Understanding Your Dog by David Alderton

Author:David Alderton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ryland Peters & Small
Published: 2017-09-28T04:00:00+00:00

Touch

and Healing

Dogs generally love being stroked and cuddled, and this will reinforce the bond between you and your pet. It is very important to begin handling a young puppy early in life so he becomes accustomed to it; otherwise, he will be nervous about being touched later on. Stroking also provides the opportunity to make regular health checks on your pet.

Stroking and Petting

Try to spend as much time as possible stroking your new puppy and engaging with him. He is small, so you can pick him up and stroke him, which has the additional advantage of reassuring him about being carried. Encourage all members of the family to make a fuss over the puppy so he grows accustomed to receiving attention from everyone—if not, your pet may become attached to one person in the household, making it harder for other family members to interact with him once he is older. Some breeds tend to be more one-person dogs than others, especially those that were bred primarily as guardians, such as the doberman pinscher. This is simply a sign of their natural protective instincts.

Stroking your dog is a tool you can use when training. For instance, you can use it as an acknowledgment that your dog is behaving the way you want. Puppies often wriggle around while you are trying to stroke them, but when they are tired, they will appreciate the opportunity to curl up alongside you and fall asleep while being stroked. This replicates the way a young dog curls up with his littermates and his mother when sleeping.

To stroke a puppy properly, start by placing your hand on top of the head and then running it backward down the length of the body. Dogs often like to have the area behind each ear stroked as well. When your dog is feeling very relaxed, he will roll over onto his back and allow you to stroke his chest and underparts. Encourage your dog to behave this way, because it can be useful if he will roll over onto his back to be groomed.

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