavior, activity level or other concerns. Contact the veterinarian at once if your puppy seems ill or in pain.
Feed a Good Diet
Work with your veterinarian or breeder to find the food that is best for your puppy’s age, size and activity level. Keep the diet consistent. Always provide plenty of fresh, clean water.
Exercise
Puppies need regular exercise to ensure continuing good health. Take your puppy for walks, run around in the yard, throw a ball around – anything to get him up and moving. This will benefit his health and could prevent behavior problems.
Vaccinate
Puppies should follow a strict schedule of vaccinations to prevent diseases. Keep your puppy current on his vaccinations, following the schedule recommended by your veterinarian. Keep a copy of your puppy’s vaccination records handy.
Prevent Disease
You can take steps to prevent other diseases not covered by the regular series of vaccinations. Depending on the area of the country you live in, your puppy could be at risk for diseases such as heartworm and Lyme disease. Ask your veterinarian for advice on prevention.
Repel Fleas and Ticks
Aside from discomfort, parasites such as fleas and ticks can cause serious diseases. Keep your puppy, his bedding, and your home free from parasites by using the method recommended by your veterinarian.
Know Your Puppy’s Patterns
You should become familiar with your puppy’s patterns in terms of eating, drinking, sleeping and relieving himself. Any major variations in these patterns could indicate illness and should be reported to your veterinarian.
Provide Chew Toys
Puppies never outgrow the need to chew. Protect your possessions by providing a variety of chew toys to satisfy your puppy’s urges.
Bathe Your Puppy
A clean puppy is a healthy puppy. Bathe your puppy on a regular basis appropriate to his breed and environment. Over bathing can be harmful to a puppy’s skin. Use a good shampoo and be sure to rinse well. If bathing your puppy is more than you can handle, take him to a groomer or veterinarian for help.
Groom Your Puppy
All puppies should be groomed regularly for health and best appearance. Some short-coated breeds need just a quick brushing every week, while some longer-coated breeds need daily brushing to prevent matting and to reduce shedding. If your puppy requires clipping or sculpting, you may want to consult a professional groomer.
Clip Those Nails
Keeping your puppy’s nails short will keep him comfortable, prevent injury to his feet, and may save the surface of your floors. If you can hear your puppy’s nails click on a hard surface, they need to be trimmed. Ask your veterinarian for advice on clipping your puppy’s nails yourself.
Clean Those Teeth
To prevent tooth decay and gum disease, clean your puppy’s teeth regularly. Most puppies will accept a “toothbrush” if introduced to it slowly and gently. You can also give your puppy products such as hard biscuits, rope bones and nylon chews to keep his teeth clean.
Prevent Obesity
Keep your puppy healthy by maintaining him at an appropriate weight. Feed him a well-balanced diet and give him plenty of exercise. Don’t give in to begging – “people food” is generally bad for puppies.
Know Your Breed’s Health Risks
You should be aware of common health problems in your breed, how to prevent them, and how to recognize their onset. For example, some giant breeds are prone to bloat, while some short-faced breeds are prone to respiratory problems. Ask your breeder or veterinarian for information about any signs or symptoms you should watch for in your pet.
Protect From Poisons
Make sure that your home and yard are free from poisonous substances, such as antifreeze, which tastes good but can cause serious illness or even death. Keep your veterinarian’s number handy in case of accidental ingestion.
Be Alert to Changing Needs
As your puppy ages, his needs will change. He may require a different diet, need more sleep, and be less active. Do what you can to keep him comfortable. Your puppy may not be as “fun” as he once was, but he is the same puppy you’ve always loved. You should do everything you can to pamper him in his final years.
End Suffering
If, due to illness or old age, your dog reaches a point where his quality of life is severely compromised, arrange to end his life humanely. Letting go is sometimes the kindest thing you can do. Don’t prolong the suffering because you fear the pain of losing your dog.
Keep Your Puppy Safe
I.D. Your Puppy
Your puppy should wear an identification tag with your name, address and phone number at all times. This will increase the chances of your puppy being returned to you if he is lost or runs away.
Consider Microchips or Tattoos
Microchips and tattoos are methods of permanently identifying your puppy, and can be invaluable in recovering your puppy should he become lost. You may wish to enroll your puppy in AKC’s affiliate, the Companion Animal Recovery service, which is the nation’s largest database of micro chipped pets.
Provide Shelter
Your puppy needs a sheltered area for the time he spends outside. The shelter should provide shade in summer and warmth in winter.
Watch the Heat
Dogs can succumb to heat stress in a matter of minutes. Do not leave your dog in the car when the temperature is high. When your dog is outside, he should have a shady place to lay down and plenty of fresh, cool water.
Travel Safely
Keep your dog safe in the car by using a crate, or by attaching the dog to a seat belt with a harness. Never let your dog ride free in the back of a pickup truck, or allow him to hang his head out of the car window.
Find a Pet-Sitter or Boarding Kennel
Make arrangements for your dog’s care when you go away. Have a friend or reliable pet-sitter come over to tend to the dog, or find a good kennel for boarding. If you opt for boarding, try to inspect the facilities before you drop your dog off.
Prepare for Disaster
Be prepared to care for your dog in the event of a disaster such as fire, flood, hurricane or earthquake. Make an emergency kit with clean water, food, and first aid equipment. Find out in advance if the evacuation shelters in your area allow animals. If not, develop alternatives.
Establish an Emergency Contact
Enlist a family member or friend to take care of your dog in the event of a sudden illness, hospitalization or other emergency. This person should ideally be someone your dog has spent some time with and is comfortable with. Leave a list of general care instructions in a safe place.
Make a Will
You should make arrangements for the safety and care of your pet in the event of your death. Don’t assume that a family member will step in to take care of the dog.
Take Pictures
Of course, you will want a picture of your puppy to grace your desk or to send as a Christmas card. More importantly, a current photo will be invaluable in the event that your puppy is lost.
Be Your Puppy’s Friend
Play!
Dogs, of course, love to play. Set aside time each day for play sessions. Apart from the obvious benefit of having fun together, play also provides an outlet for your dog’s energy.
Go On Walks
Take your dog on frequent walks. He will enjoy exploring the neighborhood and will benefit from the exercise. Make sure that you have a good strong leash and that you maintain control of the dog at all times.
Talk to Your Dog
Your dog won’t understand your words, but he will enjoy the sound of your voice. Talking to your dog will make him feel involved. You can also use different voice levels to praise or correct your dog’s behavior.
Give Treats
Your dog will always appreciate a treat, and treats can be used as a supplement to his regular diet, as well as an excellent training aid.
Love Your Dog
Your dog will love you no matter what. Return the favor.
Switch Out Toys
Keep your dog entertained by rotating his toys. Put “old” toys out of sight for a month or two and then bring them out again – your dog will enjoy them just as much as when they were new.
Give Your Time
You are the center of your dog’s world. You may be tired after a long day at work, but your dog has spent the day anxiously awaiting your return. Reward that loyalty with your time. Pet him, talk to him, play with him, laugh with him. Let your dog know you value his company.
Find the “Spot”
Scratch your dog’s belly often. If you find the “spot,” so much the better.
Leave the Radio On
Try leaving the radio or television on when you leave your dog alone. The noise will keep him company.
Plan Activities With Your Dog
Include your dog in family activities. Take him to the park or on outings to the beach, or to special activities such as the “Dog Olympics” or dog parades. Your dog will love being out and about with you.
Give a Massage
Dogs love to be petted, and recent studies have shown that structured massages may be beneficial to your dog’s health and behavior. They may also be very relaxing for you!
Make That Tail Wag
Your dog’s tail is a barometer of his emotions. Do what you can to keep it happily wagging.
Go On Trips
Dogs can add another element of fun to a family vacation. Check ahead for lodging that accepts dogs. If flying, ask about travel accommodations for your dog when you make your reservations.
Ease Separation Anxiety
Your dog will want to be with you at all times, but for most people that simply isn’t possible. Help your dog get used to being alone. Leave him each day without making it a big deal and without saying goodbye. When you come home, do it like you would without a dog, then once you’ve settled in for a minute or so greet him calmly. This will eventually teach him that your leaving is not something to be concerned about.
Give Kisses
Give your dog a kiss, and see how many you get in return.
Get Another One!
Dogs are pack animals by nature and generally enjoy the company of other dogs. Your dog may benefit greatly from having a companion to play with. Be as conscientious about getting a second dog as you were about getting the first; multiple dog ownership isn’t for everyone, and some dogs do better as an “only.”
Don’t Let Your Dog Down
You aren’t a dog owner just at Christmas, or on the weekends, or in the afternoon, or when you have spare time. You aren’t a dog owner just when the dog is behaving, or when he’s a cute fuzzy puppy, or when he’s winning awards. When you bring a dog into your family, that dog is yours for life. If you can’t keep that commitment, don’t make it. And once you’ve made it, don’t break it. Your dog’s life depends on you.
Train Your New Puppy
Be The Alpha
Puppies need to know who’s boss – and that boss should be you. You and your puppy will be much happier together if you establish yourself as the leader of the pack.
Teach Basic Commands
Teach your puppy basic commands such as sit, stay, come and down. Training your puppy will not only make your life easier, but will also fulfill your puppy’s desire to learn and please you.
Socialize Your Puppy
Expose your puppy to different people and settings regularly. Take him to the park, to the pet store, on a walk through town. Praise him for accepting petting from friendly strangers, and for behaving calmly around other dogs. The more your puppy learns of the world, the more comfortable he will be in it.
Go to Class
Obedience classes can be a great experience for you and your puppy. You may even discover that your puppy has a great talent for learning, and be able to compete in obedience, agility or tracking events.
Prevent Nuisance Barking
Don’t let your puppy’s incessant barking annoy your neighbors. Teach your puppy not to bark without real provocation. If your puppy’s barking is causing problems while you’re away from home, try a silencing collar.
Praise Your Puppy
Because your puppy loves you, he wants to please you. Praise him lavishly for obeying commands and behaving well. Using positive, rather than negative, reinforcement will help your puppy enjoy learning.
Supervise Play With Children
Children and puppies can be great companions, but they also require supervision when playing together. Your dog may be “good with kids,” but what if he encounters a kid that is not good with dogs? Very small children should never be left alone with a dog, no matter how stable his temperament.
Give Your Dog a Job
Keep your dog active and alert by giving him tasks to do. Teach him to fetch the paper, carry groceries in a pack or empty the dryer. Make him sit before getting a treat or lay down before going outside. Giving your dog a sense of purpose and accomplishment will increase his sense of well-being.
For more information, feel free to contact us!
