Should I Be Worried About My Puppy

Should I be worried that my puppy cries when I’m not holding her?

Your puppy needs to know that she must learn to accept being alone or not held at certain times in her life. Being at her beck and call can be detrimental to her self-confidence as she gets older.My mantra with puppies is, don’t encourage or reinforce a current behavior that you don’t want continued into her adult life. If left unchecked, you could have a dog with severe separation anxiety issues. That is probably the most horrible stressor for a dog (and you).Teach your pup to spend some time in her crate during the day. If you have a chore to do or you need a break, this is a perfect time to teach her to be alone. It’s not a punishment if you train her with treats and toys at first, with the door open so she can come and go, before you have to lock her in. If she has something to keep her occupied, this will help her adjustment.

Should I be worried that my dog's paws are cold?

Why are they cold? If your dog just came in from the out of doors, of course his paws are cold (in the winter). Let him warm up a bit, and check again. However, if he is inside, and his feet are still feel quite cold, you should watch and see if any tenderness is exhibited. If so, contact your vet. If your dog was outside in the cold for an extended period of time, he may have gotten frostbite. This is very dangerous and a vet should be contacted immediately.

Should I be worried for my puppy getting spayed? I keep reading articles and it scares me. Anyone who has had a dog spayed?

I spoke to the vet just last week about neutering my two new pups - when was the best time to do it, and what things I need to watch out for. I found her (the vet) very helpful and we agreed, due to breed, size and the fact I had two males, ten months old was a good time to have it done. But there was never a question in my mind not to do it. I have had female rescue dogs spayed because further pregnancies put them at risk; I’ve had my lovely chihuahua spayed after her first heat. Believe me, when you see your little dog, climbing on the furniture so she can walk along a window sill in the hopes of attracting a passing male dog, you want them spayed.That said, the advice mentioned in other answers with regards to talking to your vet is solid advice. You want to leave your pup in the hands of someone you trust - someone who will answer all your questions (it doesn’t matter if you think they are silly questions, this is a member of your family you are talking about). Find out when is the best time to get it done, what complications can occur and what you need to look out for when it’s done. If you are not happy with the first vet you speak to, find another one.Good luck :)

When should I be worried that my puppy is not house trained? She is 12 weeks now and doesn’t understand to go to the door, but she understands the potty bells let her go outside. I've been giving her treats and praise when she goes bathroom outside.

Dogs vary in the time it takes to house train them, but usually what I have seen in my work is owner error. In the few times that clients have done everything I told them to do, and the dog is still not house trained, I have advised my clients to seek veterinary attention to rule out a urinary tract problem.You have not provided enough information here to know whether there could be an underlying medical cause of failure to house train, so all I can say is that if you continue to encounter difficulty, consult your veterinarian and/or a professional trainer. It is not that unusual for a 3-month old puppy to not be fully house-trained, however.I usually don’t recommend teaching a puppy to ring the bells to go outside until the pup is well on the way to being completely house trained, for the very reason of the problem you describe.The key to house training is consistency, kindness, constant supervision, and patience. Do not punish your puppy for “accidents.” Watch her continually, and anticipate her need to eliminate. Take her out every 2–3 hours, right before bedtime, as soon as she wakes up, after eating, and after playing or drinking.If you’re not using a crate, look into getting one. It’s a good way to facilitate house training, and your puppy will need to learn to be in a crate anyway. To use a crate properly, only place your puppy in it when you think she should have had to eliminate, but didn’t, then take her out in 10 or 15 minutes to try again, and continue this until she goes.Do not use the crate as a substitute for direct supervision! The crate is not punishment. It is used to teach the puppy to control her bowel and bladder because dogs don’t like to eliminate where they sleep. The crate should be big enough to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably.If you’re consistently reinforcing outside elimination, and taking your puppy out frequently to prevent house soiling, you should be headed in the right direction. Make sure you clean up any soiled areas inside promptly with soap and water, followed by an enzymatic cleaner to prevent re-soiling in the same place.

Should I be worried if a dog ate paper?

Generally speaking, no, but always check with your veterinarian to be sure, and certainly if your dog displays any signs of not feeling well, such as a change in appetite, vomiting or a change in stools.