Your new puppy will need his or her own feeding and water bowls, a protected place to sleep, a collar and lead. Other requirements might include: chew toys, grooming equipment, flea control, and worming products


Puppies do need to have a "safe place" such as a box, crate or blanket for naps, and as a retreat, when the household activity becomes too much. This space should be respected, and your pup should be able to rest here without being disturbed. Do remember that puppies need lots of rest, and younger family members may need to be reminded not to disturb the puppy, when he or she is sleeping.

Feeding your puppy

Our adult Malamutes are fed on Hills Science Plan Diet, a quality complete dried dog food, along with raw meat. Our puppies are fed on a small amount of meat three times a day, again along with Hills Science Plan Puppy Diet & junior large breed complete dried food. As a treat, they love chews... however, whatever you choose to feed your pup on, please remember clean water at all times

House training your puppy

One of the golden rules is to remember that punishment does very little to hasten the training process, and usually only serves to make the pup anxious and secretive.
Establish a routine as early as possible, with toileting time as soon as the puppy wakes from a nap, immediately after eating, and at half hourly intervals. Take the pup to the area of the garden you wish them to use, and praise them lavishly when they perform.

If an accident occurs inside, make as little fuss as possible, but clean the area thoroughly to remove any odours that could act as triggers for further accidents.

House training doesn't have to be a drama. Pups naturally like to have clean sleeping quarters, or keep the ‘den’ clean, and most dogs are easily toilet trained. Don't, however, expect too much from your pup at first. Young pups simply do not have sufficient control of their bladder and bowel muscles, sometimes not until four or five months of age, so accidents can and will happen. You just need a little patience – and some newspaper or plastic covers to protect the carpet!

Results won't be immediate, but begin toilet training your dog on the first day at home.

Pups will often want to go to the toilet straight after a meal and upon waking, so take advantage of these times. Take your pup out first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and right after meals, naps, exercise and play sessions. But don't limit yourself – take your pup out every hour or two in between these times. Remember: a young pup can't hold their bladder for more than a couple of hours.

If your pup is circling or sniffing about looking for a place to torpedo, gently grab your pet and go outside. If you live in an apartment with no access to a garden, puppies can be taught to use a litter tray.

Once you see your pet eliminating in the appropriate place, give generous amounts of praise (and a treat) for a job well done. Praise is the key to successful toilet training. Dogs need to associate praise with an action, so it's critical to give the praise while, and immediately after, the pup has relieved himself or herself in the appropriate place.

You can help your pup by providing meals at the same times each day – regular meals, encourage regular toilet habits.

Choose a specific command at toilet training times, like “do it” , “potty” or “toilet” and your dog will learn to associate the word, with the event. This can come in handy prior to long car trips, when your perfectly trained dog will go on your command. It won't always work, but now is the best time for your pup to learn.
Never rub your pup's nose or face in their urine or faeces.

Harsh discipline like this not only makes your pup fearful of you, and ... it doesn't work.

Also, realize, a dog that's done something naughty in the lounge room at 2 pm, won't understand what's making you so angry at 5 pm. If you come home only to rant and rave, your dog won't think your coming home is much fun.

 Instead, just clean up any mess with a minimum of fuss.
Remember training takes months and even adult dogs can have accidents.

Simple hints & tips

Buy your dog a good collar & lead , it's worth the investment.

See that your dog has regular meals and plenty of fresh water.

Exercise your dog every day.

Get the animal to the Vet if the dog appears ill.

Train your dog.

Vaccinate your dog. Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvo Virus are killers.

Treat your dog for fleas, ticks & worms.

Ensure your dog is properly looked after when you are absent or go on holidays.

Remember dog faeces are obnoxious, clean up after your dog.

Supervise the children and dogs playing together.

Teach your children responsibility and proper care of the dog.



Keep Your Dog Cool in the Summer Heat



Cool Devices

In the hottest months of the year, it's important to not forget our furry friends, especially if we humans are sitting in a comfortably air conditioned home or office all day. Your dog might be nice and comfortable inside as well, but a lot of dogs are outside more than in. Ensuring she doesn't overheat is important for the active, outdoor canine.

Fresh Water and Shade

These are the two most important things a dog who spends any amount of time outside needs. Dogs dehydrate very quickly in the summer sun, so be sure to refill a large water dish often throughout the day. Even if your yard is well-shaded naturally, you will still need to erect some sort of shelter from the heat. Choose a spot that in the shade, or in an area that isn't under direct sunlight. Make sure it is large enough for air to pass freely through it.

Moulded Plastic Pools and Sprinklers
These are great for cooling hot dogs off in the heat.




Identification for the Twenty-First Century

Losing a pet can be heartbreaking, and an unsuccessful search even more so. Over the past few decades, different methods of keeping track of our furry friends have been developed. City license tags for local identification, and some dogs are tattooed for nationwide identifying.

While very handy, by no means are these options permanent. Collars and tags come off, and tattoos can be altered with ink, or eradicated completely with deep scarring or even , in the case of ear tattoos, cut off totally. That's a scary thought.

Affectionately referred to as "immunizing against homelessness", the fairly new micro chipping procedure is no more painful than a vaccination, and carried out the same way.

A tiny capsule, about the size of a grain of rice, is injected under the flap of skin on the back of the dog's neck.

Veterinarians and shelters are provided with a scanner that reads the digital number on the chip inside the capsule. If your pet is picked up as a stray and he is micro chipped, a quick phone call to the microchip company will have your information, and your pet will soon be home safe.

A microchip is completely permanent, it can not be cut off or altered. If your pet is stolen, or sold to a research facility he will be returned. Research facilities will NOT take any dog or animal that has either a tattoo or a microchip implanted.

Ten Tips for Preventing Pet Behaviour Problems


Set rules immediately and stick to them.


Avoid situations that promote inappropriate behaviour.


Observe the pet and provide what it needs to be cared for and attended to.


Supervise the new pet diligently through undivided individual attention and training, and restrict the pet's access to a limited area of the house until training is complete.


Encourage good behaviour with praise and attention.


Correct bad behaviours by providing positive alternatives. (A toy for a slipper, scratching post for the sofa.)


Never physically punish or force compliance to commands. This may lead to fear biting or aggression.


Don't play rough or encourage aggression or play biting.


Expose pets to people, animals, and environments where you want them to live.


See your veterinarian if serious or unresolved behaviour problems
exist.


Socializing Your Puppy

Did you come into this world with knowledge about vacuum cleaners, car rides, bicycles, animals and other people? Probably not! Like humans, puppies don’t enter the world knowing about people or the world in which we all live. You need to teach your puppy about the things, people and other animals in his environment or he may grow up to be a fearful, anxious and/or antisocial dog.

Socialize Early

You should begin socializing your pup as soon as you get him because his first few months of life are the most crucial for his development. Start slowly with quiet one-on-one interactions and work your way up to interaction with multiple people in more noisy environments. You shouldn’t have trouble finding friends, relatives and their pets who will want to come to your home to meet and play with your new puppy!

When, according to your veterinarian, your puppy is sufficiently vaccinated, take him on as many walks and outings as possible. However, avoid areas that may be high risk for disease such as parks or neighbourhoods with stray dogs. Your veterinarian may be able to provide advice on areas to avoid.

To encourage your puppy to interact with other pets and people, reward him with a small treat whenever he meets a new friend. If he seems particularly fearful or cautious when introduced to new people, animals or situations, start with mild exposure and only reward him for non-fearful responses.

Variety is the Spice of Life

To fully socialize your puppy, make sure that he meets a variety of people of all ages and appearances. If your puppy only encounters people of a certain age or appearance (for example, adult men without facial hair) he may show aggression or fear if later introduced to people who appear or act different (for example, female children or men with facial hair).

Puppy Classes

Taking your puppy to training classes is a great way to socialize him with other dogs. However, make sure to choose a class that doesn’t promote punishment, such as swatting, hitting his nose or rubbing his face in a mess. This type of physical discipline can have a negative effect on your puppy’s good people skills. Ask your veterinarian about appropriate classes near you.
You will find that proper socialization and development of your puppy’s disposition will take time and patience, but your efforts will be worthwhile as you become the proud parent of a friendly companion.


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