132,602
edits
Changes
The Happy Puppy Handbook: Your Definitive Guide to Puppy Care and Early Training by Pippa Mattinson (view source)
Revision as of 11:00, 5 April 2014
, 11:00, 5 April 2014no edit summary
}}
Unfortunately far too many people acquire puppies because of the ''aww...'' factor. They look gorgeous, cuddly, cute - rather like an animated soft toy - and there are people who ''have'' to have one. Now. The reality is that bringing a puppy into your home - into your life - requires about the same level of planning as moving home and the best guide which I've seen to preparing for a puppy and the early stages of living with one is Pippa Mattinson's The Happy Puppy Handbook. Do get it well in advance. If you're only thinking about getting a puppy it might even put you off - but then it will be well worth the cover price if it saves you a great deal of expense and even more heartache.
Part one (the page numbers are handily tagged in different colours for the various sections) covers the preparations for the new puppy, from understanding how puppies learn, through the food which he'll require, the changes you'll need to make in the home and the paperwork which has to be worked through. Don't skip that last part as it ''can'' be very important. If you've worked through this section methodically then you should be ready for when the pup comes home with you.
There's a lot to do when your new regime starts. I've always maintained that the first year with a pup requires a lot of input, but that it pays dividends in the following years when you and your well-trained dog can enjoy each other. Mattinson takes you through the basics of getting the pup to sleep through the night, be house-trained and start to respond to the recall. Her instructions are clear and easy to follow ''and'' they're based on what works. They're kind to the dog too, building on ''how'' a dog learns rather than establishing that you're stronger and can - to some extent - force the dog to do what you want.