Dog-keeping

Learning to be clean	Good luck with your puppy
Teeth and mouth	Dogowners rules
Summer with the dog	Tick-bite

Learning to be clean

Take your puppy out often, and to absolute regular times the first two - three weeks. Then decrease the number of trips. This way you give the puppy a chance to adjust it's "bodyclock".
Keep an eye on the puppy for ten - fifteen minutes before it's time to go out, so it won't have an "accident" because it doesn't have anything else to pay attention to. Avoid stressing it in this period.
Let the puppy as often as possible be in a room where a dam on the floor won't matter.
Go to the same place each time you take the puppy out. It is an advantage if the place is a bit protected and remote, so nothing disturbing occurs, but after a while the puppy also should be accustomed to pee in more unprotected surroundings.
Praise the puppy carefully while it's peeing, but not in such a way that it will be interrupted. Just tell it with a soft voice that "it's the most clever dog in the world".
If punishment at all shall be used, then start this as late as possible, earliest four weeks after the first, praising exercises. Introduce punishment gradually by first reproach it carefully (voice only), and then sharpen your voice. Make sure the puppy is punished exactly when it starts it's "mistake", otherwise the effect will not be as intended.

Only after the puppy has learned the positivity of doing it's natural needs outside, it shall be learned that it's not allowed to do it inside. The puppy must learn the difference - then you can set the demand!

Quoted from the Norwegian Shetland Sheepdog Club's Members magazine, nr 2/98.

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Good luck with your puppy

The following is extracted and translated from Leeland Shetland Sheepdogs booklet on the subject.

	When the puppy comes to you, it leaves everything it's accustomed to, it's mother, it's warm brothers and sisters, it's breeders familiar voice, it's special food ... Remember that your world is a completely new world to your puppy.
	Let the puppy be aquainted with it's new hom and it's family, before friends come visiting to se the puppy.Let the first days be reserved yourself and the puppy.
	A small puppy shall have a quiet surrounding when he will sleep. This is very important to make it develop into a secure and harmonious dog.
	Use your voice and tone in the upbringing. Remember that what it is allowed to do as a puppy - it shall also be allowed as a gronup.
	It is easier learning a dog to bark than to make it stop. Don't play so hard that the dog shows it's joy by eagerly barking.
	Running after a puppy to make him come in is useless. Lure it and give it a bit of dogchocolate when it comes. It learns quick when you teach him in a way that is pleasurable for him.

	Remember that scolding always shall be followed by praising. It is not educational for a puppy to end an act in scolding.
	From the start the puppy should be accustomed to be wearing a collar. Only short periods in the beginning. It shall not wear the collar on a daily basis. Don't pull the band while walking, but lure the dog with you in a slack band. After the puppy is taught that a short jerk in the band means that he shall come, you can demand that he does so.
	A small puppy shall not be over-exercised. Only short trips the first weeks.
	The puppy's bed must be placed in a quiet place in the house, and it must be draughtfree. If it shall sleep alone you will surely hear from it. Let it have the blanket that it had with it from the breeder. This will bring a familiar smell. It is important that it has finished palying and is tired. Very many dogowners choose to have the puppy next to theire own bed the first nights. When the puppy awakes, it will soon calm down when you pet it with your hand. Don't talk to him.

Fresh drinkingwater must be available at all time.

	Food shall never be left available. If the puppy won't have the food, you must take it away after half an hour. No food shall be given before the next meal.
	Goodies: a dry cut of bread, carrot, dog biscuits.
	Use sense in the feeding - a fat dog is not a happy dog.
	Cooked rise is good for diarea. Some puppies react to milk.
	All puppies shall be given a cure against worms.
	The hair under the paws must be trimmed, and the claws must be cut regularly. Cut rather two small cuts, than cutting to much. Be gentle but determined - you're the boss - the claws shall be cut.

	The puppy must not be overprotected. It is important that it gets to know other people and that it gets to meet other dogs (as long as they are vaccinated and healthy).
	At three monts age the puppy shall be vaccinated. Until then it shall not be taken to special places where other dogs do their natural needs.
	When the dog is in a period of loosing hair, at first about a year old, it can preferably be given a bath. This will speed up the hairloss. Daily combing in this period will make the hair come off quicker.
	Mud is easily flushed off with water. Put the dog in the bathtub, and use lukewarm water in the handshower.
	It is important that the puppy understands that you're the boss, but it must also be able to develop it's own self. It is as a puppy/young dog your dog is moulded. Starting the education when the dog is grown up is too late. Back to the top

Teeth and mouth

	Control the teeth and mouth of the dog on a regular basis. Begin this when your dog is a puppy, so it will be used to someone examining it's teeth.
	It is sometimes necessary for the veterinary to examine the dogs mouth.
	If the dog si attending an exhibition, either exterior or obedience, a part of the judgement is based on the dogs availability for the judge to examine the teeth/bite.

Quoted from the Norwegian Shetland Sheepdog Club's Members magazine, nr 2/98.

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Dogowners rules

	Dogs don't like cold food. Neither is it sound for them. Still canned food shall be kept covered in the fridge. Remember to take the food out half an hour before serving.
	Dogs need calmness during the meal, and for the folowing hour. You may take a walk with the dog after a period of resting, but avoid rough play or hard work.
	Never pet a strange dog who is eating a bone. Even calm dogs can react with anger in such situations.
	Give the dog a regular place to eat, and serve its food at regular times. Regularity makes the dog safe, and gives better digestion.

	Give the dog its own food- and waterbowls. Wash them after each meal. If you ever serve leftover dinner, don't ever let him lick the plate. Place the food in its own bowl.
	Always keep fresh water available. A dog that eats much dry food needs more water.
	An adult dog should be let out 3 - 4 times a day. It also needs exercise.
	The dog also needs mental challenge. Take time to activate, play with; and train your dog.
	Bring a plastic bag, and clean up after your dog.

	Keep the dog at home when you go shopping. It's not fun to be tied in front of the store.
	Many people are afraid of dogs. Don't let your dog approach strangers, unless they take the initiative themselves.
	A course in everyday-training is recomended. Contact a local dog club.
	The dogs place in the car is in the back seat, or even further back if you have a combined car.
	Dogs can be travelsick. Tablets are available to avoid this.

Quoted from the Norwegian Shetland Sheepdog Club's Members magazine, nr 3/97.

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Summer with the dog

	Check the vaccination. Revaccination may be necessary.
	Dogs will soon be strained in high temperatures. It is important to excersise early in the morning,late in the afternoon when it's cooler. Avoid bike excersise in the heat. It is directly dangerous, and you may not notice any protest from your dog before it is too late.
	Never throw a dog in the water unless it self wants to have a bath. The result may be fear of water. After bathing in salt water, the coat must be flushed in clean water, to avoid itching.
	Ask your veterinary for a prescription of Prednisolon, to give in case of worm bites. After a bite, carry the dog back, and go directly to the veterinary.

	Stings from insects. Prednisolon may also be given in these occations. Stings in the mouth or throat area may be dangerous.
	Examine the coat regularly for bugs.
	Never keep a dog in a warm car. Open the windows. Preferably take the dog out.
	If you are going abroad, check which certificates or vaccines that may be demanded.
	If you must leave your dog in a kennel, check it out and order in advance.

Quoted from the Norwegian Shetland Sheepdog Club's Members magazine, nr 2/97.

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Tick-bite

If the dog gets a Tick-bite, it is important to remove the Tick as soon as possible. It is also important to do it right:

Don't use oil, fat, or anything like that. It won't make the Tick loosen any faster.

Grab the Tick as close to the dogs skin as possible, and pull it out. Twisting it has no effect. It's mouth is not threaded. The main thing is to quickly remove the Tick.

Be careful not to squeaze the infectious stuff into the dog. If the soft part of the Tick is squeazed, body fluids from the Tick may infect the wound.

Wash the wound with a disinfictant when the Tick is removed.

If you find it hard to get hold of the Tick, you may buy a Tick-remover e.g. at the drugstore.

It is important to keep an eye on the wound, to assure that it doesn't get infected. An possible infection must quickly be treated wit antibiotics, to keep the dog from being sick.

There is a good precaution against Tick-bite, a preparation called HOP-OFF.

Quoted from the Norwegian Shetland Sheepdog Club's Members magazine, nr 2/97.

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