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[MusicÑ
>>Kate Pleasant: Coming up
on this episode of the Paw
Report, my friend Reba
here is going to help me
tell you about what you
need to do when you're
bringing a puppy home.
I guess we'll also have
our friend Ellen Johnson
from the Charleston Dog
Club here to talk about
it, too, so stay tuned.
You won't want to miss it.
That's next on the Paw Report.
[music]
Production for The Paw Report
is made possible by,
Midas Auto Service and Tire
in Charleston and Mattoon.
Midas repairs both cars and
light trucks. Midas cares about
our community and thanks you
for being a responsible
pet owner. You deserve
the Mias Touch.
>>Kate: Hello, and welcome to
the Paw Report.
I'm your host, Kate
Pleasant, and I'm joined
by Ellen Johnson from the
Charleston Area Dog Club.
She's a frequent guest
here at the Paw Report.
Thanks for coming.
And we can't forget about Reba.
Reba, I love your dress
today, Reba, and she's
even got her toenails painted.
And then, Rhodie's down
here on the floor, just
kind of hanging out.
You can't see Rhodie, but
she's here, too.
So, we are talking
today about bringing home
a puppy, right?
>>Ellen Johnson: Yes, we are.
>>Kate Pleasant: Something
we probably need to know about,
it has to start somewhere.
So, we'll start with
bringing the puppy home maybe.
So, first of all, it
starts further back than
bringing the puppy home, right?
>>Ellen Johnson: Yes, it does.
>>Kate Pleasant: Let's talk
about that. Where do we start?
>>Ellen Johnson: Well, you
want your, I'm assuming,
okay, this program that we
are going to be talking
about getting a puppy
from a breeder.
We can talk about bringing
it home from the shelter
or other places later, but
this is from a breeder, so
that you have a lot of warning.
Okay. And you want your EEE
breeder: ethical,
educated, and experienced.
I assume that you have
done research, checked out
three breeds at a dog
show, looked at them,
talked to people who own
them about what it is like
to live with them, asked
questions like: what are
the downsides of living
with this breed.
>>Kate Pleasant: Mmhmm.
Because there's probably a
downside to every breed.
>>Ellen Johnson: Absolutely.
So, you've gotten all the
information, you've chosen
your breeder, possibly
been to visit her home and
seen where the puppies are
going to be raised.
You have had your name put
on her waiting list,
because a lot of breeders
only breed every other
year or maybe twice a year.
So, there's usually
a waiting list.
The breeder will notify
you then when her female
dog is pregnant, and
sometimes, breedings
doesn't take, so you
may be disappointed.
You can't count on it.
You have to wait, and
she'll let you know when
the female dog is pregnant.
And when the litter is
born, they'll let you know.
And at that time, they'll,
if there are ten puppies
and she has eight people
on the waiting list, you
know, that's great.
If there's eight puppies
and she has ten people on
the waiting list, maybe
not so good for the last two.
Many breeders will take a
deposit at this time,
usually 200 dollars it
seems to be about what it is.
That reserves a puppy.
My advice is to let the
breeder choose your puppy.
The breeder will know the
personality of the puppy
much better than you will,
because she lives with
them 24/7, and a good
breeder is there a lot
of the time.
And if you have a
household with lots of
children, you want a
little more bold puppy.
If you have elderly
parents that live with
you, you need a dog that's
a little more gentle.
You may want a quieter puppy.
So, you're not going to be
able to make an
intelligent choice, really.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
You can let them match
them for you.
Because, like you said,
they're the ones that are
spending the time with
these animals.
>>Ellen Johnson: Yes.
So, the first time that
you will see the puppy is
at five weeks.
Most breeders let you
visit at five weeks, and I
have my five week kit here.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay, do
you want to talk about
that a little bit?
>>Ellen Johnson: Yes, I do.
I have never had a puppy
cry at night.
>>Kate Pleasant: Really?
>>Ellen Johnson: No.
And preparation for the first
night begins at five weeks.
You can either buy a crate
from the breeder if the
breeder does not want a
crate coming into her home.
Remember that puppies are
very vulnerable right now.
They don't have any
immunization, so the
breeder may wish to either
purchase a crate for you,
or use one that she
already has in her home.
But if she doesn't, at
five weeks when you go to
visit, take your crate
after you've made sure
that you've sprayed, it
disinfected it with what
the breeder wants you to use.
And this is my, this is a
plastic crate, it's also
the kind you use on
airlines, it's my favorite
kind because I believe
that the puppies feel
safest in this type of crate.
I am not a fan of wire
crates for puppies, okay?
I like the crate to be den-like.
This crate, plastic crates
are easy to disinfect,
they come apart, the top
lifts off, so when you
want to store it, you just
take it apart.
>>Kate Pleasant: Fold it
up, right? Yeah, kind of
fits inside itself.
>>Ellen Johnson: Yeah.
And store it in a cleaning
bag or something so
it stays clean.
But this is the kind that
I get for my puppies.
So, that's the first part
of your five week kit.
This is the second part.
This is a freezer bag.
In the freezer bag is a
hand towel that you have
rubbed on the animals in
your home: cats, dogs.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, it
smells like the other animals.
>>Ellen Johnson: Right.
And a sock, worn by every
member of your household
and not laundered.
A t-shirt.
>>Kate: So, stinky sock.
>>Ellen Johnson: Yes.
And this goes, now you
have to have a very
understanding breeder.
This goes in her freezer.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
>>Ellen Johnson: Okay.
And she takes it out the
last week that the puppy
is at her house, and goes
into the crate so that the
puppy is familiar with the
smell, not only of you,
but all the animals in
your home. Okay.
And so, there's few
surprises when the dog
comes home. It's... [Sniffs]
Okay, I remember that. Alright.
>>Kate Pleasant: Because they
associate a lot with scents.
>>Ellen Johnson: Yes, they do.
Yes, they do.
So, when you go to visit
the puppies at five weeks,
be very careful.
Don't wear shoes that have
been worn to an animal
shelter or into a pet
store, where there may
have been adult dogs, and
expect to leave them
at the door.
Some breeders are very
picky about, because a lot
of parvo germs can be
tracked in on shoes.
So, be sure you wash your
hands before you handle
her puppies and, of
course, wash them afterwards.
>>Kim Pleasant: Right.
That would make sense.
[Chuckles] So, that's your
five week part, right?
So then, the next time,
when's the next time that
you see them?
>>Ellen Johnson: Then you
pick them up.
Now, if you live close, of
course, you can go and
visit a little more frequently.
But, and you don't by a
dog by geography.
You know, you want to buy
the best dog.
It's going to be living
with you for 12 to 15
years, and you want a dog
whose temperament,
personality, and health
situation is going to fit
in with your family's needs. So.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
And so, you would go to
pick them up at eight weeks.
And I assume, is it around eight
weeks, between eight and 12?
>>Ellen Johnson: Well, it
depends on the breed of dog.
If you are picking up
Reba, a chihuahua, you
want Reba about 12 weeks.
That's when most ethical
breeders want them to go.
They only fit, they fit in
the palm of your hand, and
they weigh about a pound
at that age, and really,
their safety is an issue.
Tiny dogs can get stepped
on, slammed in doors; so,
you want to give them a
little extra time.
A bigger dog like Roady
can go at eight weeks.
Some people feel ten is better.
Eight to ten weeks
is about normal.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
So, what does your eight
to 12 week pickup look
like when you pick up this dog?
What do you need then?
What should you be taking
with you, what should
you be doing?
>>Ellen Johnson: Well, you need
another person.
You do not want to go in
the car by yourself to
pick up a puppy.
You need someone to hold
the puppy, and someone to drive.
Okay. If you want to try the
crate, I have never taken
a dog in a crate, except
one time when it most
emphatically did not work. Okay.
I want the dog here on my
lap so I can see if it's
getting sick to its tummy.
You know, if it's nervous
or upset, I want to see the dog.
So, my method is to, I'm a
big fan of beach towels,
put the beach towel on
your lap, this is for,
wrap the puppy up if it
seems chilly or not.
Before dogs come in the
car with you, you want to
know if it's been in
the car before.
Some have not.
You want to be sure that
the breeder has not
fed the dog.
So, your pickup
time is important.
You don't want the puppy
starving, but on the other
hand, you do not want the
puppy coming with a full
tummy, because a lot of
puppies get carsick.
So, big breed dog like
German Shepherd or Golden
Retriever, you want to
pick them up early in the
morning and make sure that
the breeder has remembered
not to feed him.
Now, for a tiny breed, you
can't do that.
>>Kate Pleasant: Like Reba?
>>Ellen Johnson: Well, yeah.
Yorkies, Maltese, Toy
Poodles, anything very
small can have a problem
with hypoglycemia.
So, they will have to be
fed small amounts every
three hours or so.
So, they're not going to
be coming on an empty stomach.
Okay. Now, the first sign, the
first problem that you
have when you take a puppy
home is it may get carsick,
the first sign is drooling.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
Good to note.
Yeah, something to watch for.
>>Ellen Johnson: Absolutely.
I have here a poop bag,
and also, this is my
cleanup kit that goes
in my purse.
It's paper napkins.
If you have a Mastiff
puppy, you're going to
want something a little
heavier than that.
Right, paper towels.
Anyway, in the car, some
dogs do very, very well in
the car, they're used to it.
When I picked up my first
German Shepherd, he had
already attended several
children's soccer games,
so he was...
>>Kate Pleasant: Good to go.
>>Ellen Johnson: Oh, yes.
No problem at all.
The last German Shepherd I
picked up had not been in
the car before, so, and he
did get quite sick. So.
>>Kate Pleasant: It happens.
I mean, it's just like people.
Some people can handle
cars, some people can't.
Same thing with dogs, I suppose.
>>Ellen Johnson: Absolutely.
And I think the breeder
maybe forgot to not feed him.
So, anyway, it can be
quite messy if that happens.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, it's a
good thing to work out
with your breeder ahead
of time, perhaps.
>>Ellen Johnson: Yes.
And be sure and call the
night before and remind them.
>>Kate Pleasant: Don't feed
the dog before I come to
pick it up, please.
>>Ellen Johnson: Right.
I would always provide water.
>>Kate Pleasant: Right.
Just want to have that on
hand for animals.
But what about, then, when
you get home?
So, you've made the car
ride successfully, maybe
you had to clean up some,
you know, doggie puke on
the way, but you made it home.
You got there.
So, now what do we need to know?
>>Ellen Johnson: Okay.
Hopefully, you have all
your equipment
previously purchased.
The first thing that you
want to do when you bring
the dog home, you don't
take it in the house right
away, you get it to its
potty area. Okay.
Now, if you're really,
really smart, you will
have saved a
paper napkin from...
>>Kate Pleasant: From your kit.
>>Ellen Johnson: Well, from
when you stopped.
You want to stop about
every two hours, or often
for a tiny dog, and let
the dog have a drink, go
to the bathroom,
stretch its legs.
And you also need, if you
don't have an ex pen with
you, which is nice, an ex
pen allows the dog to, you
don't have to worry about
collars, leashes, and so on.
You just carry the puppy,
set it into the ex pen and...
But, and here's a big old
collar and leash if you
don't, if you want to do that.
Some puppies have been
wearing a collar the whole time.
The breeders have to do
that, they have to put,
they're usually rick rack
collars of different
colors, so they are used
to having something on
their neck, and putting a
collar on them is no issue.
Others, if you have a
breed that all the puppies
are different, maybe they
didn't have to do that.
And so, putting a collar
on your brand new puppy
may be a little more stressful.
Anyway, if you are smart,
you will save a paper
napkin with a little bit
of pee on it, and put it
in the puppy's potty area
at your house, because
remember, dogs are olfactory.
That is their number one
sense of the world.
And so, if the puppy's
nose says this is where
I do it...
>>Kate Pleasant: Then that's
where they're going
to do it.
>>Ellen Johnson: So, you're
going to be a leg up. Okay.
>>Kate Pleasant: So to speak.
>>Ellen Johnson: Yes.
>>Kate Pleasant: So.
So, you've come home,
you've introduced him to
the potty area.
What kinds of things
should we have had at our
home ahead of time?
What are our supplies?
>>Ellen Johnson: have some
things here.
This is a timer.
This is very important.
You want to set this for
how often the dog has to
go to the bathroom.
Now, an eight week old,
smallish puppy may have to
go out every hour and a half.
A larger breed puppy might
be able to hold it
for two hours.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
So, you've got to really
know you're going to
invest some time here,
every two hours they need
to be out when you get
them at first.
>>Ellen Johnson: Yes, yes.
And the reason you need
the timer is because
you're going to
increase the time.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
By a little bit here and there.
>>Ellen Johnson: Yes, yes.
So, most people have trouble.
That's the one thing I
hear in puppy class.
Every week, I always ask
how did housebreaking go,
because this is the number
one reason that puppies
are surrendered to the
animal shelter, is they
can't housebreak them.
And usually, unfortunately,
those puppies who can't be
housebroken are A) rare,
B) they come from puppy
mills where they've been
forced to go in their crate,
and that's very challenging.
This is why a good breeder
will have arranged a potty
area for the puppies when
they're, and they're tiny
little puppies when they
learn to use the potty area.
>>Kate Pleasant: And a
clean area, yeah.
>>Ellen Johnson: Yes,
absolutely.
They're, it's wonderful to
have a good breeder.
Most of your housebreaking
will be done...
>>Kate Pleasant: Before you
ever get them. Really?
Okay.
>>Ellen Johnson: Because
the dog will have learned
to keep its den area clean, yes.
And if you get a larger
breed puppy at ten weeks,
most of the hard work may
be done for you.
>>Kate Pleasant: That's good
to know. That's, so that's
really important, then, when
you're choosing where
you're getting your dog from.
>>Ellen Johnson: Anyway,
every week when I ask
about housebreaking, I
hear, "Well, I had three
accidents, but that was my
fault; I forgot."
Well, that's why I
recommend the timer.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, that
reminds you.
You can't get out of it then.
>>Ellen Johnson: Well, yeah.
If your puppy has an
accident, you're going to
need something to
deodorize the area.
Again, I use paper
napkins, unless you have a
Mastiff, then you have to
use something a little bigger.
I use paper napkins
because they're cheap, and
they don't leave lint.
If you would happen to get
a mistake on your carpet,
they don't lint on your
carpet like paper towels do.
Soak the spot with this,
put a chair over it so it,
and you have to soak all
the way down through the
pad, unless you have the
foresight to get puppy
protective carpet pad,
which does exist.
>>Kate Pleasant: Yeah, I'm
sure it does.
I bet it comes at a
premium, as well, but it
can be done.
>>Ellen Johnson: Yes.
And then, the next day,
you sponge off the spot
with a little bit of
vinegar and water.
>>Kate Pleasant: And that
will keep them from
marking there again, right?
Because they can't
smell that anymore.
>>Ellen Johnson: Okay.
This is a black light.
If you have had a dog
before, or a cat that's
sprayed in the house,
guess what's going to happen?
Your new puppy is going to
say, my nose is telling me
this is where I'm to do it.
So, before you even get
the puppy, you need to check
to make sure that there's...
>>Kate Pleasant: There's no
extra spots around the house.
>>Ellen Johnson: Yes.
And the enzyme cleaner
will work on old stuff, too.
Anyway, this is, a black
light is helpful,
especially if you have a
dog like Reba, where the
mistake is going to be
this big, and sometimes
you can kind of smell it,
but you can't find it.
This will help you.
You have to, the downside
is that you have to do it
at ten o'clock at night
with all the lights off. But...
>>Kate Pleasant: But it's
good to check.
>>Ellen Johnson: Okay.
Then, safety, main
concern; even more
important than
housebreaking is safety.
This is chew deterrent.
There are many different ones.
>>Kate Pleasant: You can
get those at your garden
variety stores.
>>Ellen Johnson: Absolutely.
And you want to spray
things that can't be
removed, like electrical cords,
the legs of your chairs...
>>Kate Pleasant: The legs
of my chairs were a big
one at my house; my dogs
got to those before I got
some of that spray that
has the bitterness in it
to keep them away.
And yeah, that would be
a good idea.
I didn't think about
electrical cords.
That's a good idea.
>>Ellen Johnson: Well,
sometimes you can't remove them.
So, they have to be, it's
best if they're fastened down.
You can just use duct
tape, you don't have to do
anything fancy, and then spray.
Anything else.
You can also use a chew
deterrent on your hands if
you're having a problem
with play biting, which is
the second biggest problem
people have with puppies
after housebreaking.
Anyway, chew deterrent;
very important.
This is food and water bowls.
>>Kate: Stainless steel.
>>Ellen Johnson: Yes.
The reason that I use
stainless steel is because
it doesn't have cracks in
it like the ceramic.
The beauty of the ceramic:
it's heavy.
>>Kate Pleasant: Right.
They can't knock them
over as easily.
>>Ellen Johnson: Right. Right.
But, they can harbor germs.
They're hard to keep clean after
they get old, and they chip.
So, stainless steel is cheap.
You want to have at least
three food bowls, three
water bowls: one for use,
one for the dishwasher,
and one to grab.
This would be a size of
bowl for a Reba dog.
This one is what I use for...
>>Kate Pleasant: A Rhodie dog?
>>Ellen Johnson: A Rhodie dog.
And if you get a Labrador,
or any kind of water dog,
you want a pan like this
to put the water bowl in,
because labradors love...
>>Kate: They're messy drinkers.
>>Ellen Johnson: Yes, they are.
So, you will have puddles...
>>Kate: All over the floor.
Mmhmm.
That can be a
slipping hazard, too.
>>Ellen Johnson: So,
actually, what I use at
home, I use a bigger bowl
than this because
I have four dogs.
And I use the bottom
of a broiler pan.
>>Kate Pleasant: There you go.
That's a good idea.
>>Ellen Johnson: And then,
I have a second water
with, I think, a sweater
box sitting in it. So...
>>Kate Pleasant: Keeping it
all off the floor, so...
We've got about five
minutes left here, so do
you want to talk about
some of the other things
that we have here that we
might need, as well?
>>Ellen Johnson: Okay.
These are toys.
You want to have at least
three; you don't want too many.
The reason I brought all
of them is you want
to rotate them.
>>Kate Pleasant: Sure, variety.
>>Ellen Johnson: You want
to have toys that the,
now, this is a Labrador
toy; they instinctively
love this.
And Labradors and Goldens
have stuffed toys.
Now, my friend Sandy will
tell you that Terriers should
have toys with no stuffing.
Otherwise, you will spend
a very long time...
>>Kate Pleasant: Picking up
the stuffing.
>>Ellen Johnson: Yes.
>>Kate: I can only imagine.
>>Ellen Johnson: This is a kong,
and it is good for Terriers.
You can put cheese,
or Kibble, or...
>>Kate Pleasant: Some of
their food, or anything
that might be
interesting to them.
>>Ellen Johnson: Yeah.
And that's a good thing to
give the dog when it's in
its crate to keep it occupied.
>>Kate Pleasant: Sure.
It's like a brain teaser
for them, so...
>>Ellen Johnson: Yes.
This is a cow hoof.
This can, if you're
worried about germs, can
go in your dishwasher if
you want to sterilize it.
>>Kate Pleasant: Really?
>>Ellen Johnson: Yeah.
>>Kate Pleasant: I didn't
know you could put those
in the dishwasher.
>>Ellen Johnson: These are
wonderful for puppies when
they're teething at 16
weeks, when their teeth
come out.
You probably wouldn't give
this to a brand new puppy,
but they're nice to have.
This is an interactive toy.
You would never give this
to a dog and let it chew
it; because of the
strings, it isn't safe.
The rest of them would be fine.
Just, when you buy a toy,
you want to check the
eyes, make sure that they
don't come off.
Every once in a while, you
see a toy that wasn't made
correctly, and the
eyes come off.
Then, of course, your
puppy will swallow it. Yeah.
>>Kate Pleasant: You don't
want that.
>>Ellen Johnson: No, over here,
those are grooming equipment.
Can I walk over there? Just...
>>Kate Pleasant: Sure.
>>Ellen Johnson: Okay.
>>Kate Pleasant: You should
have a little bit of slack
there to get to your basic
grooming equipment.
Of if you can't reach, you
can always just talk about it.
>>Ellen Johnson: Okay.
This is my favorite.
This is an all-breed,
childproof grooming tool,
which is good for puppies
because it's gentle, it's
made out of rubber, and a
child cannot hurt a
dog with this.
So, this is a good start
thing to have for a new puppy.
This is brand new puppy, very
small scissors to cut nails.
If you're going to cut
nails, don't cut nails
without this, which is a
gel to stop bleeding if
you slip and happen to
cut the nail a little too
close to the quick.
You want to have some way
to stop it.
This is a cleaning ears on
breeds like Labradors,
Cocker Spaniels, any dog
with floppy ears is going
to have to be having its
ears cleaned frequently.
So, you want to start early.
Be very careful when you
do it on a puppy.
Do not put the ear cleaner
into the ear.
And this is beginning teeth.
This is a toothbrush for a
puppy; it fits on your finger.
And you put the
toothpaste on there.
Dogs love toothpaste.
This is a cat brush, which
is good for a very small puppy.
>>Kate Pleasant: It is very
small, so it would work
great on a small dog.
[Chuckles] Okay, so you've
got to have basic grooming
tools, you've got to have
your spot cleaners,
things like that.
And I assume you'd want to
have, make sure you have
proper introductions to
family members and
other pets, as well.
>>Ellen Johnson: Yes, and
that's when the ex pen comes in.
The puppy is in the ex
pen, the animals can come
in and meet the puppy.
They can withdraw at will.
You don't ever want to
introduce other animals
and have them restrained
in any way.
>>Kate Pleasant: Because
then, they feel like they're...
>>Ellen Johnson: Trapped.
>>Kate Pleasant: ..Out of
control, and they can't
get out. So, okay.
So, that's a nice, slow
way to do that.
>>Ellen Johnson: Yes.
>>Kate Pleasant: Alright,
so I think we're about out
of time, but I think we
got some basics today.
So, Ellen Johnson, thank
you, from the Charleston
Area Dog Club, we
appreciate you coming in
and telling us some of the
basics for what you need
when you're bringing home
that puppy.
So, thank you very much.
>>Ellen Johnson: Thank you
for having me.
I enjoyed it.
And I can tell that the
dogs think it's just part
of their routine now, because...
>>Kate Pleasant: I think
they're okay with it.
[Chuckles] We always enjoy
having them, too.
So, thanks for watching.
>>Kate: Have a video or photo of
your pet doing something funny
or absolutely adorable?
We'd love to share it with our
viewers here at The Paw Report.
Email it to me, Kate, at
kfpleasant@eiu.edu and you
could see it on our show!
Just make sure it's a video
taken by your or that you have
permission to share. For more
information about how to get
that video or photo to us,
email me or call us at
217-581-6960.
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They can be accessed at
www.youtube.com/weiutv.
Then just go to the Paw Report
playlist and select the episode
you'd like to see.
More information about the show
is also available 24/7 on
our website at weiu.net,
under the television tab.
Production for The Paw Report
is made possible by,
Midas Auto Service and Tire
in Charleston and Mattoon.
Midas repairs both cars and
light trucks. Midas cares about
our community and thanks you
for being a responsible
pet owner. You deserve
the Mias Touch.
[music]