General Dog Tips

It is extremely important to highlight the importance that early experiences have in the lives of all mammals and in their adjustments to the world that surrounds them. In the first stage of life, when survival is simply food and shelter, puppies form habits and behaviors that will last a lifetime.

When puppies start to show signs of fear around the seventh week of age, the animal loses a high percentage of receptivity and he will never feel the appearance of an element known as "promise". From this moment on, any new things he is faced with will make him feel threatened.

The level of mistrust that dogs that live in the city have in a totally autonomous way is similar to that of the wolves. They avoid contact with humans and only visit places in which they can find food during hours of less transit. 

Carrying your puppy in your arms and taking him first to not very crowded areas and later to more noisy areas is an excellent way of teaching the dog that trucks, buses and cars are not threatening. Besides, it is suggested that the puppy acquire the habit of traveling by car, visiting big stores, getting to know the places in which, by intensity and volume, the hearing and visual stimuli of the environment could en up scare the dog. 

Instead of getting mad every time your dog tries to run away from something scary, it is convenient to, little by little, get him used to the manifestations of the environment that he couldn't assimilate as a puppy. Dog owners, who enjoy the slightest signs of improvement and face the areas of bigger resistance with caring insistence, will satisfactorily complete any therapy of this type.

If you are going to take your puppy out for a walk, it would be better if you put on the collar and leash at home, before leaving. At first, it will be the puppy that will decide which way to go, but then you who have to impose yourself.

As the puppy cannot be afraid of so many people at the same time, the fear will go away until the puppy is able to walk with relative indifference. If the puppy lies on the floor or stays in a corner, it is advisable to pull on the leash sometimes, but not too strong, until the dog decides to keep on walking. The trick here is to show the dog that you are more stubborn than he is.

If your puppy is wary with people, the ideal thing to do is to take him on walks in shopping centers in order to get him used to people. When we talk about the street, we have to mention the irresponsibility some owners show when taking their dogs unleashed during walks, just because it is more comfortable. This not only annoys the people who are walking down the street as they don't know if the dog might bite them or not (and dogs sometimes do), but it's also very dangerous for your dog as he can get run over by a car.

A Dog's Place in the House
A dog, like all the human members of the family, has the right to have his own place in the house. He needs a blanket, a thin mattress placed in a corner and away from any air current and from any noise from the street.

Dogs need a quiet place in order to rest. So, make sure you condition such a place for your dog. A good resting place for a watch dog is the wardrobe.