Striegel Animal Hospital
Over 50 Years of Quality Medicine
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Something Special Award November 2009 Winner
Melissa
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| Dear Helen... |
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I asked my groomer for a puppy cut, but what I got wasn’t what I expected. Can you tell me what a puppy cut is supposed to look like? A puppy cut is how show poodles under one year of age are groomed. The face and feet are shaved close and the rest is hand-scissored. The top knot and neck are left very long, and only scissored enough to produce the correct outline. If your dog isn’t a poodle, there is no standard “puppy cut,” so everyone has a different idea about how it’s supposed to look. For some, it’s fairly short all over, like a newborn puppy. For others, it’s long and fluffy, like a four- or five-month-old puppy, or it might be anywhere in between. My advice is to just tell your groomer what you want your “puppy” to look like. Be specific about the length you want, how you’d like the ears and tail trimmed, and what shape you’d like the face – round or broad like a terrier. A picture may help, but remember that your dog’s coat texture will affect the final outcome. Your groomer can’t make a Maltese look like an Airedale, after all!
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Dog School
Development and Socialization
There are five basic developmental stages in puppies: neonatal, transitional, socialization, juvenile and adult. During the neonatal period, the puppy is very limited in mobility. It will spend most of its time sleeping and nursing. The puppy is totally dependent on its mother. By the end of this time the puppy will begin to walk and its eyes and ears will open.
When the puppy enters the transitional period, the adult behavior patterns begin to appear. The puppy gains independence from its mother. Its sensory systems, i.e. tactile, visual, auditory and pain are developed.
The socialization period is one of rapid development of social patterns. Puppies begin exploring their environments. Pack behaviors begin to emerge and the puppies interact more with their littermates. This is a time when the puppy forms attachments to other animals, people, and places. Fear postures and increased startle responses occur during this time.
By the time the puppy enters the juvenile period, basic learning capacities appear to be fully developed. Environmental exploration increases during this time. By four months of age the speed of learning begins to slow because previous learning begins to interfere with new learning.
The socialization period starts at 19 days of age through 12 weeks. Before initiating contact with the outside world, make sure your puppy is fully vaccinated. Avoid contact with dogs of unknown health or vaccination history. Be sure to keep your puppy on a leash for safety reasons. Do not delay socializing a puppy. This portion of the puppy's training can't wait.
The purpose of socializing a puppy is to develop a friendly and confident adult dog. In order to do this, the puppy should be exposed to different situations, environments, people and other animals. Bring the puppy with you in the car as often as possible, so that the puppy can become comfortable with traveling. Remember to never leave an animal in the car during hot weather! Expose your puppy to a variety of sounds. Proper socialization will eliminate fear-based anxiety and develop a confident, relaxed, well-adjusted dog that is welcomed by all and a joy to live with.
The following are a series of dog classes that are hosted by Striegel Animal Hospital.
Puppy Classes
Date/Time: First and Third Tuesday evening at 6:00 P.M.
This class is designed for the puppy, 6 to 16 weeks old. Emphasis for this class is basic puppy issues: socialization, crate training, housebreaking, chewing, etc. The method of reward-based training is introduced. The puppies begin learning some basic manners, such as "sit," "stay," and walking on a leash. this class provides an excellent opportunity for the puppy to socialize with other puppies and people. Socialization is critically important for the young puppy's growth into a confident and friendly adult dog. This class is provided at no cost to our patients and their families.
Sluggo's High Five!