Dog or Puppy: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is it best to adopt a puppy or an older dog?
There is no correct answer for this question as there are advantages and disadvantages to either choice. Puppies are a lot of work and need to be potty trained and obedience trained. Puppies have a lot more energy than older dogs and it may be an exhausting task to keep your puppy exercised and out of trouble. Puppies are also adorable creatures who are little blank slates and you get to teach them about the big world. You help form their personality as they grow and that can be a fun and rewarding experience. A puppy who has been exposed to many opportunities and many children early on is usually well-adjusted and a joy to be around.

An adult dog (3 years old or older) has gotten all that puppy stuff out of his system. He may be more relaxed if he is older, may already be fully or partially housetrained or obedience trained. You may also inherit a problem or two from inappropriate handling or training in a previous home. His personality is more obvious than a puppy’s and you probably already know his likes and dislikes.

As you can see, there is no right answer here. Simply know what you want out of your new canine companion before you get him.

Q: I heard “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?” Is this true?
Certainly not! Dogs, like many species, are able to learn throughout their lifetime. It is never too late to help a dog learn new behaviors. However, just as with people, dogs are creatures of habit and can get “set in their ways” as they get older, so training may take a little more time than training a puppy, for whom everything is new and different. If you’ve ever gone back to school or taken up a new activity in your adult life, you know you can succeed with time, especially with the rewards it will bring, so go slow and reward your dog as she learns the things you want her to learn.

Q: How long do dogs live?
The lifespan of your dog depends on his or her breed and health status. Some giant breeds only live seven or eight years on average, whereas certain smaller breeds have lived past twenty years. Generally the smaller the dog, the longer the lifespan, but with modern veterinary medicine, many standard sized dogs such as labs and shepherds are living happily into their teens.

Q: What’s the best way to introduce a new dog to my resident dog?
Start the introduction on neutral ground such as a park or street that is not on your dog’s walking route. Have someone else take your dog and you can meet them with the new dog at an assigned spot. Let the dogs greet and sniff each other. If this is successful, you may be ready for a leash walk on the home front. The dogs must be supervised and rewarded for good behavior as they are getting to know each other. Be careful so that there are no items such as food bowls, special toys, or rawhides laying around that might provoke a fight. You should probably feed them separately where they can’t see each other as well. They must establish a relationship between themselves and this may go smoothly or not so smoothly depending on the individual dogs. Do not mix an old, geriatric dog with a puppy. It is too hard on both dogs. For more detailed information, see our handouts on Canine Rivalry and Introducing a New Dog Into Your Household.

Q: Where should I leave my dog when I leave the house?
If you are not sure how your dog will react when you leave, you should put your dog in his or her crate. If your dog is not house destructive in the room where he normally sleeps, such as the one where his dog bed is, you can keep him contained there while you are gone. Never leave your dog outside while you are away. Never tether him and leave - dogs have died getting caught in their own tether and have strangled themselves.

Q: Why should I attend Obedience classes?
An obedience class will give you the tools you need to use at home to get your dog to behave and listen to you. A trainer can give you an objective opinion when they see you working with your dog on how you train and what your dog is learning from you. A good trainer can also help you solve problems successfully and humanely.

You also have the opportunity to meet other people with dogs who might be having the same problems as you. Obedience class can help keep your dog socialized. An isolated dog is a fearful dog. You may even meet a perfect playmate for your dog, where he can get his energy out in his own backyard if his new doggy friend comes over to play.

Q: When should I start training?
The sooner the better! Most veterinarians recommend that the puppy have one or two of the puppy shots before entering class. Therefore, most puppies can start Puppy Kindergarten at 8-12 weeks! A puppy class should have off-leash time for puppy play for maximum socialization. If your dog is older, say six months to 10 years, he is ready for an obedience class. It is never too late to begin learning! In addition to learning new skills, obedience classes help strengthen the bond between you and your pet. To choose an obedience school that is right for you, see our “How to Choose an Obedience School” handout.

Q: How often will my dog have to visit the vet?
With any luck, an annual checkup, which may include vaccinations, heartworm testing and medication, will be all you need. Of course, many dogs have chronic ear or skin conditions, some have allergies, and there are also some emergency trips you may have to make if your dog gets injured or sick. Flea and tick medication may need to be applied and some dogs need to go to their veterinarian just to get their nails trimmed. Rabies vaccinations are required at least every other year and sometimes every year, depending on state law. This tag and certificate must be obtained through your veterinarian as well. You may want to consider pet insurance as a good investment.

Q: How can I control my dog’s shedding?
The answer to this question depends on what type of dog you have. Some dogs such as Huskies or Malamutes are seasonal shedders, although there is some continual shedding throughout the seasons. These coats are the most difficult to keep up with and twice a year the fur will come out in huge clumps. During that shedding period you must comb with a heavy-duty shedding comb daily. Dogs with short coats such as dachshunds or greyhounds do shed, but it is not so bothersome, as it is very short fur. However, these dogs do need to wear coats in colder weather, as they have not been bred to tolerate our cold winters. Medium-haired dogs such as the lab or the Golden Retriever, which has additional feathering around the legs, tail and face, would do well to be brushed every few days.

Many dogs, such as Cocker Spaniels and Schnauzers, need professional grooming. If they are groomed and cut short on a regular basis, the shedding and tangling can be minimized. Many groomers will even use a powerful air tool to get the undercoat thinned in some dogs such as Shepherds.

Remember, even dogs that do not shed, such as Poodles or Bichons, still need to be groomed. Brushing a dog distributes the oil throughout the dog’s coat, leaving it shiny and healthy-looking. Along with brushing and bathing your dog, frequent vacuuming, using lint brushes, and placing dog throw rugs where they are needed become part of the normal routine of most dog-owning households.

Q: Do I have to use food to train my dog, and if I start, will I always have to use it?
You don’t have to use food to train your dog, but it is one of the easiest, quickest and most humane ways of training because it is such a powerful motivator. If you supply this most basic need to your dog, who is an opportunistic feeder, you will get much more attention more quickly than just praise alone and he become very attentive in your presence.

Positive reinforcement is a great way to strengthen the bond between you and your dog. Over time you will be able to ask him to do many things without a treat, but you should give him treats intermittently to maintain attention and good behavior. You have to feed your dog every day anyway, so why not make it more interesting and fun for both of you? Of course food is not the only thing dogs like, so don’t forget about praise and petting, or playing, or special toys. Maybe even a car ride or some dog play. Anything a dog values can be used in training as a reward.

Q: Isn’t crate training cruel?
The dog is of a species that instinctively keeps his or her sleeping and resting areas clean. An enclosed, safe, comfortable crate that your dog can nap in and escape to when he or she is scared or doesn’t want to interact with people any more is a safe haven for dogs. It is also a necessity for puppies who are not completely potty trained or when they can’t be supervised. Don’t make the crate a prison or a punishment area and your dog should willingly go into the crate at night and even throughout the day.

Q: How do I get my dog to stop pulling on the leash?
Tools such as the Gentle Leader® Headcollar and the Easy Walk Harness® can aid in walking large and energetic dogs, but training a dog to heel with treats given only when the dog is paying attention to the walker and not pulling or jumping speeds up the process. Also make sure to stop and ask for a SIT when your dog pulls, or turns around and goes the other direction. These two techniques prevent the dog from forging ahead, which is what is motivating the dog to pull in the first place. The strong drive to forge ahead and sniff and explore outweighs the restrictive choking of the collar, so many dogs continue to pull as long as they are allowed to move forward. Don’t hurt your dog, just change direction and continue to be the leader.

Q: What kind of toys should I get for my dog?
Different dogs need different toys. What is important is that your dog has toys and that you play with your dog and his toys. Many dogs, especially younger dogs, need durable toys such as those made from hard rubber. Latex toys are the next most durable, followed by vinyl, and finally fabric. It’s best to supervise your dogs when they are with their toys until you are confident that they will not destroy and ingest them. This could cause a serious, expensive and potentially life-threatening problem. Never use “non-toys” as a toy. These “non-toys” are your hands, old shoes, old gloves, etc. This will only confuse your dog. Some of the best toys are the ones that make your dog think. Buster Cubes, food-stuffed Kongs, and Tricky Treat Balls, Stuff-a-Balls, and other toys that can be stuffed with food will give your dog hours of enjoyment.

Q: Does playing tug-of-war cause aggression?
Research indicates that a dog can understand play and not turn suddenly aggressive from a game. If your dog is already possessive of toys, tug-of-war should not be an option. For most dogs, however, tug is a great game, if you play by the rules. 1.) You start the game. Ignore your dog if he tries to bully you into playing, 2,) When you ask for the dog to release the toy, he does so. If he refuses, drop the toy and walk away. Game over. 3.)If your dog EVER – even accidentally – puts his teeth on your skin or clothing, the game ends. Drop the toy and walk away, no exceptions. 4.) Don’t tug harder than your dog tugs on the toy. With these rules, tug is a safe and fun energy-burning game for both of you.

Q: My puppy keeps nipping me and she’s getting big. How do I get her to stop?
Puppies nip and play-bite each other and other dogs as part of dog play. Smaller dogs oftentimes yelp even when not hurt to let overly rambunctious puppies or larger dogs know that they are fragile and require gentle play. You can yelp loudly like a hurt puppy when you feel those sharp teeth on your skin and give your dog a time-out alone in the room.

Thirty to 45 seconds should get your point across. Try calmly reentering the room and leaving again if he persists. You can also divert that play-biting to an appropriate toy or rawhide chew and make sure your dog is getting enough exercise. In many single dog families you are his only playmate, so it is your job to get him tired by getting out walking or running or taking him out to a dog park. A tired dog is a good dog!

Q: When my dog goes outside, he barks. How do I stop this barking?
Here’s what NOT to do. Do not go outside to tell him to be quiet. Do not yell from a window when he is barking and don’t bring him in the house when he is barking. A dog learns that he gets attention or gets to go back inside when he barks. If you only respond sometimes or wait until the barking continues for awhile, you are strengthening the behavior.

When your dog is alone in the backyard, he is not getting exercise because he has no one to play with. He is barking out of boredom. He may be telling you when each leaf falls or if the garbage man is down the street because he has nothing else to do. A dog should never be left tethered or in a fenced yard alone. Let him go potty, play with him, then bring him inside where he will settle much better and sleep safely. If your dog barks excessively, please refer to our “Barking” Fact Sheet.

Q: How do I stop my dog from digging up the yard?
As stated above, your dog should not be left alone in the yard to get into trouble. Some dogs have a stronger drive to dig than others, but for many they are digging because of boredom and not enough exercise. Exercise is key, especially in those first few years to keep your dog from expending his energy in destructive ways such as digging. Your dog may also be digging a spot to lie in. Dirt is cool in the summer and a snow den is shelter from the wind and cold during in the winter. If she is digging as a source of entertainment, you can divert the destruction and give her her own dirt or sand pile in a corner of the yard. Bury toys, bones and treats in it and lead her to it at first. If you keep it interesting, this will be her favorite place to dig and it will keep her from digging up your shrubbery or flowers if you supervise her and direct her to her own pile of dirt.

Q: My dog jumps up on me and everyone else, especially at the door. How can I stop this annoying behavior?
Your dog has been inadvertently trained ever since he was a puppy to jump up because that is what got him attention and petting. It is also the natural greeting of the dog to be face to face with the new guest, dog or human. Your job is to train your dog to understand that sitting is the appropriate greeting for people. Ask the dog to sit every time someone comes up to you outside and immediately reward your dog for the SIT. Practice this at your front door with another family member ringing the doorbell and you making your dog sit at the door, controlling him with a collar and leash if necessary. Reward instantly for sitting. You can practice this numerous times a day for quicker learning.

Do not step on your dog’s back feet, push your dog away or yell at your dog for jumping. This only riles him up or makes him afraid of you, depending on the temperament and size of your dog. Ignore all jumping behavior by not touching, or speaking to your dog if he is jumping on you. Don’t even look at him until he stops jumping. Then praise him and reach down and pet him. Keep your hands down and bend to his level if he’s not too excited. You must consistently do this and NEVER give him attention for jumping. If you talk to him or push him some of the time, you will not get rid of the behavior, but only make it worse.