I Just Got a Doberman Puppy! Now What? Pets Articles

It is very exciting when you bring your new puppy home. It is exciting for your puppy too. This article will give you some tips on making your new Doberman puppy a part of your family

Your Doberman puppy should be no younger than 8 weeks when you bring him home. Being separated from his mother and litter mates for the first time will be a big adjustment. So, how do you make his transition to your home as smooth as possible? One thing you might want to do is take a blanket or towel to the breeder and rub the other puppies and the mother with it to get their scent on it.

When you first get home with your Doberman puppy, the first thing you should do is make him an appointment with the vet, if you have not already done so. The next thing is take him outside to the yard where you will want him to do his business. Let the puppy explore and become familiar with "his" territory. If he happens to do his business while he is playing in the yard, praise him. After he has been outside for a short time, bring him in and let him explore the house. Keep areas blocked off that you do not want the pup to go. Doberman puppies are by nature bold and curious. They are not usually timid and fearful, but if your pup is a little scared or nervous, he will get over it quickly.

Introduce your puppy to his food and water dish. You should have food available all day for a young pup because they grow so fast. It is best to feed a premium dog food especially formulated for large breed puppies. This will guarantee the growth and development rate will be appropriate. This is also a good time to show the puppy his crate. Place the blanket with the scent of the mother and puppies in the crate. Put him in there with a toy and leave the door open. The crate will be the pups home when you are away. It will also be his own "den" where he can go for a time out. It is important not to send the puppy to his crate as punishment. It should be a place he likes to go.

The first few nights at home will be less than peaceful, unless you intend to let your Doberman sleep in bed with you. This may seem like a good idea in the beginning, to keep him from barking all night, but a full grown Doberman does not leave much room in the bed for you! There are a few tricks you can use to help your puppy learn to get though his first nights away from the rest of the litter. The blanket with the scent from his litter mates is important. Another trick is to keep a nightlight on and the TV or radio playing softly. I had good luck with a large stuffed dog in the crate for my youngest Doberman. She curled up to it and went to sleep. I cannot promise this will work for you... count on several nights of barking and whining. It really does not take that long for the puppy to adjust.

Since puppies are so playful and active, they tire easily and nap frequently during the day. Make sure you give him plenty of exercise before bedtime.

One of the most important things you will need to do with your Doberman puppy is socialization. After he has had some time to meet the family and get familiar with his new home, you will want to introduce him to other people he will encounter on a regular basis. He should be introduced to your childrens friends as well as your neighbors. You may even want him to get to know your letter carrier if the pup will see him every day. Do not forget to introduce your puppy to the neighbors pets. Dobermans are not always friendly with other dogs and since they have a high prey drive, they are likely to want to chase smaller animals. Make sure you Doberman puppy gets to know nearby dogs and cats while he is still young.

Doberman puppies are a lot of fun, and will be a wonderful addition to your household. Your Doberman will grow up to be an extremely loyal, loving and affectionate family member.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_M_Sabol

Article Tags: Doberman Puppy

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joseph M. Sabol is a world class Doberman breeder. Please go to http://petvitamins4u.com/ or to http://theroadhousedobes.com/ for further information