Cover Page: iii
Introduction Page: 1
About This Book Page: 1
Conventions Used in This Book Page: 2
Optional Reading Page: 2
Foolish Assumptions Page: 3
How This Book Is Organized Page: 3
Icons Used in This Book Page: 5
Beyond the Book Page: 6
Where to Go from Here Page: 6
Part 1: Choosing a Dog to Love for a Lifetime Page: 7
Chapter 1: Welcome to the Puppy Love Club: Here’s All You Need to Know! Page: 9
Looking at All Your Options Page: 10
Helping Your Puppy Jump into the Family Groove Page: 12
Tackling Training Throughout Your Puppy’s Growth Phases Page: 14
Handling Day-to-Day Frustrations — and More Serious Problems Page: 16
Ensuring a Clean Bill of Health Page: 17
Chapter 2: Finding the Puppy That’s Right for You Page: 19
Living Your Dream: Pinpointing What You Really Want Page: 20
Considering Your Household Page: 28
Chapter 3: Browsing Breeds and Rescues: Choosing One That’s Right for You Page: 35
Figuring Out Whether You Want a Purebred, Mixed-Breed, or Designer Dog Page: 36
Choosing the Type of Dog That’s Right for You Page: 41
Different Breeds for Different Folks Page: 42
Chapter 4: Deciding Where to Go to Get Your Puppy Page: 47
Searching High and Low for Your Puppy Page: 48
Meeting and Assessing Puppies Page: 59
Going for an Older Puppy Page: 67
Chapter 5: Shopping for Your New Baby and Looking to the Months Ahead Page: 73
Shopping for the Early Days with Your Puppy Page: 74
Exploring Future Needs, Modern Gadgets, and Training Tools Page: 86
Bringing Puppy into the Digital Age Page: 92
Part 2: Living and Loving Your Puppy: The Early Days Page: 95
Chapter 6: Bonding with Your Puppy Using the Science of Modern Dog Parenting Page: 97
Domesticated Wolves or Little Children? Page: 98
Your Puppy Is Talking — Are You “Listening?” Page: 103
Understanding Your Puppy’s Basic Needs Page: 110
Chapter 7: Establishing Good Habits from the Start Page: 115
Preparing for Your Puppy’s Arrival Page: 116
Bringing Puppy Home Page: 122
Introducing Puppy to Your Household Page: 123
Planning Out the First Days and Weeks Page: 130
Bonding with Your Puppy: The First Month Page: 132
Chapter 8: Including Everyone in Team Puppy Page: 135
Welcoming the Help of Family and Friends Page: 136
Encouraging Positive Interactions between Kids and Pups Page: 136
Getting Help with Shaping Good Manners from Day One Page: 139
Enlisting Outside Help Page: 142
Ways to Get Help Page: 144
Living in a Neighborhood Page: 148
Chapter 9: Socializing Puppy Page: 151
Recognizing the Critical Stages of Your Puppy’s Social Calendar Page: 152
Focusing on Your Puppy Page: 154
Socializing Your Puppy, No Matter Their Age or Experiences Page: 160
Adapting to Life Changes Page: 163
Traveling with Your Puppy Page: 168
Part 3: Training with a Positive Spin Page: 173
Chapter 10: Taking Baby Steps: 8 Weeks to 14 Weeks Page: 175
Understanding Your Puppy’s Mindset Page: 176
Taking Care of Your Puppy’s Basic Needs Page: 176
Making Learning Fun Page: 178
Conditioning Your Puppy to Be Handled Page: 184
Remembering the Importance of Early Socialization Page: 184
When You’re Feeling Frustrated Page: 185
Chapter 11: Teaching Your Preadolescent Puppy: 14 Weeks to 6 Months Page: 187
Understanding Your Puppy’s Mindset Page: 187
Taking Care of Your Puppy’s Basic Needs Page: 189
Making Learning Fun Page: 189
The Sequencing Method Page: 196
Instilling Household Manners Page: 200
Handling Run-Throughs Page: 204
Chapter 12: Surviving Puberty: 6 to 9 Months Page: 207
Understanding Your Puppy’s Mindset at This Age Page: 208
Conditioning Good Habits Page: 208
Taking Care of Your Puppy’s Basic Needs Page: 211
Making Learning Fun Page: 212
Socializing in the World Beyond Page: 223
Chapter 13: Striving for Off-Lead Control: 9 Months to 1 Year Page: 225
Understanding Your Puppy’s Mindset at This Age Page: 226
Training the Off-Lead Dog Page: 226
Buying the Right Equipment — and Using It Correctly Page: 228
Gauging Your Pup’s Reactions Page: 233
Getting the Emergency “Down” Down Pat Page: 235
Knowing When to Trust Your Pup and Other FAQs about Off-Lead Training Page: 236
Out and About Page: 238
Introducing Your Pup to People Page: 240
Entering Buildings Peacefully Page: 241
Making Friends: Introducing Your Pup to Other Dogs Page: 242
Part 4: Conditioning Good Manners in Your Puppy Page: 245
Chapter 14: House-Training for Success Page: 247
Picking Your Puppy’s Potty Place Page: 248
Establishing a Routine Page: 249
Helping Your Pup Communicate Their Need to Go Page: 254
Quick Tips for Handling and Avoiding Accidents Page: 256
Chapter 15: Conquering Common Frustrations Page: 259
Understanding What Shapes Your Puppy’s Routines Page: 259
Shaping and Redirecting Behavior Page: 260
Controlling Mouthing and Nipping Page: 275
Chapter 16: Addressing Extreme Reactions — On and Off the Leash Page: 279
Recognizing What Aggression Is and What It Isn’t Page: 280
Silencing Your Barking (or Whining) Puppy Page: 289
Discouraging Mounting Page: 294
Getting Control of the Digging Page: 295
Remedying Leash Resistance Page: 296
Redirecting Your Little Grazer. Page: 298
Surviving Isolation Stress and Separation Anxiety Page: 299
Dealing with a Stimulated Tinkler Page: 303
Part 5: Creating a Wellness Plan Page: 305
Chapter 17: Maintaining Healthy Habits Page: 307
Puppy Nutrition 101: Your Puppy’s Changing Dietary Needs Page: 308
Understanding Food Allergies and Special Needs Page: 316
Keeping Your Puppy Looking and Feeling Tip-Top Page: 317
Taking Your Pup for Regular Checkups Page: 326
Identifying and Remedying Allergies Page: 327
Spaying or Neutering Your Puppy Page: 329
Playing for Fun and Fitness Page: 331
Chapter 18: Identifying and Preventing Common Ailments Page: 333
Controlling Diseases with Vaccines Page: 334
Day-to-Day Health Concerns Page: 337
Bugging Out: External Parasites Page: 342
Getting Below the Surface: Internal Parasites Page: 347
Chapter 19: Preventing Accidents and Knowing What to Do in an Emergency Page: 351
Accidents Happen: Preventing and Preparing Before They Do Page: 352
Fences Help Page: 354
When Accidents Happen Page: 355
Part 6: The Part of Tens Page: 363
Chapter 20: Ten (Or So) Fun Games Page: 365
Find It Page: 366
Tug Page: 366
Give (Or Drop) Page: 367
Tug Tug Give Page: 368
Wiggle Giggle Freeze Page: 368
Two-Toy Toss Page: 369
Fishing for Fido Page: 370
Swing Toss — Can’t Catch Me Page: 370
Toy Along, Tag Along (also known as The Squeak-Toy Shuffle) Page: 371
Hide-and-Seek Page: 371
Superball Soccer Page: 373
Chapter 21: Ten (or So) Crowd-Pleasing Tricks Page: 375
If You’re Happy and You Know It, Wag Your Tail Page: 376
Give a Kiss Page: 376
Stylish Greeting Tricks Page: 377
Paw Page: 378
High-Five Page: 379
Bump It Page: 379
Take a Bow Page: 380
Go to Sleep, or Time for Bed Page: 381
Roll Over Page: 381
Ask Nicely Page: 382
Index Page: 387
About the Author Page: 407
Advertisement Page Page: 411
Connect with Dummies Page: 416
End User License Agreement Page: 417
Everything you need to bring home a new puppy
Across America and beyond, tails are wagging with anticipation. Why? Because puppies and the people who love them are eager for the update of Puppies for Dummies. Originally released and welcomed as a positive, loving alternative to the alpha dog philosophy of a popular celebrity trainer, Puppies for Dummies is now updated and more relevant than ever.
This new edition covers the latest puppy training gadgets, tricks, and tips and offers expanded coverage on the latest training techniques, including new studies on positive reinforcement methods. This edition continues to provide readers with the trusted and proven advice that has made previous editions a success.
- Integrate a puppy in your life
- Explore the latest science of dogs
- Train a happy, healthy pup
- Raise and nurture a loving dog
Rather than saying: "Uh oh, now what?!" new pet owners can be equipped with the best advice.
