Birth to 8 weeks The puppy is entirely dependent on its mother. Puppies are born with sealed eyes and ear canals. Walking begins at 16 days. Eyelids open at the age of 2 weeks, while ear canals open after approximately 17 days. Waste elimination without assistance from the mother (who licks the genital area to stimulate the process) begins at 23 days of age. At 25 days puppies begin responding to sights and sounds. Baby teeth appear at 4 to 6 weeks; consumption of solid food

Nails should be trimmed approximately twice per month. Use a clipper designed for dogs nails and be sure to have cotton swabs and a bottle of styptic powder nearby. This commercially available blood-clotting powder can be used to stop bleeding if you accidentally trim a nail too close. 1) Instruct the dog to sit beside you and take one of its paws in your hand. A smaller dog can sit on your lap. Alternatively, have the dog roll onto its stomach on the floor. 2) Clip the first

Experts debate the exact intelligence quotient of dogs and even whether it is possible to gauge the IQ of a nonhuman species. What can be said with certainty is that the average dog's memory capacity and problem-solving skills far exceed those of the most powerful computers Consider the fact that while supercomputers can play master level chess, they can't begin to tackle such complex tasks as foxhunting or guiding a blind person down a city street. Similarly, comparing the

1) If possible inspect the puppy's mother and father. Are they free of physical and/or mental shortcomings that might be passed to their offspring? (remember a puppy will look and behave like its parents) 2) Is the puppy at least 8 weeks old? (Puppies younger than 8 weeks should not be separated from their mother and siblings.) 3) Does the puppy seem alert, happy, and eager to socialize with you? (A shy, withdrawn puppy may grow up to be a shy, withdrawn dog.) 4) Does the pup

In many cases mounting is done to display dominance not necessarily for sexual reasons. Should your dog initiate such behaviour push him down immediately.

In most cases this is simply an overexuberant greeting. Correct the problem not by shouting at the dog or "kneeing" (using a knee to deliver a blow to the dog's chest) but by ignoring the behaviour. Make no reaction at all, for good or ill. Just move away from the dog so that is cannot continue. In most cases, the dog will eventually stop. Another alternative is to command the dog to sit when it seems about to jump.

If a dog starts choking or appears to have difficulty breathing, it may have an obstruction in its throat. Employ the following maneuver to repair the problem. 1) Open up the dogs mouth and look at the back of its throat. If you can see the object causing the choking, remove it. If the dog is unconscious, pulling its tongue forward will give a better view and perhaps dislodge the object. 2) If the dog is small enough, pick it up and hold it by the hips in the air with his hea

- If your dog exhibits an undesirable behaviour, the best approach is to pointedly ignore the behaviour and the animal. The dog will quickly realize that doing the wrong thing deprives it of what it desires most-attention,. The only exception is when a dog becomes extremely aggressive; this type of undesirable behaviour requires your immediate attention - Shouting at a dog when it does something wrong can have unintended consequences. Canines are programmed to crave attention

1) Solicit help from a family member or friend. Each person should sit at opposite ends of a room. Take turns calling the canine from one person to another, saying "come" in a pleasant enthusiastic voice. 2) Bribe the dog with treats and/or praise to win compliance. Make the idea of coming when called as attractive as possible. 3) Later that day, call the dog at random times, whether the animal is a few feet away or in another room. Reward it amply when it responds. 4) When t

Before changing your dog's diet, develop a plan of action with your veterinarian. Weight loss in canines is a slow process with several health risks. In some cases a special diet may be needed, or their may be other complicating concerns to consider, such as diabetes. Weight loss can be accomplished either by giving the dog less of its current food or switching it to a low-calorie diet food. Keep the following tips in mind as you proceed with your program; - Weight loss shoul