New puppy!

Question
QUESTION: I just got a Jack and he is amazing! I keep reading all over questions and answers and am concerned. I got him at 6 weeks having no idea that is too young. What should I do to help him through this separation that was too soon? Lupin is a sweetheart and I've had no trouble with him so far. He seems smarter than I could have ever imagined already. He knows his bed, his toys, is doing great at potty training. He has the night whimpers but that's about it.
Also, I was told he had his first shots and is dewormed. I don't know when to take him back for more and I want everything done to make him as healthy as possible so what all do I ask them to do, what exams and tests? Also, is it okay for him to be bathed this young? He has a few fleas and I've done it once and he seemed fine with it but have been told that it's too young for baths.
He's super active and hyper, I love it. He seems all around to be an incredible little guy, my Lupin. I'm just feeding him Beneful for puppies, as that is what the owner had him on. He's part of the second litter of two of the most loving  little JRs I have seen. So far they have all been healthy and turned out lovely. Thank you for any help you can give me. I'm looking for someone to really help guide me and make my pup the happiest he can be!

ANSWER: Hello, congrats on the new Jack! they are so stocky at this age my how they change!

Yes 6 weeks is the minimum to rehome puppiews thou 7 1/2 to 8 weeks is much much better for the puppy esspessily if you dont have another dog to show him what he's supposed to do lol. as in those 8 weeks the puppies learn how hard they can bite there littermates and mother without getting yelled at and whatnot. He can be bathed yes a flea shampoo thats safe for puppies would be best...check the lables at the petstore. Beneful is not benefical the high corn amount zero whole meats...just by products will likely cause allergies later on jacks are prone to allergies. He needs to go for his next round of shots when he is  9./10 weeks old then 13/14 weeks with the last he will get a rabies shot as well as long as he is 4 months or over...some vets give four vaccines...he has one and would get 3 more thou most give 3 he has one adn needs two more..the vaccin commanly given is parvo/distemper and anything else you'd like will be added to teh total price such as canine cough or so he can play in lakes and rivers without risk(I'm not sure the name of this shot...sorry)

please see my website for kibble reccomendations you'll ee beneful is on the lower quaility list.
http://www.freewebs.com/dustycovens/dietfeedingfoods.htm


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much! I will absolutely check your site and get the best dog food for him I can! Also, I'm going to get him the "water" shot as we live next to a lake. :) I can see how the litter being with him would have been helpful, he sure doesn't know how hard he is biting yet. I'm trying to teach him and hes a fast learner so I'm keeping up with it. heh He is really good at making me feel bad for telling him no though. Those eyes! He acts like he is trying to hump one certain stuffed animal already. Is that normal? Is it just an instinct? Is it too soon to start clipping his nails because they are super sharp and look way too long to me. How often should he be fed? We have 3 cats (that the pup loves) and so we put it up because, strangely enough, the cats eat his food. heh Thank you again, I'll probably keep asking questions because I want him to be the happiest lil guy he can be!
ANSWER: Hello I've heard of male dogs humping things very young such as 6 weeks...but mine never started until he was 3/4 months old he styill humps my lab i mind you(dominance thing) but he is now fixed...neutering doesnt stop humping it stops marking inside the home...as males tend to pee everywhere when there not neutered(best to have done at 6/7 months of age...if the dog isnt intended to be a stud) And you can for sure clip his nails now...my advice is play with his feet during play time pet his feet pick a paw up and put it down during play and interative times this will Help him get used tio his feet being touched for nail clippings.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I've been working on his toes and he's doing great with it. Next question, I don't know how to break him of not being comfortable being left in a kennel cage when he's alone. I try not to leave him too much, an hour here or there. He just screams when I put him in there though and I feel so badly. Everyone tells me to just let him cry. I had to go out for 2 hours today and just left him in the house, out of the cage and basically just babyproofed it so he couldn't hurt himself. When I got home, he seemed so sad but perked up pretty soon. Is it going to scar him being left alone sometimes?

Answer
Hello...Well honestly every dog owner gets out of the house sometime I personaly work from mon-fri from 5-8 hours a day. Well when i first got my jack russell who from here on will be reffered to as 'Luke was such a baby at being left alone it was quite funny when I got my boston terrier last year and she cryed very little when being left in her puppy pen when I went to work, Luke would Cry...schreech high pitched and paw at the crate door I had to leave him hnestly noone sits in the hosue forver! I just left a kong and nyla vbbone with him and left him crying after he had went out for a potty break I know sounds horrible and it does break your heart but he will get used to it and settle after a few minutes of you being gone and will be used to the crate and not cry after a few months. Leaving the puppy in a puppy proofed area isnt really  a great idea since he can pee whereever and not get a great start on housetraining that way. Leave a radio on low in the room his crate is in on a talk channel..give himsafe toys while your gone and I've noted my dogs like the open style wire crate better luke was much quiter once I changed crate types...he was using a plastic hooded one before and it was rather dark in there! The one thing that made my crate training easier was that once my pup was housebroken I could crate him or her beside my other dog(s) which made life easier since they are quiter when they can see each other I've noticed. You wont scar him leaving him alone and jacks sure are masters of being pittiful as well! Dont think of his crate as a cage it is not a cage...wolves sleep in dens in nature which gives them comfort and sucurety dogs think of there crates and dens and will come to enjoy being in them...I can often now find one of my dogs has gone to chew a toy in there crate out of the blue...when I was home.