Play Peekaboo with Your Dog

 Above photo courtesy of KTW Wraps and Knotless Hair Wraps

Playing Peekaboo with your dog is usually fairly easily taught. Be patient with your dog and before long you and he or she will be enjoying many games of Peekaboo. Your bond with each other will grow significantly.

• First, position your dog behind you. If your have a small dog, this is easier done while you kneel rather than stand. 
• Put your dog's favorite treat between your knees and bend at the waist. 
• Now....call out her name while you show her the treat you intend to give "if she follows through appropriately." 
• Give her the treat when she is between your legs and say loudly PEEKABOO. 
• Use a release word like OK or ALL DONE to end the game
• All you have to do now is this same procedure over and over until the dog does it consistently.

When you see your dog has mastered the first part of this game, try holding the treat when she is between your legs and at the same time make her sit. Either say it or signal for her to sit and then give the treat always with the surprise word of PEEKABOO. Always use a release word to get her out of the game, something like OK or ALL DONE, which signals for her to move away from you and your legs.

Now repeat the sequence as repetition is key for any kind of dog training coupled with a favorite treat when the dog does as you want him to do. 

Your end result here should be  just saying the word PEEKABOO and when she runs between your legs, she sits, looks at you and you give her a treat. Then use your release word of OK or ALL DONE or whatever release word or phrase you desire. You could even end the game with a brisk rub on the head or pat on the head.

When Should a Breeder Supplement Feed Newborn Puppies?

 Above photo courtesy of KTW Wraps and Knotless Hair Wraps

Your newborn puppies finally arrive. What next? Warmth and nutrition will be most important. Puppies cannot survive without proper body temperature to adequately digest their milk. For Shih Tzu puppies I found that optimum room temperature is 80 degrees. I also think supplementing the box with a pet warmer is ideal. Another great way to warm up newborn puppies is to place their box near an infrared heater. 

Large litters sometimes require help from the breeder for supplemental feeding. Other situations such as a dam who is sick may require the breeder to supplement puppies, or there might be a puppy not as strong as the others that will require extra help.

You might want to supplement if:

• the litter is very large and for example, you end up with more puppies than the dam has nipples
• you have a puppy with some kind of nursing impediment like a cleft palate
• your dam is a first time, nervous mom
• your dam has metritis or mastitis
• your dam dies during birthing process

To be sure your puppies are thriving, weigh them frequently. Weigh them immediately after birth, then twice daily at the same time each day. Thriving puppies will gain weight quickly. If you notice any who are not gaining weight, it is time to supplement.

Don't worry too much if puppies lose or do not gain weight for the first 24 hours while the dam's milk is coming in. After this time period, puppies should gain weight steadily, and they should be rooting for and obtaining vigorously dam's nipples for survival. Healthy puppies nurse with "gusto." They should latch onto and suck out their milk vigorously. Some puppies will even put their little paws on the dam as if "milking her" to get more milk out for themselves. You can hear slurp as well occasionally! Milk should not come back out of their nose. If puppies are latching on vigorously and still not gaining weight, definitely start supplementing.

What is the best supplement milk to feed newborn puppies? I personally like Esbilac. You can also find recipes online of homemade milk you might choose to feed.

What is the best way to feed newborn puppies? There are a variety of puppy feeding choices on the market today depending upon what breed of puppy you are feeding. I found several brands on Amazon.

Things to Remember During Winter Time Power Shut Downs

Above photo courtesy of KTW Wraps and Knotless  Hair Wraps

Winter is coming! What can we expect from winter conditions? There might some freezing temps. There might be some snow storms. There might be frozen power lines. Winter is just plain unpredictable. How do you keep your dog warm and safe during winter power shut downs?

Stay indoors is #1 rule. Limit outdoor trips even for potty time. Try to close off rooms you don't need to immediately use to help entrap warm air and conserve it for only the space you will immediately need to use during a power outage. Keep dog coats, sweaters and booties in a place you can easily find them during the emergency. Dress your dog in layers. Give your dog plenty of blankets and layers to curl up in. Insulate the dog crate with a warm blanket over top. As always provide plenty of food and water.

A working fireplace is ideal to have in case of winter power shut downs. Be sure to have it cleaned and inspected before the season begins and always have a safety screen in place for pets.

Remember to conserve your energy and your dog's energy during a winter time power shut down. Have toys and interactive games readily available just in case you or your dog gets bored while you wait for the power to come back on. Have your candles ready!

Watch your dog for dramatic changes in behavior or appearance. Vet emergencies include signs of frostbite and/or hypothermia. 

Have resources readily available such as warming centers that accept pets. Sometimes local pet friendly hotels will accept pets if their power is still on.

If you are in doubt about your pet's health during a winter time power shut down do not hesitate to call your vet or the AKC Vetline. The AKC Vetline is a 24/7 service staffed by licensed veterinary staff to answer your questions.