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STEPS TO “BEHAVIOUR-PROOF” YOUR DOG
185 + breeds at
YOUR DOG’S MIND
a glance
It’s more complex than we thought!
CANINES & COVID-19
DO ADULT DOGS RECOGNIZE THEIR MOTHERS?
TOP DOGS IN
POP CULTURE $12.95 Canada
ANNUAL 2021
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SCRATCH HERE
PU PPY S U RVIVAL G U ID E
CanadianDOGS.com
CONTENTS
28 Lifestyle
Health
16 8 steps to buying a new puppy
18 Your dog’s nutrition — how far we’ve come!
22 Do dogs really watch television?
38 When to call the vet
Follow these helpful tips to ensure a smooth, positive puppy experience.
Here’s what science has to say about this cute phenomenon.
24 A guide to surviving puppyhood Master the trickier parts of puppyhood with this must-have advice.
56 H ow to keep your dog busy and active indoors
Keep your dog entertained when the weather drives you inside!
and COVID-19 60 Canines What do we know so far, when it comes to COVID and our dogs?
70 4 simple stretches for dogs Help keep your dog limber with these gentle stretches.
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Some tips and highlights to keep in mind as you build a healthy diet for your pup.
How to decide when your dog needs to see a vet right away, and when it’s okay to wait.
40 How to tell if your dog needs to lose weight
Follow these dos and don’ts if you suspect your dog is on the heavy side.
49 Building the perfect pet first aid kit
54 Simple solutions for stressed-out dogs
There are lots of safe and effective ways to help anxious pooches feel calmer.
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Departments 8 Editorial
143 Spotlight
77 Dog Speak
158 Marketplace
78 Breed Directory —
162 Tail End Fun
The Groups, Purebreds, Rare Breeds
Dog-human Interest 10 How does your dog’s mind work?
Exciting research reveals that the canine mind is much more complex than we think.
27 How many photos of your dog do you take?
34 Top dogs in pop culture
Training & Behaviour 14 Behaviour proofing — a vital step when training your dog
Advance your dog’s obedience skills by adding behaviour proofing to her training!
32 3 easy ways to let your dog be a dog
Dogs need food, water, and love — but they also need the freedom to be themselves!
Lovable and hilarious, pop culture purebreds leave an indelible mark on our hearts.
46 Do adult dogs still recognize their mothers?
An interesting experiment reveals the answer!
73 Purebred dogs may have hidden genes 74 Dog ID — why it’s so important! 76 Do kids with dogs fare better than those without?
50 How well-socialized is your dog?
Socializing your dog should begin in puppyhood, but you can improve her skills at any age.
64 Why dominance-based dog training isn’t the answer
Why we need to drop dominance and replace it with a positive, reward-based approach.
Social Media Tips, contests and more! CanadianDogs
News, events, and tips! @CdnDogs
Tips, pet photos, and more! canadiandogsannual
Crafts, laughs, and more! canadiandogs
67 5 tips for leaving your dog home alone 68 Young dogs go through moody
“adolescent” phase, just like humans
Research reveals that dogs stop listening when they go through puberty.
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Grooming & Paw Care 28 The ultimate dog grooming guide
Questions about dog grooming? Look no further.
44 Winter paw care for your dog
Everything you need to know about caring for your companion’s paws when it’s cold!
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A GUIDE TO SURVIVING
BY STEPHANIE HORAN
Welcoming an adorable and cuddly new puppy into your home is a special event! There’s also much to be done, from housetraining to puppy-proofing his environment. Here’s a guide to help you and your new best friend survive the trickier parts of puppyhood.
NIGHT TIME SCHEDULE A new puppy’s first week is a huge adjustment for both of you. While the daytime hours pass with cuddles and play, sleeping alone at night is a new experience for your pup, and he will undoubtedly cry, piteously and loudly. He will be quieter in a crate by your bed, comforted by your close presence, but you will need to get up and take him outside to relieve himself once or twice in the night as he cannot hold it for too many hours. If you don’t want him in your bedroom, confine him in a pen or small room with newspapers or puppy pads on the floor. A crate is not suitable in this case; he will be reluctant to soil his bed unless forced to, then will have to sit or lie in it until morning.
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CANADIAN DOGS ANNUAL 2021
If he sleeps by your bed, don’t make a fuss when taking him out to toilet in the night. Don’t talk much to him, don’t pet him, and don’t feed him treats. Quietly put him back when done. If he still persists in crying, ignore him or invest in ear plugs! You know he doesn’t need to relieve himself, and he must learn that this is sleep time, not playtime. Don’t listen to him getting louder and louder until you can’t stand it anymore and then go to him — you’ve now taught him that persistence works! Thankfully, he should learn in a few days that nighttime is sleep time and will settle down quietly.
SUBSTANCES Many houseplants are poisonous, causing mild irritation or digestive upsets, or even death, so put them out of reach. Many common garden plants are also toxic. Ask your vet or search online for a list of poisonous indoor and outdoor plants. Fence off flowerbeds that you don’t want dug up, and ensure perimeter fences are secure and gates kept closed. Train your family to always shut gates — better yet, install self-closing hinges on them.
FIRST Check your home thoroughly so it’s as safe as possible for him. Puppies are even more inquisitive than small children and will get themselves into trouble twice as easily. Anything lying around is fair game, so clean up your clutter. Books, toys, shoes, clothes (especially socks and underwear), DVDs, CDs, and anything else made of plastic should be kept out of reach. Tell your children to clean up their rooms, or keep their doors shut! Ensure all remotes and toys with batteries are well out of reach — batteries are extremely dangerous. Fluid from a chewed battery can burn the soft tissue inside the puppy’s mouth and esophagus, and a small button or disc battery swallowed whole can causes intestinal blockages. Run electrical cords under carpets and furniture, or get them off the floor. Puppies love to chew, and gnawing on electrical cords can result in severe burns or electrocution, or cause lamps or appliances to fall. Don’t forget cords on chargers and power cables — cover or hide them. Window and blind cords can be hazardous if a puppy gets his head caught; loop them up out of his way. Ensure your puppy has lots of safe toys around; when you catch him chewing a forbidden item, substitute it for a toy of his own. If you can’t supervise him, confine him to his crate with some toys, or to a pen or puppy-proofed room that you can easily clean up.
Store household chemicals well out of a puppy’s reach. Pesticides, insecticides, bleach, detergent, cleaning fluids, even toothpaste can make a dog very sick. Sharp puppy teeth can defeat childproof or safety caps on bottles. If you store chemicals in a bottom cupboard, ensure that your pup can’t get in — many dogs quickly learn to pry open a cupboard door! There are toxic chemicals in your garage too, including antifreeze, which dogs love because of its sweet taste. Clean up any spills thoroughly. Secure all drugs, medicinal and recreational, out of reach. Human medications are a very common source of poisoning, and pet medications can prove toxic if ingested in doses higher than prescribed.
HOUNDS Garbage is irresistible and a curious puppy can swallow items such as tissues, or a bone that can cause intestinal blockage. Even discarded dental floss can do serious internal damage. An empty chip bag can cause a puppy to suffocate if he gets his head caught. And many food items contain the sweetener xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Use closed garbage containers with well-fitting lids, and keep waste baskets out of reach. Your purse, handbag, and gym bag contain all kinds of items that a puppy will find fascinating and that are definitely not good for him; don’t leave them on the floor or on a chair or low table. If a purse or bag is within reach he will have his head in it in a flash.
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PUPPY ACCESS Don’t allow your puppy up on the couch or bed, and never allow a child to carry him while walking. A puppy can badly hurt himself if he falls or launches himself into space unexpectedly. Insist that children sit on the floor when holding him. When he’s bigger and sturdier, you can allow him to climb a little higher than the floor. Use baby gates to restrict his freedom at first, then let him gradually have access to the rest of the house, one room at a time, as he becomes more trustworthy. He’s like a small child with his insatiable curiosity. You need to keep a puppy safe from himself, and your home safe from him!
Puppies lose their baby teeth between three and six months, and grow their adult set. This can be a trying time for him — his mouth will be sore, and he will have an irresistible urge to chew and gnaw. Since he’ll want to chew on anything handy, take the opportunity now to teach him what is acceptable and what is not. Offer a variety of toys — soft and hard, smooth and rough-textured, and of different shapes. When you catch him chewing on something forbidden, remove it and offer him one of his toys instead. He’s attracted to anything that smells of you, such as shoes, underwear, socks — even plastic items such as cell phones. To relieve his gum soreness, offer him frozen pieces of carrot, banana, or strawberries. A rag or small towel tied in a knot and frozen can also help his discomfort. Be careful with ice cubes, since biting down on them can cause a pup’s fragile teeth to break. When a puppy loses a tooth, you might find it lying around the house, but he’ll probably swallow most of them. Teething puppies like to chew on and nip at people too, and this is a habit you’ll want to curb early. It is never okay for a puppy to bite and nip at people’s clothes or hands. If a puppy nips at your hand while you are playing with him, shout “Ouch!” and ignore him — no more playtime until he calms down. If the puppy persists in trying to bite and nip, walk away. If he continues this behaviour, put him in his crate with a toy. He must learn that biting and nipping at people will bring a swift end to his fun. Allowing it might cause it to escalate to the point where the puppy causes bruising or draws blood.
Stephanie Horan and her husband Terry got their first Puli in 1969 when they lived in England. They immigrated to Canada in 1974, bringing several Pulis with them. They have been breeding and showing ever since, competing in conformation and obedience in Canada and the U.S., though in recent years, conformation showing has been their main interest. Stephanie, an award-winning writer, lives in Nova Scotia. 26
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HOW MANY PHOTOS OF YOUR DOG DO YOU TAKE? If you take more photos of your dog than of your human family members, you’re not the only one. A study revealed that 65% of dog parents admit to taking more photos of their canine companions than of their significant others! Here are some further findings from the study, conducted by rover.com:
94% of
50%
Nearly of those polled said they find it harder to leave their dogs for a week than they do their human counterparts
dog parents consider their dogs part of the family
50% have cancelled social obligations to hang out with their dogs
56% greet their dogs as soon as they walk in the door, usually before saying hello to the rest of the family
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