Puppies are without a doubt
some of the most adorable
things on the planet. Parenting a
new puppy, however, is no walk
in the park. Here’s a guide to help
you care for the new addition to
the family.
When the time comes to finally
bring your new puppy home for
the first time, you can pretty
much count on three things:
unbridled joy, cleaning up your
puppy’s accidents, and a major
lifestyle adjustment. As you’ll
soon learn, a growing puppy
needs much more than a food
bowl and a doghouse to thrive.
And while it may be a lot of work
initially, it’s well worth the effort.
Establishing good and healthy
habits in those first few sleep-
deprived weeks will lay the
foundation for many dog-years
of happiness for you and your
puppy.
1 Find a Good Vet
The first place you and your new
puppy should go together is, you
guessed it, straight to the vet for
a checkup. This visit will not only
help ensure that your puppy is
healthy and free of serious health
issues, birth defects, etc., but it
will help you take the first steps
toward a good preventive health
routine. If you don’t have a vet
already, ask friends for
recommendations. If you got
your dog from a shelter, ask their
advice as they may have
veterinarians they swear by.
Local dog walkers and groomers
are also a great source of ideas.
2. Make the Most of Your First
Vet Visit
Ask your vet which puppy foods
he or she recommends, how
often to feed, and what portion
size to give your pup.
Set up a vaccination plan with
your vet.
Discuss safe options for
controlling parasites, both
external and internal.
Learn which signs of illness to
watch for during your puppy’s
first few months.
Ask about when you should spay
or neuter your dog.
3. Shop for Quality Food
Your puppy’s body is growing in
critical ways which is why you’ll
need to select a food that’s
formulated especially for puppies
as opposed to adult dogs. Look
for a statement from the
Association of American Feed
Control Officials (AAFCO) on the
packaging to ensure that the
food you choose will meet your
pup’s nutritional requirements.
Small and medium-sized breeds
can make the leap to adult dog
food between 9 and 12 months
of age. Large breed dogs should
stick with puppy kibbles until
they reach 2-years-old. Make sure
your puppy has fresh and
abundant water available at all
times.
Feed multiple times a day:
Age 6-12 weeks – 4 meals per
day
Age 3-6 months – 3 meals per
day
Age 6-12 months – 2 meals per
day
4. Establish a Bathroom Routine
Because puppies don’t take
kindly to wearing diapers,
housetraining quickly becomes a
high priority on most puppy
owners’ list of must-learn tricks.
According to the experts, your
most potent allies in the quest to
housetrain your puppy are
patience, planning, and plenty of
positive reinforcement. In
addition, it’s probably not a bad
idea to put a carpet-cleaning
battle plan in place, because
accidents will happen.
Until your puppy has had all of
her vaccinations, you’ll want to
find a place outdoors that’s
inaccessible to other animals.
This helps reduce the spread of
viruses and disease. Make sure to
give lots of positive
reinforcement whenever your
puppy manages to potty outside
and, almost equally important,
refrain from punishing her when
she has accidents indoors.
Knowing when to take your
puppy out is almost as important
as giving her praise whenever
she does eliminate outdoors.
Here’s a list of the most common
times to take your puppy out to
potty.
When you wake up.
Right before bedtime.
Immediately after your puppy
eats or drinks a lot of water.
When your puppy wakes up from
a nap.
During and after physical activity.
5. Watch For Early Signs of
Illness
For the first few months, puppies
are more susceptible to sudden
bouts of illnesses that can be
serious if not caught in the early
stages. If you observe any of the
following symptoms in your
puppy, it’s time to contact the vet.
Lack of appetite
Poor weight gain
Vomiting
Swollen of painful abdomen
Lethargy (tiredness)
Diarrhea
Difficulty breathing
Wheezing or coughing
Pale gums
Swollen, red eyes or eye
discharge
Nasal discharge
Inability to pass urine or stool
6. Teach Obedience
By teaching your puppy good
manners, you’ll set your puppy
up for a life of positive social
interaction. In addition,
obedience training will help
forge a stronger bond between
you and your puppy.
Teaching your pup to obey
commands such as sit, stay,
down, and come will not only
impress your friends, but these
commands will help keep your
dog safe and under control in
any potentially hazardous
situations. Many puppy owners
find that obedience classes are a
great way to train both owner
and dog. Classes typically begin
accepting puppies at age 4 to 6
months.
Tip: Keep it positive. Positive
reinforcement, such as small
treats, has been proven to be
vastly more effective than
punishment.
7. Be Sociable
Just like obedience training,
proper socialization during
puppyhood helps avoid
behavioral problems down the
road. At approximately 2 to 4
months of age, most puppies
begin to accept other animals,
people, places, and experiences.
Socialization classes are an
excellent way to rack up positive
social experiences with your
puppy. Just be sure to ask your
vet about what kind of
interaction is OK at this stage.
http://www.vetstreet.com/care/
puppy-basics-101-how-to-care-
for-your-new-dog
