PUPPIES

Humans love puppies, it's from the heart and only the few can resist.

 CARE AND FEEDING OF A PUPPY

 Understanding that feeding and maintenance are fundamental in all aspects in the formation of the puppy's skeleton and the maintenance of good form of an adult dog.

At the early months of growth and development of your puppy it is necessary for you to carefully monitor all phases of growth. Constantly watch your puppy, it is important to note the rate of  growth, the state of muscle mass, the setting of the limbs  In order for a puppy to grow properly it is necessary to know or learn some practical steps.

 The growth of the puppy can be divided into several stages.

 The very first period lasts from birth to 3 weeks. At this time, the puppies are entirely dependent on the mother. They open their eyes, they learn to navigate in the surrounding space. They are fed by mother's milk, with which they receive all the necessary nutrients, vitamins, minerals, trace elements. It is important to understand that the immunity and health of the puppies depends heavily on how well the care of newborns and the feeding of the mother are properly organized. This part we take care of so no worries.

 The next stage of growth is for a period of 3 weeks to 3 months. At this time, puppies of large breeds are actively growing. They quickly gain weight, which places a load on  fragile joints and ligaments. No worries again, at this point the puppies are with us.

 In the period from 3 to 6 months the puppy's growth almost doubles. There is a change of the teeth, causing an increased consumption of minerals in the body. Sometimes against the background of this process, functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract are observed and immunity can decrease.

 From 6 to 12 months, the main growth occurs. The puppy begins to gain weight, acquiring the proportions of an adult dog. Proportional weight increases and the load on the still fragile ligaments and joints. After 6 months we can send your dog to you or you  can come and pick your dog up. 

For the period of 12-18 months is the final stage of growth of the puppy.

 Nutrition plays a significant role in the development of the puppy. When the dog is in good condition, you can feel the ribs and they should not bulge. Carefully follow the growth of your puppy, determining the amount of food. Given that at home it is very difficult to balance all the ingredients of the feed, use ready-made dry dog ​​food. If you have questions related to the diet, or there is a suspicion that the food is not suitable for the dog, consult with us or a veterinarian. Perhaps the doctor will advise some tests and, if necessary, adjust the diet. Any " Handouts" and goodies are part of the daily ration. As a treat, you can use, for example, low-fat cheese.

 Bowls for water and food should be placed at the height of the elbow of the dog, using a special stand or bracket.  As the puppy grows, the height of the stand will increase.

 After feeding the puppy needs rest. In no case can you actively walk or play with the puppy after a meal, as this can lead to a stomach turn.

 Owners of puppies need to remember that lack of physical activity as well as inadequate feeding from the age of up to 18 months can not be compensated for afterwards.

 A small puppy should walk often, but little by little - so as not to get tired. Gradually, the number of walks is reduced, and their duration increases. From the age of 6 months the puppy can walk 20 minutes without a leash and 30 minutes on a leash daily (Daily rate of 4-5 km). Long walks should only be done before meals. A harness type restraint on the puppy should  not be worn: the forelimbs may not form correctly, which can lead to the distortion of the elbows.

 Also, avoid all injuries to your puppy- observe several important rules:

 The puppy should not walk on a slippery surface - for cover the floor with a carpet;

 Do not leave the puppy on the sofa or armchair of one - it can jump off and get injured;

 Do not allow the puppy to run and jump in the house, especially on the stairs;

 The puppy can not play with dogs, by weight, strength and speed exceeding it;

 Games are not allowed in places that are inappropriate for this purpose: for example, in a forest among snags or boulders by the river.

 Observing the puppy during growth, it is possible to determine the state of the correctness of the formation of the support-engine apparatus, namely:

 If problems are found, it is necessary to evaluate the correctness of feeding and use of mineral and vitamin supplements (Their insufficiency or overabundance). In case of shortage, vitamins can be used: Polidex Polivit-Ca plus, Polidex Gelabon plus, Polidex Glucogextron plus, Polidex Super Wool plus, Polidex Multivitum plus, Polidex Immunity work well. 

If there is no visible positive result when applying additives, it is necessary to contact a veterinarian for the diagnosis. To reveal the causes of a disease of the musculoskeletal system, the serum of the blood is examined for protein, calcium, phosphorus content, their ratio, alkaline phosphatase. An x-ray of the joints is made, which will show the state of bone tissue and possible pathologies of the joints. Based on this, an adjustment is made in the use of mineral-vitamin additives. 

Physical exercise for puppies and young dogs

 It is very difficult to find middle ground in the issue of physical activities. Some are ready to drive the puppy to death, believing that the more you run and jump with it, the better. Not true! Others, on the contrary, start everything on their own, believing such cultivation to be more natural. In the end, both are not right.  

Remember: you should not give a small puppy forced exercise. No running after a bicycle or skier until the dog is fully grown. Make sure when walking the dog does not get tired.

 How can I be sure my puppy grows up strong and healthy?

 Be guided by state of health. your dog should not get too tired; And at the same time, the play and exercise should be sufficient to make the pup a bit tired. For each dog the right amount of exercise will be different - depending age and temperament of the pet. It's good when, after physical exertion, the dog shows a clear desire to rest, but not such that it loses interest in life. Having rested, the dog should eat with appetite and express a desire to communicate with the owner. If the puppy, after returning from a walk, continues to gallop around the house - that means, the exorcize was insufficient. 

Each dog is individual, so you need to develop individualized regimen of exercises. You might look for a training area in your area. As a rule, canine training centers have a swimming pool and a gym. Increased attention should be given to those muscle groups that are might be problematic for your pet. This is especially important for show dogs or animals with observable problems of the musculoskeletal system. 

It should be understood that pumping up the growing dog separate muscle groups is ineffective. During the period of active growth, muscles might grow unevenly, therefore, in no case should the animal be given anabolic (steroids) to build muscle - after that it is impossible to use the dog for breeding. 

If you do not have time to walk with a dog on weekdays, then do not over do on  weekends. Irregular exercise isnt beneficial and in fact, can have negative results.

 There are general patterns for developing an optimal training regimen for a dog. Any exercise, whether it be: running, jumping, swimming - should be introduced gradually. The idea of ​​bandaging weak joints, which came from human sports, is ineffective for dogs. In dogs, the structure of the joint-ligament is different so the elastic bandage only fixes it, but does not strengthen it. 

For daily workouts, long walking walks are very useful at different speeds: from very slow, when the dog literally barely moves to faster, when she seems about to break on a run. You need to get the dog to walk. It is advisable to walk on firm ground.  

An excellent exercise is swimming - one of the best of the available physical activities for dogs of all breeds. If the dog likes to swim, then this should be welcomed. Swimming  strengthens muscles and ligaments practically without any risk as during swimming there is no loads on the joints. This is especially valuable for dogs with orthopedic problems. In addition, swimming has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, giving strength and increased endurance. 

You can go swimming with a pet from the age of five months. Swimming should be introduced gradually, so as not to frighten the dog. A dog who learns and likes to swim at a young age will keep in better shape as he ages. Begin swimming lessons with 5-10 minute periods.  Be sure the water is not too cold. You go into the water and call the puppy to you- lure you with a treat, a toy. If the pup does not show a desire to swim, do not force him.

 When the dog turns nine months old, we can say that the most dangerous period is behind us. And yet, remember: the musculoskeletal system in dogs of large breeds is fully formed only to 1.5-2 years, so as he grows and develops take the puppy to specialists (A veterinarian , a handler, an experienced breeder), to develop physical exercises with a special fitness program for your dog.