Feeding
We feed our adult dogs a brand called Bonacibo and all the dogs seem to thrive on this. We also recommend vet-purchased brands such as Origen, Royal Canin, or Taste of the Wild. They are higher in natural proteins and vegetables and less in fillers and grains. We avoid Pedigree, or Purina-type brands as we don’t believe they are as good quality.
Puppies, we feed Royal Canin puppy food, Josera junior food from Royal Vet, or Origen puppy. All are available from most Vets.
Dogs can also like lots of veggies like steamed pumpkin, butternut squash, sweet potato, spinach, peas, carrots, and roasted chicken breast for example. Bone & fish broth is also great for them, just make sure it’s boneless.
Sleeping arrangements
Dogs should sleep inside the house, they want to be part of a pack and therefore a cozy bed inside is the best. If you have a gated area or room for them to sleep in separately whilst they integrate into your home that’s fine also. Sofas are a dogs best friend, but remember if you allow it from the start then it’s a habit you can’t really change and you perhaps may have issues with who’s the boss in the house.
If you are house training and crate training you can use either a large black wired crate or a travel crate large enough to make a den so they feel comfortable inside.
Vaccinations
Our Paws dogs are all fully vaccinated. All dogs need 2 vaccines to start with, the second is a booster which ensures they are extra safe. Doha is at high risk for Parvovirus and other similar diseases therefore no puppy should be walked outside in public areas until they have had both the primary vaccine and the booster. If you have a garden area that is enclosed and clean that would be OK as long as no other dogs that are un-vaccinated have been in that area.
Basic Integration Rules
If you have a cat we suggest for your cat don’t leave them both unsupervised at first, your cat will be curious and they will meet when they feel ready.
Do not let the dog/puppy off the lead on a walk. It’s a new environment for him and even if you think he will come back we cannot be 100% sure, so always use a leash. A martingale collar or harness is more suitable for dogs, sometimes they can wriggle out of a normal dog collar on walks, so be aware. A slip leash is also a good idea.
Make sure the new dog/puppy has access to outside or take him for toilet breaks frequently until he learns. We always say expect an accident or two in the house as it can be confusing for them, but generally, they will learn quickly. For puppies, we suggest you get some pee pads and read resources for training such as:
https://www.thesprucepets.com/potty-pad-training-4178382
Establish rules and boundaries from the start. Here is the list of ideas to help establish more dominance:
- Only give praise when the dog is submissive (calm / on its back / sitting on command).
- The dog must always eat after you.
- No treats from your plate.
- Dogs must always carry out a command before being given their food (i.e. “sit”)
- The dog must always be the ‘follower’ on a walk, you must lead. If they pull do a short sharp tug to the side to break their focus.
- The dog must always follow you when entering or exiting doors, you are always the leader.
- Use food to train if they are food motivated (i.e. if they won’t get down from a sofa use a lure whilst saying the “down” or “off” command).
- Read the dog’s energy – as soon as you sense a negative change in energy correct immediately by breaking their focus.
- Break the focus with a very loud “SHHH” noise / a short blast with a water pistol / shaking a can with noise inside
- Reward all good behaviour with verbal praise or treats!
Also please read the following resources for further information on introducing a puppy:
https://www.petango.com/care_center/puppys-first-night-home-how-to-stop-your-puppy-from-crying-1
Potential Unwanted Behavior
If dogs bark we advise making an assertive loud “SHH” noise and claiming the space back. For example, if they are barking at the door, make the loud correcting noise and then get between them and the door whilst backing them away, ideally into a corner. Once away from the door, use the “sit” command. Lastly when they are calm praise them and give them a tasty treat. Do this repetitively until they get it. Having super tasty treats on hand like boiled chicken bits or little pieces of cheese makes them learn faster than the shop-bought stuff. Puppies really respond to calm assertive confidence. It’s just about finding the right technique that works for each individual dog, so try them all!
If you find that your new dog/puppy is nipping then we advise letting out a high pitch yelping sound – it’s how older dogs would teach the puppies not to bite. Do it every time the dog nips and make sure it is loud enough to break their focus. Repetition of this does work and it doesn’t take long to correct.
Adoption Fee
After the trial period, there is an adoption contract to sign and a fee of 1000 QAR. The fee covers all the basic needs of the dog, including the primary vaccine for the main 6 diseases, booster and rabies vaccine, de-worming, tick disease test, any treatment required, neuter, microchip, and tick and flea treatment.
