Peanut and his Puppy Teeth

Peanut is now more than six months old. He is growing stronger and getting more and more active.  He is forever biting and chewing things around the house.

We were surprised to  discover recently that his puppy teeth have started to fall out.

I checked out an  article ,WHEN WILL MY DOG'S PERMANENT TEETH COME IN,

written by   American Kennel Club and  found the following passage::

At around four months of age -- and it can vary from breed to breed and even from dog to dog -- the 28 puppy teeth are replaced with 42 adult canine teeth, which include the molars. You will see six incisors on the top and bottom (these are the smaller front teeth located between the large fang-like canines). On the other side of the canines (fangs) along each side of the dog's mouth you have smaller pre-molars for ripping and tearing, and rounding out the line-up are the larger molars in the back for grinding.

How interesting it is.  A puppy is just like a baby with two set of teeth, one temporary and one permanent.

Take a closer look at Peanut’s puppy teeth here:   

Meal Time for Peanut the Poodle

Meal time is the most exciting and delightful time for Peanut because dog food smells good and it is delicious and nutritious. Just watch the video; he is jumping up and down and ready to sink his teeth into the food.

Peanut will be four years old by the end of July. Dog food is his stable food because it is made to promote energy, growth and provide proper maintenance of his health. We understand that puppy food is higher in protein and enriched with vitamins, minerals, and fats essential for growth. Moreover, dog food must meet the nutrient requirements for standards of growth established by AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials).

Previously his food is fish-based. Now it is meat-based (chicken) mixed with vegetables. It is the right choice because we have noticed that his stool is not hard any more

Initially we softened his food in water and now he does not like to eat, so we pound his food into smaller pieces to make it easier for him to chew and digest . We feed him five times a day at regular intervals at around 8 am, 11 am , 3 pm, 7 pm and 11 pm. Each time he is given a tablespoonful of dog food. Clean water is provided for him throughout the day.

 Peanut is now full of energy and running around quickly and climbing stairs swiftly.

Vaccination and Deworming for Peanut

Owning a pet entails great responsibilities. Having Peanut as a new member of the family is like having a newborn baby at home; you need to do feeding, bathing, cleaning of his poo and urine and taking care of his health and well-being and providing a comfortable environment for him to live and thrive.

 Weighing only 800 gm, Peanut is three-month old as at July 1, 2016. As the vet suggested we sent him for his first vaccination on July 2, 2016. The nest vaccination will be on July 30, 2016 (4 months old) He was also given a dose to deworm. He was dewormed on May 28 for the first time. According to Veterinarians deworming should be carried out before the first vaccination.

Some canine diseases are very serious and can be fatal even with treatment. To prevent Peanut from getting these diseases it is necessary for him to get regular vaccination Vaccination is to provide protection against life threatening diseases such as Parvovirus, Distemper, Hepatitis and Canine Cough 

Deworming is to prevent peanut form getting Intestinal parasites such as roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and tapeworm .

 After the vaccination peanut was listless, moving slowly and feeling pain all over his body when you touched him. After a good night‘s rest he is up and about and behaving his usual self. He is active and running quickly and moving swiftly.

10 Adorable Quotes About Dogs

Peanut provides many health benefits for the family. One of the therapeutic effects is that dogs fulfill the basic human need to touch. I get the calming effect by touching, stroking and hugging him. It is one great way to reduce stress and anxiety.

 Here are ten great quotes for dog lovers:

1. Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished. -Dean Koontz (author, Whispers

My life
 is wonderful

2. There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. -Ben Williams

I am smart

3. Happiness is a warm puppy. -Charles M. Schulz

How do you like my outfit

4.Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot little puppies. ~Gene Hill

I am thinking.......

5. No Matter how little money and how few possessions, you own, having a dog makes you rich. -Louis Sabin

I can stand just like you

6. Even the tiniest poodle is lionhearted, ready to do anything to defend home, master, and mistress.-Louis Sabin

I may be small but I am fierce

7.Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe, we are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made. -Roger Caras

My toy bird and me

8.There's just something about dogs that makes you feel good. You come home, they're thrilled to see you. They're good for the ego. -Janet Schnellman

Peanut is happy in his bed

9.No animal I know of can consistently be more of a friend and companion than a dog. -Stanley Leinwoll

Peanut is having fun with his toy duck

10. A dog is the only thing that can fill the void in your empty heart. -Kate

I am Peanut the Poodle

A Toy Story

Like your precious baby at home, your pet puppy needs toys too.

 One of the greatest benefits of allowing your puppy to play with toys is to avoid boredom and at the same time it is an excellent way to provide mental and physical stimulation for your growing canine. Dogs that have the opportunity to play and exercise are generally happier, more emotionally stable and calmer than those who do not. Play allows an appropriate outlet for a dog to expend energy. 

You have often noticed when you have a dog at home it chews on your new shoes and furniture. If your pet dog is playing with suitable toys it will prevent your items at home from getting damaged. 

According to an article, The Benefits of Using Chew Toys With Your dog,

halitosis, or bad breath, develops when plaque deposits and bacteria make a home in your dog's mouth. Chewing a firm chew toy can scrape this plaque from your dog's teeth, helping to curb his unfriendly breath, which is one of the benefits of using chew toys with your dog that others will appreciate, too. 

 Yellow teeth can be caused by plaque films and leftover food. The scraping caused by chewing on a chew toy can remove this film and leftover food that creates a discolored smile. 

Peanut is no exception. He is playing with his toys every day. You can see from the video he is having a whale of a time chewing and biting his toy.

 A quote to end this article:

 A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself. ~Josh Billings

Eat, Urinate and Defecate in Less Than Five Minutes

One of the daily routines is to feed Peanut.

As he is less than three month’s old and we do not give him  solid dog biscuits directly to chew . We soak in boiled water and allow the biscuits to soften in a plate.  The food is then given to him when the water is cold.

We have observed his toilets habits and we put him in an enclosure during his meal time. We place a few pieces of paper on the floor to  absorb water, urine and collect his poo. This a good idea to confine Peanut to do his job in one place and maintain cleanliness in the house You can see from the video that he can eat urinate and defecate in less than five minutes.

One thing we know about him is that his digestive system is working fine and he is in good health.  

A quote to end this article:

“Happiness is a warm puppy.”
—Charles M. Schulz (cartoonist, Peanuts)

A New Member of Our Family

One of our friends is the proud owner of a  poodle (female)and a teddy bear (male). On April 1, 2016 the pair gave birth to five puppies. The owner is willing to give away four of them. Our daughter enquired from us whether we could keep a toy poodle. As we do not have the experience of up-keeping a dog, we hesitate for a while and finally we decided to add a new member to our family. We made the right choice to adopt the cute animal. It is a bundle of joy though we have to keep up with his poo and urine around the house.

We let the tiny baby be with the mother for two months to feed on her milk.  Our  pet poodle is call Peanut and it arrived at our home on June  2, 2016.  

Every day we are busy preparing meals and fresh water for him. We cuddle him day and night. His diet consists of  dog biscuits. We soak the biscuits with warm water to soften it before feeding Peanut. We feed him three times a day.

You can see his cosy bed because we treat him like a baby. Now he is almost three months’ old and he likes to play with his toys especially biting the toy duck.

We are excited and delighted  to have him and we will look after him with tender care. Our next job is to train him to do basic things like sitting down.

You can see the proud and pretty owner Lavinia with Peanut.   

Final thought:

A dog depends on you and it is your duty and responsibility to look after it

The story of his life will continue in the next blog post