Sure, he’s cute and cuddly, but just how much do you know about your new puppy? Take our quiz to find out.
1. True or false: Puppies can grow too fast.
Answer: True. A puppy can grow too fast by eating too much or the wrong kind of food, and can suffer orthopedic problems as a result. Ward off potential problems by giving him a top-notch food labeled “puppy” or “growth,” and follow the manufacturer or your veterinarian’s feeding guidelines closely.
2. It’s important to know when my puppy was first exposed to:
a) Children
b) Dog toys
c) Steps
d) Vinyl flooring
e) All of the above
Answer: (e) Poorly socialized puppies can grow into fearful or aggressive dogs. Give your puppy plenty of positive exposure to a wide variety of people, places, and things during his first few months of life. Your puppy’s breeder will have started this important socialization “training”; ask her about it.
3. True or false: My puppy can attend a puppy “kindergarten” class before receiving all his puppy shots.
Answer: True. Puppies as young as 8 weeks old can attend a clean and well-run puppy class as long as they’ve received at least one set of vaccinations.
4. Required puppy shots include vaccinations for:
a) Lyme disease.
b) Rabies.
c) Kennel cough.
d) All of the above.
e) None of the above.
Answer: (b) All puppies should receive shots for rabies, distemper, canine adenovirus-2 and canine parvovirus-2. Talk to your vet about optional shots, including ones that protect your puppy against kennel cough and Lyme disease.
5. Which of the following statements is not true?
a) A good place to meet breeders is at a dog show.
b) Good breeders test the puppy and his parents for all diseases that may occur in the breed.
c) Good breeders provide a written health guarantee for their puppies.
d) All of the above.
e) None of the above.
Answer: (b) Unfortunately, breeders can’t screen for all diseases. Still, it’s important to ask the breeder what diseases have appeared in her line, as well as what tests the puppies and his parents have undergone.
6. True or false: My puppy doesn’t need to wear a collar and ID tag since he has an implanted microchip.
Answer: False. Microchips work great because most animal shelters and vet offices have equipment to read them. But if your puppy gets loose and your neighbor down the street finds him, a low-tech collar ID tag is the best way to get him home fast.
Scoring guide
Five to six correct answers: Congratulations, top dog! You’re wonderfully well-informed about puppies. “PhDog” should follow your name!
Three to four correct answers: Not too bad. You’ve got a nose for dog facts, but need a little more study time.
Zero to two correct answers: Bow wow – you’re a pup yourself when it comes to dog knowledge! Talk about dogs with in-the-know friends, and keep reading up on the subject. You’ll get there!
For more of what you need to know about puppies,
check out DOG FANCY’s April 2009 issue.