Puppies for Dummies
Sarah's new book "Puppies for Dummies" is now available ONLINE and in bookstores!
Whether you're starting this book with a puppy curled at your feet (or chewing your shoelaces), or you're still in the thinking-about-it stage, welcome. My name is Sarah. Right off the bat - you're not a dummy. You may feel lost and uninformed, but confusion does not a dummy make.
All you need is some good information to guide you in your selection, loving hints to help you through those first critical months, and support in training. In these pages, you find straightforward info on what to do and just how to do it - in plain English. Nothing more, nothing less, I promise.
To say that I love puppies would be an understatement. Dogs of any age make me giddy. Their paws and silky ears, their little bellies, the infamous puppy breath, and each individual reaction to my "happy voice" awakens the child in me. Though I spend countless hours doing grownup things like driving, cleaning, and cooking, when I've got my arms around a puppy or I'm curled up with my own dogs, my daily responsibilities seem to drift away.
About This Book
The coolest thing about this book? You can jump in anywhere. It's a no-rules reference for everyone who has a puppy or ever thought of getting one. Just look in the table of contents or index for the topic you want to know about. Then flip right to that chapter to get the straight scoop.
Each chapter is divided into sections, and each section contains information about some part of raising a puppy - things like
- The best age to bring home a puppy
- Tips for housebreaking success
- The five stages of development
- And much, much more...
A no-rules reference for everyone who has a puppy or ever thought of getting one.
Conventions Used in This Book
You can read this book straight through from front to back if you want. But you don't have to read it that way. Feel free to use this book as a reference. Just look in the table of contents or the index for the topic you're interested in. Then scoot right to that specific section of the book. You'll see cross-references to other sections or chapters for more or related information about the topic.
To point out new terms or to emphasize something, this book uses italics. And when you're presented with a set of steps to perform, the action you need to take is in bold.
Foolish Assumptions
Here's what I assume about you:
- You know that puppies have four paws and a tail - or at least a stump of one.
- You either have a puppy right now or are considering getting one, but you don't know the first thing about raising a puppy.
- You don't want to become a Ph.D. in training techniques and dog physiology. You just want the basics on things like what supplies to buy, how to train a puppy, the best dog food to use, and how much exercise to give him.
How This Book Is Organized
The book is divided into parts, each one having its own colorful theme. Here's a quick rundown.
Part I: Maximizing Your Chances of Success
Here you find the scoop on choosing a puppy - from the right breed to the perfect personality. Are the breeds all that different? Can their personality be pre-determined? Where's the best place to find a puppy? You'll find all the answers and more in this part.
Part II: I've Picked Out My Pup - What's Next?
Those first few days can be a real challenge. What to do? What to buy? What to expect? You find all the answers in here, plus you find out how to train yourself and think like a dog.
Part III: The "What Have I Gotten Myself Into?" Months
By 12 weeks, your puppy's brain is fully developed - and won't you know. He sleeps less and plays more. His true personality emerges, and it may not always jive with yours. Take a deep breath. This part is here to help. It helps you understand your puppy's developmental phases, work with your kids, and get a handle on the housetraining.
Part IV: Oh, Behave!
Let training begin. In this section, I cover training stages, tailoring what you teach and how you teach it to the age and personality of your prize pupil. In this part, you discover basic lessons, hints on problem solving, and guidance in finding that help if you need it.
Part V: Behaving in the Big League
Have you mastered the basics? If so, there's plenty more to keep you busy. From off-leash training to canine sporting events to specialized training skills to going out in public - this part examines it all.
Part VI: Ensuring Fitness and Health
If you want a happy dog, you have to take care of more than training. You need to worry about your dog's health, too. This part gives you the information you need to know about good nutrition and exercise, how to take care of your dog when he's feeling fine, and what to do if he gets sick.
Part VII: Dealing with Life in the Real World
This section is a hodge-podge of information that includes topics like good neighborhood manners, handling life changes (babies, roommates, a move and so on), and traveling with your pet.
Part VIII: The Part of Tens
Last but not least, ten of my favorite games and ten crowd-pleasing tricks. Enjoy….
Where to Go from Here
If you like to start at the beginning of things and work your way from there, go right to Chapter 1 and dig in. Otherwise, feel free to look in the table of contents or index for your topic of choice.
But before you dig in, remember this: Puppies are a lot like babies. They need to be nurtured but not spoiled. They need to be loved but not over-indulged. They need guidelines - not unlimited freedom. They need to play, but they also need limits.
Our ability to reason and understand gives us the responsibility to make the necessary adaptations. Borrowing from one of my poems, you must be your puppy's leader, safe keeper, friend, and voice. Your efforts will forever be your reward.
OUR REWARD
Treat me with respect, teach me your rules and train me with patience.
Let me know what pleases you, for if you don't, my unbridled enthusiasm
may place unnecessary and stressful demands on you.
There is not an animal on the planet that could offer you the same
unconditional devotion that I can, if you show me the path to your heart.
Through my puppyhood I may test you, but only because I am a puppy.
Persist, for I will remember your structure as I grow into doghood.
Do not take advantage of me.
Though I may have needs, I cannot speak.
Be my leader, my keeper, my friend and my voice.
Your efforts will be our reward.
--By Sarah Hodgson
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