What you’ll need:

1.Food and food bowls: If your puppy has special needs, or if you want to use a specific brand of food, it’s better to have it on hand before you bring the puppy home. Heavy ceramic or weighted stainless steel bowls are best. Plastic bowls may be cheaper, but can be easily tipped over or worse, chewed up! Separate bowls are better, as water is easily fouled if the food dish is too close - and why clean two bowls if only one is dirty?

2.A bed or crate and bedding :Once you’ve decided where you want your puppy to sleep, ensure that the space is attractive to him. A cushioned dog bed, or even just a cardboard box with a blanket or cushion can provide a secure resting place for tired pups.

3.Collar and leash: Every puppy should wear a collar and be leashed for walks. Even puppies as young as 8 weeks can begin learning to walk on a leash, and being comfortable with the sensations is key to leash training success. If your puppy has been vaccinated, you’ll want to keep his tags on his collar as well.

4.Chew toys : All puppies chew, and if you don’t want him chewing on the furniture, you’ll want to get a toy that is safe for him to use. Some toys are inappropriate (or unsafe), as they have small parts (like buttons) that can be easily chewed off, or are made of unsafe materials (like soft plastic) that can be swallowed.

5.Basic training book : There are hundreds of puppy training books and videos on the market now, or even in used book stores. Some books even offer specialized training instruction, such as agility training and dog tricks.

Other things you might want to include in your new puppy kit are:

1.Business cards from local veterinary clinics and groomers, with price lists if possible

2.Coupons for puppy food and medicines

3.Local pet store ads

4.Over the counter flea and tick medications

5.Puppy pads for potty training

6.Picture frames, if the new owner has pictures or a camera

7.Puppy treats

8.Training whistles or clickers

9.A map of dog parks in your area

10. A list of doggie day camps or boarding kennels in your area

Whether for yourself, or as a gift for an animal lover with a new family member, or maybe as a donation to your local animal shelter, you are limited only by your imagination and finances in creating a perfect new puppy kit!

Electrical cords and wires are especially hazardous to teething toy puppies. They need to be out of reach or taped to walls. A puppy could electrocute himself while happily chewing away on an electrical cord. Regularly look for dropped pens, pencils, rubber bands, paper clips, and children’s small toys on your floor. Teething puppies can be very mouthy, chewing on everything they can latch onto. Nylabones and other chew toys are an absolute must for your new teething toy puppy.

You can also ask your vet for oral cleansing gel to apply topically for control of bacteria and aid in healing injured or sore gums while puppies are teething.

Don’t forget to keep your books, shoes and clothing out of harm’s way of a teething puppy. Crate the puppy when you’re out of the house or confine him in a safe area with all his appropriate chew bones and toys.

If you catch your puppy chewing something inappropriate, sternly say “NO,” and give your puppy an appropriate chew bone or toy. Praise him when he begins to chew on the appropriate item.

Bitter-tasting liquids are very helpful to apply to your furniture and handy to use on a bandage after a veterinary procedure to keep dogs and puppies from chewing the bandage.

When the permanent teeth begin to erupt, provide your toy puppy with an appropriate chew toy, something that is soft and that is not going to be swallowed and cause intestinal blockages. Choose an assortment of toys of all textures. In fact, dogs need to chew throughout their lives. It is wise to provide your adult toy dog with plenty of chew toys and bones that are soft and hard. Select items that are the right size for your toy breed puppy or dog. Choose carefully because some of the toys on the market might be just a little too hard for a toy breed. Avoid cow hooves with sharp edges. Broken teeth and sliced gums can be a real problem for dogs and puppies who chew on processed cow hooves.

Some vet dental consultants think toys that look like stringy dental floss are like chewing on a rag and can be loaded with harmful bacteria when they get dirty. Wash your toy puppy’s toys often in the washer along with their other belongings and use Clorox bleach in the wash.

Also avoid rawhide strips or rawhide of any kind.

Connie Limon raises Shih Tzu puppies. Buy designer dog clothes made especially for all toy breeds at: http://www.littleguysdogclothesshop.com

It is advisable to adopt a pit bull in the puppy stage, as it then grows up with you. As a result, it ends up being more loyal as you may be its only master. Pit bulls may have their particular traits, which define their breed, but a puppy can be trained so that negative traits like aggression may be subdued. A pit bull that has been at your home since it was a puppy is more a part of your home.

Training is an important issue when it comes to pit bull puppies and it takes a lot of effort, but consistent and affectionate training will succeed. Pit bull puppies are known to have weak bladders and the initial few months will require it to be taken out every hour.

Training a pit bull puppy can be fun. Driving and tracking can be entertaining for both pit bull as well as the owner. More importantly, working together with the puppy on training creates a stronger bond. This doesn’t happen when training an adult pit bull. Pit bull puppies can be made to respond to verbal commands like ‘go’, ‘fetch’, ‘heel’ etc. They can be made to recall to their names. Here again there is an advantage over adults as you can teach puppy your own language and give a name of your own.

However, there are problems with puppies also. One is the difficulty in housebreaking. The teething period is another. Pit bulls puppies will chew anything, even hands and legs, so better keep kids out of reach of teething pit bull puppies. Pit bull puppies are also moody during this period and are more difficult to train.

When you adopt a pit bull puppy, you do not know what it will turn out to be. It has not yet developed its personal traits. But with proper training and lots of love, pit bull puppies can be made into good dogs.

Pitbulls provides detailed information about pitbulls, pitbull breeders, pitbull kennels, pitbull puppies and more. Pitbulls is the sister site of Dog Fleas.

Stages of growth

Puppies chew when they are teething. This usually occurs sometime before the six-month stage, depending on the specific breed of dog. Some of the larger breeds may continue chewing past the six-month stage and some breeds are just known for chewing behaviors. Regardless of the breed up to six months will be problematic for most puppies. There are several steps that owners can take to minimize the damage that may occur with chewing behaviors:

· Puppy proof your home. This means removing all hanging wires, electrical cords, curtain pulls and other dangling objects. Hanging plants that touch the ground can also be temping to chew on and can also be poisonous.

· Keep chewable items in drawers or out of the puppies reach. For example, toys, shoes, remote controls, books, backpacks and briefcases, telephones and even laptop computers need to put away or kept on tables or desks well out of the puppies reach.

· Provide a wide variety of chew toys while you are gone. This means different shapes and sizes. Thick pieces of cotton rope with knots in the ends are great for chewing on. Heavy rubber balls or Nylabone chew toys are safe and virtually indestructible.

· Freezing dog teething rings and leaving them in the crate or doggy area of the house provide relieve to the gums and entertainment as well.

If you notice the puppy chewing something that is not correct don’t punish them. Simply say “No” and substitute what you want them to chew on. Praise them when they are chewing on the right things. Make sure you say something like “Good boy/girl for chewing on your ball (rope, toy, stick)”. This helps the puppy learn the word for what he is chewing on. Later you will be able to say, “Get the ball/stick/rope” and the puppy will know what you mean.

Toys to avoid

Some toys, even those sold in pet stores, should never be used with a puppy. Toys that are flimsy or have many parts that can be chewed off pose choking hazards. Toys that have long strings or ropes that could become wrapped around the puppy’s neck are potentially deadly toys.

Stuffed animals are appropriate for some older puppies and dogs but for younger puppies that are chewing constantly the stuffed toy will quickly be shredded. This leaves parts of cloth and the stuffing material that can be swallowed leading to gastrointestinal blockages and possible choking issues.

Natural bones, even raw bones, are not generally advised for puppies. They are usually too hard for the puppy teeth and lead to splintering and breakage of the existing teeth. In addition the puppies will be more likely to try to swallow any splinters and this can result in the bone splinters becoming lodged in the gums or the throat. If you do wish to allow your puppy to chew on bones be sure they are raw beef bones that are from a joint. Never allow your dog to eat pork bones and also never allow raw or cooked poultry bones of any kind. Supervise the puppy while he is chewing the bone and remove it at any sign of splintering or when the bone becomes small enough that the puppy might try to swallow it.

The chewing phase in puppies, like the teething phase in children, will pass. By taking a few precautions with your household items, supplying lots of alternative chewing toys and teaching your puppy what to chew on the stage will pass without any problems now or in the future.

Kelly Marshall is a popular contributor at Oh My Dog Supplies - where you can find dog beds, dog steps, pet ramps, and more unique dog gear that you’ll never find at your local pet store

If your young dog has bad breath, the next step is to look in his mouth. Look for inflamed gums or signs of an impacted baby tooth. Both of these things can generate an odor from dead tissue or from mouth bacteria that tend to colonize an unhealthy site. Is your puppy teething? Teething is a common cause of inflammation in a puppy’s mouth and of puppy bad breath. Teething is usually finished by the time the puppy is six or seven months old. If, however, your puppy is not teething and you see that her gums are seriously inflamed, take her to your veterinarian for an examination.

While you are looking in your puppy’s mouth, check carefully for food items lodged between the teeth. If you find something there it may have been there for a while and could easily be the sole cause of puppy bad breath. The solution is easy: remove the food and keep an eye on things. There may be certain places in your dog’s mouth where food is particularly likely to lodge, so any time your dog has bad breath, check for that.

When an older dog has bad breath, it’s usually due to a buildup of tartar on the teeth and accompanying gum inflammation. This is a rare cause of puppy bad breath, but it is worth looking carefully at the teeth, especially the outside surfaces of the back molars, to be sure that nothing is building up there. Feeding soft and canned dog foods can accelerate tartar buildup. Be sure to buy your puppy some chew toys and bones that will help keep his teeth clean. You can also get him used to having his teeth brushed at a young age to avoid tartar problems later on.

Another thing to consider is the possibility that the puppy bad breath is coming from somewhere other than your dog’s mouth. Many dogs will eat feces if they get the chance and this can produce a terrible smell on the breath for a while. Also they may pick up a bad smell in the mouth when they groom themselves around the anal sac. When a dog has bad breath at any age, this may be the cause. There’s not a lot you can do about it, but remember, in each instance, it’s temporary.

In some cases of puppy bad breath, there’s nothing wrong. Some breeds are said to typically have bad breath and there isn’t much you can do about it. Your veterinarian can help you decide if your puppy has bad breath because of a health problem, or if that’s just the way her breath naturally smells.

R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. She is a contributing editor to Puppy Bad Breath, a blog dedicated to the treatment of bad breath.

Dog owners have been trying to stop puppies from biting without knowing why puppies bite in the first place. By understanding why your puppy bites is the first step in training him not to bite.

The main reason why puppies bite is as a result of Puppy Teething.

Puppies’ jaws are weak and as a result of new teeth they gnaw, mouth and even play-bite to sooth the gums around the teeth. This combination of weak jaws with extremely sharp, needle-like teeth, can result in numerous play-bites which, although painful, seldom cause serious harm. The developing pup, therefore, receives ample feedback regarding the force of its bites before it develops strong jaws - which could inflict considerable injury. The greater the pup’s opportunity to play-bite with people, other dogs and other animals, the better the dog’s bite inhibition as an adult.

Puppy Socialization

Proper puppy socialization is important when teaching your dog bite inhibition. Your puppy is a blank slate and needs to be taught proper behaviour around humans and other animals. Once she is taught proper behaviour, it will carry into adulthood.

For puppies that do not grow up with the benefit of regular and frequent interaction with other dogs and other animals, the responsibility of teaching bite inhibition lies with the owner. All puppies love to play by being mouthy and biting or chewing anything they can get their sharp little teeth into. These sharp teeth are the reason that it is crucial for puppies to learn bite inhibition (controlling the force of their bite) during the first few months of life. Normally this is learned naturally and effectively through contact with mom and other littermates. If the puppy bites mom during nursing, mom can roll the puppy over to correct it or just get up and walk away. Most young puppies do not aggressively bite. If you have an aggressive puppy, you should give very serious consideration about keeping such a dog. Puppy aggression may lead to dangerous behaviour as an adult dog if not properly handled.

Next the owner must realize that the puppy does not know how to act around humans.The puppy has not had much life experience outside of its interactions with its canine family. Proper socialization techniques are crucial at this stage of your puppy’s development. You can learn these puppy socialization techniques in “Dog Bite Prevention”, which is part of our Puppy Health & Training Package.

How to Train a puppy to stop biting:

The first and best way to start teaching your puppy to stop its biting is to do what his littermates would have done were they in the same position. Puppies usually learn bite inhibition from their mothers and littermates. When a puppy bites its littermates, they will yelp and go away. This same method can be applied by you. As soon as your puppy starts to bite, you should give a loud, yelping OUCH! Glare at the pup, get up and move away. This way you can start ignoring behaviors you don’t like. Be persistent with this method and advise your family to do the same.

If your pup does not change then you can start applying the ‘‘Time Out ‘‘method. You just leave the room or take him into his crate.

Another way to use this method is this; when your puppy bites, say “no” and gently hold its mouth shut. This will teach him to keep his mouth shut. Since the puppy is a social creature, saying no, yelping, holding his mouth or walking away will teach him that he will lose his playmate. An important fact about the above two methods is to maintain eye contact with your pup when saying “no” and also watching the tone of your voice. Your tone should be in the form of a command, sharp and to the point. Emitting a growling tone will convey the message in his language.

Your duty as a puppy owner is to plan a response to active puppy teething that will soften the impact on you and your possessions. The best way to do this is to provide your pup with better chewing alternatives instead of your fingers and limbs. You can buy toys like hard rubber balls, sterilized or nylon bones and knotted ropes from pet supply stores. In a low voice you can say “no” then remove her into a neutral area where you can give her any of the above stated toys or others to play with.

Praising your puppy whenever she behaves well is one of the best ways to teach her what’s right. She will surely want to continue getting the praise. So when she plays nicely and appropriately, praise the action.

Another method is teaching the “off” command.

You get a puppy’s dry food. Hold a handful and close your hand with it then say “off.” Note what will happen. After a few seconds, if your puppy has not touched your hand, say “take it” and give him a piece of food. The lesson you are teaching him here is that “off’’ means not to touch.

It is important to give your puppy daily exercise and give him enough playtime. It is advisable to have a specific daily playing time. Your puppy will always look forward to this period and will be less likely to seek attention at anytime, thus limiting his biting behavior. Also you will be distracting his attention from biting by teaching him new tricks and taking him for a walk. You will be establishing a great bond with him doing this as well. Teach all your family members not to play any rough games like tug-of-war or wrestling which may encourage aggressive behavior like biting. Also teach them to be consistent with the “no biting” rule. With everyone working together, you will achieve a well-behaved, well-adjusted puppy and, ultimately, adult dog.

Russ Richer is a Dog Lover who has done extensive research into Dog Care. Visit http://www.DogDayPets.com/newsletter.html for free reports, articles, and newsletter. You can learn more about Puppy Health & Training at: http://www.dogdaypets.com/perfectpuppy.html You may use this article on your website or newsletter as long as all links are kept active.

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Changes in food and water can upset any dog’s digestive system. The toy puppy may be a little bit more susceptible illness with changes in food and water. If your breeder has found a complete and balanced diet that his/her dogs do well on, then by all means use the same food, at least until the toy puppy has adjusted to its new home, family and surroundings. If you must change the food, please make the change gradually.

A new owner should have a toy puppy layette ready well in advance of the day when puppy comes home. Read a couple of books about the toy breed you have selected. It helps to know a particular breed’s characteristics ahead of time. The adjustment process is easier if you know what to expect before you bring your new toy puppy home.

Toys should be purchased with safety in mind, with no loose parts that puppies can chew off. Check for eyes and other small parts that could be easily removed and swallowed. Teething toy puppies need plenty of chew toys and hard bones to help soothe the pain of teething.

When putting together your toy puppy’s layette, have several soft towels ready for bath time. Add a brush, comb, nail clipper and tearless shampoo to your shopping list along with a soft collar and leash. Consider buying the same type of food and water dishes the breeder has been using so the toy puppy will find them familiar.

Keep in mind that toy breed puppies lose body temperature very quickly in cold weather. You will need to have a coat, sweaters and cozy soft fleece t-shirts for your new toy puppy layette.

Bringing your toy puppy home should be a very happy occasion, but try to keep the excitement down so as not to frighten or upset the new puppy. Talk to the toy puppy in the car during the trip. Make sure you give him an opportunity to relieve himself before taking him inside your home, preferably in a special place for elimination you have chosen.

Take him to the room where he will be spending most of his time and let him explore the room. Be sure you have puppy-proofed the areas your toy puppy will be in before you bring him home. Electrical cords should not be exposed (he will chew on them). There should be nothing he can get into that might harm him. Keep your vet’s phone number near your telephone. Confining your new toy puppy to one room until he is housebroken is only being wise. You can allow the puppy to explore other areas once he is housebroken. Give him a toy, play with him gently, let him relieve himself and be sure he knows where his bed or crate is for nap times.

Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. Buy hand made crochet dog blankets, dog coats, sweaters and fleece t-shirts made especially for the toy breed dogs at: http://www.littleguysdogclothesshop.com

If you are having the problems above then maybe you might want to understand more about your dog in order to help him ease the pain and reduce your difficulty due to his bitting habits.

First, you understand that all puppies love bitting especially during the teething period. As bitting will reduce the pain during teething. Your dogs or puppies are always cute and sweet to you but when they start with this bad habit you will get headache. So let understand why they are bitting and what you can do as a dog owner before it the situation get worse.

Puppies are bitting because they are teething. When puppies stop teething?

By four to six months puppies stop teething. But it depends on the puppy as some will move at a different rate. But mostly, between four to six months, puppy should have his permanate teeth. But, after six months, your puppy still loves bitting around? I guess mostly yes. This is because puppy who stay with human need to be trained in order to stop them from bitting around. Naturally, dog learn to inhibit their bite when they are four months old from his siblings, parents and friends. As he is staying with us instead of his family members so we take up the responsibility to train him.

Dog socialization will help with bitting problems. As when they are playing with their mates they can communicate, interact and they will control and inhibit bitting. This happened naturally.

I would recommend starting training your puppy from bitting around from the age of two months old. How to train him?

First, whenever you puppy bite you, you need to inform him. Let him know you are in pain. When he bites you, try to yield or making noise showing you are in pain. He will get shock and stop bitting immediately by looking at you innocently. Leave him alone for few seconds. The worse thing for puppies will be staying alone without companion. So they will realize, you don’t like them to do that. Remember to keep this action consistent and persistent when training your puppies.

What can you do if you are not around? Crate training is the best! As you have no time to supervise them so crate them. But do remember to leave toys or treats for them when crating them as they might need toys or treats to ease the pain during teething. When they are chewing on the toys or treats, it will help to massage the gums of puppies. It will help to break the skin on the gums where new tooth come from and cut down the discomfort. Besides, chewing the toys or treats will help to ease the boredom when staying inside the crate. (Puppies are easily got bored with the toys so provide a wide variety of toys from time to time)

Tips do not leave shoes or socks for your puppies to chew as this might develop misunderstanding for your puppies when they saw shoes or socks they will just bite it. If you are having a bitting maniac dog they might want to try with this method. Putting a nylon bone in the freezer and whenever he start bitting, give him the bone as the cold bone would numb his teeth a little and of course the chewing eases the pain too.

Incredible dog lovers, Danielle Chua, read on http://www.dogcareschool.com