New Puppy?? What you need to know

When first-time puppy owners pick up their 7- or 8-week-old pup, they usually glow with pride and affection. At this time, they set their hearts on doing everything possible to make the new pup welcome in their home and try to help it adjust to the considerable change in lifestyle that the pup inevitably faces. Owners are often inundated with information on how to feed the pup and take care of his medical needs, and so on, but other questions soon arise and the correct answers aren't always easily available. Common questions include:

The puppy cries at night. Should he be left alone or cuddled?

Trainers stress the importance of socializing the pup to other dogs, but the veterinarian says to keep him inside until all his vaccinations are complete. What do you do?

What are the best methods for housebreaking your dog?

How do you handle nipping, chewing, leash training, and crating?

Opinions vary on these subjects, but this article provides some guidance to help the owner make reasonable and, most importantly, humane decisions. Raising a puppy is not easy. Half the new pups born in this country do not live to see their second birthday largely because of supposedly unsolvable behavior problems. The fact is, many people don't know how to communicate the right messages to their dogs as they go through highly sensitive periods of development and sow the seeds of disaster early.

Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Dogs are social animals that form strong bonds with people, so it is not surprising that they may feel somewhat anxious when separated from their social group. Most dogs adapt well to the typical daily separation from their owners. Unfortunately, problems can arise when an overly dependent dog develops a dysfunctionally strong attachment to her owners. The dog with separation anxiety is distinguished by signs of distress when left alone and over-attachment when the owner is present.