Part IX — Puppy raising, the first 16 weeks

9.1 Selecting a puppy

• Adoption first — an ethical default in many regions given large street-dog and shelter populations. Rescue and mixed-breed dogs are widely available.
• If a purebred is chosen — visit the breeder's premises; meet at minimum the mother (dam); ideally both parents. Verify health-test results in writing; walk away if the breeder refuses.
• Puppy-mill red flags: multiple litters visible; unwilling to show mother; puppies dirty or unhealthy; breeder ships without meeting; too eager to sell; no interest in vetting you.
• Health guarantee — reputable breeders offer written health contracts (typically 24 months) covering major hereditary conditions.
• Age at pickup — 8–12 weeks is standard. Earlier removal from littermates predicts adult behavioural issues.

9.2 First 48 hours home

• Prepare a safe area (crate + play pen) before the puppy arrives.
• Same food as the breeder was feeding for the first week; transition slowly.
• Establish a routine: feeding times, potty times, sleep times.
• Vet visit within 72 hours for a health check and to start the vaccination schedule.
• Do not overwhelm with visitors; introduce controlled interactions.

9.3 Socialisation checklist (weeks 8–14)

• People — men, women, children, elderly, various ethnicities, uniforms (delivery, security).
• Dogs — vaccinated, friendly, calm adult dogs.
• Environments — apartments, houses, cars, elevators, stairs, different flooring, gardens.
• Sounds — traffic, rain, thunder, fireworks (recorded at low volume for controlled desensitisation), everyday and festival sounds (firecrackers, bells, busy markets).
• Handling — mouth, ears, paws, tail, brushing, restraint.
• Objects — umbrella, wheelchair, walking stick, bicycle, auto-rickshaw, scooter.

9.4 House training

• Frequency — puppies can hold roughly (age in months + 1) hours maximum. Take out every 1–2 hours.
• Post-event timing — take out immediately after waking, after eating, after playing.
• Consistent location — same spot outside; sniff-and-reward.
• Rewards — praise and food immediately after elimination outside.
• Accidents — clean thoroughly with enzymatic cleaner (not ammonia); do not punish (delayed punishment does not teach).
• Crate training — small enough to discourage soiling; a properly-sized crate is a house-training tool.

9.5 Bite inhibition

• Puppies bite — this is normal and is how they learn.
• Yelp and disengage briefly when the puppy bites too hard; resume play when calm.
• Redirect to toys; do not use hands as toys.
• By 6 months, mouthing should be gentle.
• Never use aversive corrections (mouth grab, scruff shake) for biting — these predict adult aggression.

9.6 Puppy vaccination series (standard, WSAVA-aligned)

• 6–8 weeks — First DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus).
• 10–12 weeks — Second DHPP; leptospirosis first dose (if endemic).
• 14–16 weeks — Third DHPP; rabies (first dose).
• 6 months — Rabies booster where required by local law; leptospirosis booster.
• Annual thereafter — DHPP boosters or titer-based; rabies as required by municipal law.
• Discuss non-core vaccines (kennel cough, coronavirus) with vet based on lifestyle.

9.7 Puppy nutrition

• Complete-and-balanced puppy formula — appropriate for target adult size (large-breed puppy formula for over-25-kg-projected).
• Feed 3–4 times daily until 4 months; 2–3 times until 6 months; 2 times thereafter.
• Avoid overfeeding — obese puppies grow into obese adults with orthopaedic and endocrine disease.
• Avoid free-feeding — schedule builds a routine and health awareness.

9.8 Common puppy issues

• Diarrhoea — dietary indiscretion, parasitic (worms), viral (parvo, coronavirus), or stress. Persistent diarrhoea in a puppy is an urgent vet visit — puppies dehydrate fast.
• Umbilical hernia — small hernia at the belly button; surgical correction at spay/neuter age often sufficient for small defects.
• Retained deciduous teeth — puppy teeth failing to fall out. Extraction at spay/neuter age.
• Puppy pyoderma — pustules on the belly. Mild bacterial infection; usually resolves with topical care.
• Hypoglycaemia — small-breed puppies. Emergency; feed a small amount of glucose and vet-visit immediately.