Take Care Of A Small Coonhound Puppy

Caring for a mini coonhound puppy is much like the care offered for puppies of all breeds. However, coonhounds, like all other hounds, have some unique behaviors and needs that you will not find in other breeds.

Instructions

Caring for a Coonhound Puppy

1. Doctor visits. First and foremost, bring your puppy to the vet for a checkup. Most states require initial shots and boosters for puppies before they are allowed to be sold or adopted, however, some do not. Bring your puppy to the vet to make sure all of his shots are current and he doesn't have any congenital defects. Be prepared to bring him back annually.

Put your dog on a flea and heart worm preventative. Coonhounds are prone to eating things that propagate heart worms such as animal droppings (including their own). Fleas and ticks love to navigate the thin fur of a hound, so ask your vet about the best measures to protect your puppy from these afflictions.

Also, if you are not planning on breeding your dog, you should plan on having them fixed. Dogs that are spayed/neutered have less behavioral problems, are healthier, and live longer lives. Your veterinarian will recommend the best time to bring your dog in for this procedure, but it is generally best to do it before six months of age.

2. Feed her right. Dogs tend to have "iron" stomachs, but a low-quality feed will likely make her sick, prone to bone or muscle problems and lead to a shorter lifespan. Choose a high-quality food and make sure you buy a puppy formula until she is at least 1 years old.

You might also want to consider naturally feeding your pup which means not feeding her any food with grains as grains are not a part of a dog's natural diet. Consult a veterinarian before putting a dog under 10 months of age on an all-protein, natural diet.

3. Walk him regularly. Coonhounds are naturally energetic trackers and require a lot of exercise. Be sure to buy your pup a proper lead and collar or harness. Walk him regularly and let him sniff around.

4. Let her chew. All puppies go through a teething process just like human babies. During that time, they want to chew as it alleviates the pain in their gums. Be sure to buy your puppy an assortment of digestible chew toys. Do not buy your puppy plastic toys that are not digestible, or rawhide chews, as they can cause constipation.

Aside from digestible toys, your coonhound pup will particularly enjoy a small stuffed animal. All hounds, from giant Russian wolfhounds down to the smallest miniature dachshunds, have a natural instinct to go after little furry things. A small stuffed animal, with no parts that could come off and choke her, will likely be your pup's favorite toy.

Be sure not to overstimulate your puppy with toys. If she has a whole toy chest, only let her play with only one or two toys at a time. If you give her all the toys at once, she will lose interest in them and go after new and exciting things including your shoes, coffee table, and numerous other things in your house.

5. Train your dog. If your coonhound is going to be a hunting dog, then he will have an enormous skill set to learn. If he is going to be a house dog, then he needs to learn, at a minimum, the basics of housebreaking, keeping off of furniture (unless you want him on there), and not jumping on people.

There exist countless books on dog training available at any pet store, but you can also find them online at amazon.com and other online retailers. "Beyond Basic Dog Training" by Diane Bauman is one of the most popular all-around training books available and will provide great insights whether your coonhound is going to be a hunting dog or a house dog. Be sure to read up on training techniques before you bring your puppy home as training must start immediately.

6. Keep her groomed. Whether your dog will be an indoor or outdoor dog, it is essential that you keep your coonhound groomed. For inside dogs, this means weekly or biweekly bathing and light brushing with a fine slicker-type dog brush. For outside dogs, regular brushing should suffice. While your dog is a puppy, do not bath her more than once per week, and avoid "doggie colognes" or any scented spray as these could irritate her skin.

7. Get proper bedding. Coonhounds, like all dogs, are den animals and require proper bedding whether they will be housed inside or out. They need a solid floor to lie on and generally require a cushioned bed with towels or blankets. Coonhounds have a tendency to burrow, so your dog might like to "bury" himself under a blanket while he sleeps.

Also keep in mind that your dog will need to learn to be housebroken, whether he is to be an indoor or outdoor dog, so be sure whatever you supply him for bedding is easily washed.

While your coonhound is a pup, it is essential that he be kept in an indoor or semi-indoor environment, such as a reasonably warm garage or basement. Hounds have a thin coat of fur and as puppies are more susceptible to cold. Even if you intend to house your dog outside, do not house a puppy outside until he is at least 10 to 12 months old.

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Tuesday, March 26, 2013