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All of us love puppis. They´re so cute and funny, lovable and playful! But they grow so quickly! And suddenly the lovely puppy is a home destructor. We can avoid that and continue enjoying the company of our best friend.
Adapted from City Dog, by Patricia Curtis (Lantern Books, 2002).
It may be cute when a little puppy play-bites your hand, sleeve, or pant leg, or chews on your shoelaces, but before you know it, the dog grows up and, meaning no harm, sinks its teeth into someone’s hand, or rips a sofa pillow.
Here are six good rules of puppy play to keep your dog safe and to make sure you don’t encourage behavior that will spell trouble later on.
Don’t play just before or after feeding.
Don’t play on a slippery surface, such as wood, vinyl, or tile. The puppy needs secure footing, or it can tear a muscle or dislocate a joint.
Don’t do anything to provoke aggression, even in play.
Don’t play tug-of-war with a puppy. It can cause damage to the puppy’s jaw.
Don’t encourage or permit a puppy to bite anything but its own toys.
Don’t play with a puppy for more than a few minutes at a time, because it will become over stimulated and exhausted–or aggressive. Extended romping is especially harmful to a large-breed pup, whose bones are not
yet strong enough to support its weight in hard play.