Purebred pups are usually registered with a kennel club. The most popular and best known is the American Kennel Club or AKC. There are other important registries also, Continental Kennel Club (CKC), American Canine Association (ACA), America’s Pet Registry (APR), National Kennel Club (NKC) and United Kennel Club (UKC) to name a few. There are also breed registries.
The reason that most breeders register their pups is so that the lineage of their pup can be documented. Also, their pet parents may be interested in showing their dogs in either conformation or agility competition, requiring the dog to be registered. What are breeding rights? The AKC, unlike most other registries, allows the breeder of a litter to restrict the right of registration of any pups that they so choose. Breeders can also write into their contract that any particular pup cannot be bred, regardless of registry. Most pet parents have no interest in breeding dogs and intend to spay/neuter as soon as is practical. Some breeders will offer their dogs at a more affordable price point to such a person. The AKC box for limited registration will be checked in such a case/ and or a contract that the dog will not be bred will be signed. Do you need breeding rights? If you intend to show your AKC dog in AKC conformation shows, you must have breeding rights. If you ever intend to breed your dog, you will need breeding rights. Remember those contracts and/ or limited registration? There are breeders who sue to enforce that. Do the right thing and just buy full rights to begin with. It’s cheaper and easier. The time to begin potty training your pup is the moment he arrives home. Before you usher everyone into the house, take some time to let your pup explore his new potty area. Show him where you expect him to do his business. Let him sniff around and get to know the area. Spend a good fifteen minutes letting him explore the area, and if he does his business praise him! If he doesn't, then you can go on inside and show him where to eat and drink.
Offer your pup both food and water. Let him eat all he wants and when he is finished, take the food away until the next meal. He should stay on an eating schedule. I recommend both breakfast and supper for pups. Now it's back out into the yard to do his business. Most likely he will need to go, so give him time to sniff out just the right spot. Praise him for success! An atta boy and a pat on the head are appropriate. Now he will want to explore his home. Allow him to look things over, but always keep watch. If you see him moving to a corner of the room particularly if he is sniffing, he is looking for a place to potty. Quickly get him to the designated potty spot outside. If he has an accident, take him out to his potty spot immediately and show him where he should go. Clean up the mess with a good odor remover, because the smell of a potty accident says to a pup "this is the place to potty." Puppies will have a minimum of 4 bowel movements a day, more if they are active. This is normal. And they have small bladders, so need a minimum of a potty break every couple hours during the day. DO NOT use newspapers or potty pads! They tell your puppy, it's okay to pee and poop indoors. That is NOT the message you want to give him. Dogs have a fur coat and it is not too cold outdoors for potty breaks even in cold or wet climates. It is their nature not to want to foul their home, but if they are forced to stay indoors too long at a time, they will make messes. Remember, a pup is just a toddler and needs frequent bathroom breaks! When your furbaby comes home, he has no idea what to expect. You have to show him what is acceptable and what is not. You do this by not leaving him unattended. When you can't watch him (for instance, you are in the shower or you are eating dinner) put your pup in his crate. It is his safe spot! That way, he doesn't make messes and do inappropriate things due to his inexperience. Anything he is allowed to do once, he will likely try again. Showing him what to do correctly is far easier than trying to retrain bad habits! Consistently and frequently take your pup out for potty breaks and he will be trained very quickly! Before you get your new pup, you need to decide where your new fur baby will sleep. A very sensible option for most pet parents is a crate. Dogs naturally have a denning instinct and feel safe in small enclosed spaces. Think of it as you would a crib for a newborn baby. It is a safe, comfortable place for sleeping at night or whenever you cannot monitor your pup.
All of my pups are started on crate training before they go to their new homes, so they already associate the crate with taking naps and relaxation. This makes the transition to a new home easier and safer. Size of the crate is important. A crate that is too large for a small puppy will encourage him to think of one end as a napping spot and the other end as the bathroom. Therefore, get a crate that is large enough for him to turn around with ease, stretch out, and stand up without his ears touching the top of the crate. As he grows, get a larger crate. The crate should be placed wherever pup and the rest of the family can get the best quality sleep. Some pups will do best with the crate next to the new pet parent's bed as they enjoy knowing their people are close. Other pups are fitful sleepers and do better in the smaller space of a bathroom. Always take your pup outside to do his business before crating for the night. Sometimes a chew toy or blanket promotes good sleep, so it's perfectly fine to give your pup these to help make his crate more comfy! |
AuthorLaura Hendricks, dog lover, passionate about dogs and their care and breeding ArchivesCategories |