Understanding these developmental stages is also important to prevent unwanted dog behaviors such as dog aggression.

Here are the developmental stages of puppy behavior:

2 – 4 weeks: Transitional
.Puppy’s behavior is influenced largely by mother and littermates
.This time, puppy’s eyes are opened, teeth erupts, sense of smell and hearing develops
.Puppy begins to wag, bark, stand and take a little walk
.At four weeks, puppy’s sight is well developed

3 – 12 weeks: Socialization
.This time, a puppy needs opportunities to interplay not only with other dogs but also with people
.At four to six weeks, a puppy is largely influenced and gets much learning from littermates.
.At three to five weeks, a puppy becomes aware of her surroundings, including dogs and people around her.

.At four to 12 weeks, a puppy is largely influenced not just my littermates but also by people. As such, this stage is important in educating the puppy the appropriate dog skills and people skills as well. This is the time your puppy learns social skills, social structure, social ranking. This is also the time that your puppy learns physical coordination.

.At eight to ten weeks, a puppy can already experience fear. At this time, the puppy can fear normal objects. Thus, positive training is needed at this time.

.At nine to 12 weeks, a puppy refines her reactions, her social skills towards littermates and towards people, explores her surroundings. Most importantly, this time, a puppy begins to focus on people. As such, this is a great time to train a puppy.

3 – 6 months: Ranking
.At this time, a puppy is largely influence by playmates that also include other species.
.This time, a puppy begins to comprehend ranking within a pack that includes humans.
.This time, a puppy is teething and oftens chews things
.At four months, a puppy experience another stage of fear.

6 – 18 months: Adolescence
.During adolescence stage, a puppy is largely influenced by dog and human pack members.
.At seven to nine months, a puppy goes through a second phase of chewing – the time when a puppy explores territory.

.Exploration of dominance, including challenging humans, is heightened.
.If not neutered or spayed, begins to exhibit sexual behavior.

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Here are tips on what to do the next time your puppy jumps on you:

1. Fold your arms in front of you, turn away from your puppy and say “off”

2. Persist on turning away from your puppy until such time that she will put all her four feet on the ground. Once her four feet are on the ground, praise her and give her a treat. If your puppy knows the sit command, tell her the command. Once she is in the sitting position, praise her and give her a treat.

3. In case she jumps up again once you praise and give her a trait, simply repeat step 1 and step 2.

Your puppy must come to realize that she can get attention, not by jumping on you (as this can be perceived as dog aggression), but in ways such as by sitting quietly beside you. Keep in mind to praise and reward your puppy when she calls your attention by simply sitting quietly beside you.

A Message About Puppies and Children

Children under 10 years old have difficulties in following the tips outlined above. Children in these ages must never be left alone with dogs. Parents and of-aged family members must closely monitor any interplay between children and dogs.

This puppy behavior is not considered as dog aggression but is considered normal. This puppy nipping is almost never aggressive. Thus, this should not cause harm.

The purpose of the alternative behavior is to avert your puppy’s longing to put anything on her mouth. This alternative behavior also aims to educating your puppy that nipping or putting her teeth on any skin is not an acceptable behavior.

Here are alternative behaviors that aim to stop puppy nipping:

1.Encourage Positive Behavior

Nipping on a human skin can be redirected to nipping or chewing admissible objects such as a chew bone or any other chew toy that your puppy loves to nip.

This approach can be done by offering a chew bone or any chew toy on one hand, while using the other hand to pet your puppy. This way, your puppy’s attention will be redirected to the chew toy rather than nipping you.

Your puppy must realize that nipping or putting her teeth on a skin is an unacceptable behavior and that such a behavior will result to something unpleasant. She must realize that nipping will result to loss of attention and interaction from you.

This approach can be done by saying “ouch” in a high-pitched voice and ignoring your puppy every time she nips your skin. For your puppy to get the message that you are ignoring her because of nipping, it is best for you to leave the room or alternately leash her while you play so that she cannot follow you.

The “encourage positive behavior,” that is, the chew toy and petting method; and the “discourage negative behavior” must go hand-in-hand. This way, your puppy will understand that it is unacceptable to nip a human skin as this can later on be perceived as dog aggression, but it is acceptable to nip a chew bone or a chew toy.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) reported that in 2011, they received 28,162 calls about animal abandonments, compared to 27,755 in 2010. In 2007, RSPCA received just 21,481 calls. This means that reported calls about animal abandonments increased by 31% within five years. A number of these abandoned animals are of any dog breeds.

RSPCA Inspector Tony Woodley says:

Although it is tempting to blame the economic situation, we have no real idea why the number of abandonments is increasing overall. But it is so frustrating to think that the messages about caring for animals just aren’t getting through to some people.

To reduce the number of abandoned animals, RSPCA gives the following tips:

.Only take on an animal if you are confident you can provide for him/her.

.Make sure you can afford veterinary care before taking on an animal.

.Neuter your pet to reduce the chances of unwanted litters.

.Microchip your pet so if he/she does go missing, they can easily be traced back to you.

In the U.S., most households have at least one pet. Majority of these pets are of any dog breeds. Why do most Americans prefer to have a dog in their households?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) listed the following as the benefits of having any dog breeds:

.Dogs decrease your blood pressure

.Dogs decrease your cholesterol levels

.Dogs decrease your triglyceride levels

.Dogs decrease your feelings of loneliness

.Dogs increase your opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities

.Dogs increase your opportunities for socialization

The Philippine Canine Club, Inc. announced that the top 10 dog breeds among Filipinos for 2011are the following:

1. Shih Tzu
2. Chihuahua
3. Pomeranian
4. Siberian Husky
5. Beagle
6. Labrador Retriever
7. Chow Chow
8. Pug
9. Poodle
10. German Shepherd

Canine Club president Augusto Benedicto Santos III, in a statement, says:

Apart from preserving the line of the breed, owners can develop a working knowledge on what to expect with their dogs in terms of temperament and behavior, allowing them to easily train the dog and create a wonderful relationship with them.

Click here to read more about this story.

This winter, as the temperature drops, dog breeds of any kind need special care to stay healthy and safe. The American Kennel Club (AKC) says that it is important to pay special attention to your dog’s well-being during the winter season.

Here are AKC’s tips in keeping our four-legged friends stay healthy and safe this winter:

.Antifreeze, which often collects on driveways and roadways, is highly poisonous. Although it smells and tastes good to your dog, it can be lethal.

.Rock salt, used to melt ice on sidewalks, may irritate footpads. Be sure to rinse and dry your dog’s feet after a walk.

.Provide plenty of fresh water. Your dog is just as likely to get dehydrated in the winter as in the summer. Snow is not a satisfactory substitute for water.

.Frostbite is your dog’s winter hazard. To prevent frostbite on its ears, tail and feet, don’t leave your dog outdoors for too long.

.Be very careful of supplemental heat sources. Fireplaces and portable heaters can severely burn your dog. Make sure all fireplaces have screens, and keep portable heaters out of reach.

.Like people, dogs seem to be more susceptible to illness in the winter. Take your dog to a veterinarian if you see any suspicious symptoms.

Dr. Dubovi says:

If I’m in New York City and going on a two-week vacation at Christmas and putting the dog in a kennel, then I’m vaccinating. If I’m in Kansas City where you don’t know for sure the virus exists, then maybe I’m going to wait.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dog flu is a contagious respiratory disease in dogs caused by a specific Type A influenza virus referred to as a “canine influenza virus.” CDC stressed that this a disease of dogs, not of humans. The virus was originally a horse influenza virus. Later on, this virus spread to dogs and can now spread between dogs.

Merck & Co, makers of the dog flu vaccine reported that the virus has been detected in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Colorado, Texas and is now being investigated in California.

River May, a doctor of veterinary medicine, published an article in the  Times Publishing Group that touches on the ways owners of any dog breeds can reduce their dog’s health care costs.

Hereunder are the doctor’s suggestions:

1) Feed high quality food and provide plenty of exercise to maintain ideal weight.

2) Brush your pet’s teeth. Brushing can be done!

3) Buy health insurance for your pet.

4) Use regular flea control.

5) Watch for and ask about specials on common products and routine services.

Click here to read the Times Publishing Group article in its entirety.

The article “The problem is in the training, rather than in the dogs” written by Steve van Staden, a canine behaviour specialist, was featured in The Witness. Staden says that dog breeds of any kind can become calm, responsive and well-adjusted pets if you as the owner established yourself as their pack leader.

Staden says:

I won their respect, coupled with appropriate submissive behaviour, by gaining their trust. If a pet needed to be desensitised to other dogs I would do this in a manner where the social and coping skills were respected.

Click here to read The Witness article its entirety.