Puppies aren’t just cute bundles of fur and fluff; they’re also a lot of responsibility. If you’ve just adopted a new puppy, you will need to prepare your home and yard for his arrival, provide him with the right food and supplies, and train him effectively to become a well-behaved member of the family.
Puppies aren’t just cute bundles of fur and fluff; they’re also a lot of responsibility. If you’ve just adopted a new puppy, you will need to prepare your home and yard for his arrival, provide him with the right food and supplies, and train him effectively to become a well-behaved member of the family.
Follow 10 Steps to take care of a puppy!
- Be Prepared!
- Choose the right puppy
- Suggest a unique Name
- Choose the right food
- Get the essentials
- Vaccination and Deworming
- Regular Vet checkup
- Create a safe environment
- Puppy House Training
- Rewards and Treats
1. Be Prepared!
If you’re planning to bring a puppy into your home, you need to be prepared. This includes everything from researching and choosing the right breed of dog, to understanding the responsibilities that come with bringing a puppy home.
To make sure you’re ready for ownership, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I have enough time to spend with my puppy?
- Do I have the resources for a dog? (food, toys)
- Am I willing to invest in training classes/resources?
- Can I afford emergency vet bills?
If you answered no to any of these questions, then taking care of a puppy may not be right for you at this point in your life.
2. Choose the right puppy
When choosing a puppy, there are more things you should consider than just its cuteness. For people who are just starting with a new puppy or those who don’t know much about breeds, it’s important to do your research before deciding on which breed you’d like. You might be interested in a specific breed because it’s cute and cuddly, or you want to keep a pet that can help with hunting for wild game and fish. Perhaps you would like a small dog for apartment living, but big enough to participate in activities such as hiking and running.
3. Suggest a unique Name
When you bring your puppy home, you must give them a proper name. It helps them get used to their family and gives them an identity as part of your household.
To choose the right name for your dog, we recommend keeping in mind your dog’s breed and physical characteristics (color, size). It also helps to think about what name will suit their personality. For example, if they are small dogs, you can use names like “Pebbles” or “Baby Boy”, and if they are big, you can call them “Teddy” or “Big Boy”.
4. Choose the right food
Puppies need regular meal times because they have small stomachs that can’t hold large amounts of food at once. You can feed them three to four times a day when they’re under six months old and then switch them to two meals per day after six months when their bodies are more mature. Make sure to use food specially formulated for puppies; it’s made with higher levels of nutrients that growing dogs need. If you’re unsure what food is best for your puppy, ask your vet for recommendations.
Also, avoid giving puppies table scraps and foods such as chocolate, onions or grapes, which can be toxic to dogs. You can wean puppies off special puppy formula at 10-12 months old, but they will need to eat more often than adult dogs.
Puppies don’t have a great deal of thirst, so instead of leaving water out all day long, fill their dish up twice daily, once in the morning and once in the afternoon—or whenever you know you will be home for several hours at once.
5. Get the essentials
You’ll need a lot of things to take care of your new puppy — everything from food and water bowls to toys, grooming tools, dog toothbrush or finger brush and toothpaste, a collar with an ID tag and leash and play equipment like crates.
Check out this list of essential puppy supplies for detailed guidance on what to buy for your new puppy. You can find most of these items at your local pet shop or online retailers like Amazon or Chewy.
Other equipment may be useful, such as a coat in cold weather, grooming supplies, puppy pads for house training, and a baby gate to confine your pet to one room until he’s been house-trained.
6. Vaccination and Deworming
You need to vaccinate your dog at eight weeks of age against certain diseases like Parvo, Rabies and Canine distemper while deworming them to prevent ectoparasites and endoparasites, 1st dose at six months of age and then regularly after every three months.
7. Regular Vet checkup
Bringing your new puppy to the vet is very important. The veterinarian will perform a thorough examination to ensure your puppy has no health problems. He will check the puppy’s heart rate and lungs rhythm and determine if the puppy is underweight or overweight. You may also want to get them microchipped. The vet can also provide recommendations on the best way to feed your puppy, so they stay happy and healthy throughout their life.
8. Create a safe environment
- Before bringing your puppy home, block off any dangerous areas where the puppy could enter but would be difficult for you to reach.
- Remove any small objects that could be a choking hazard for the puppy. Make sure that wires aren’t accessible for the pet to chew on. Pointed nails should be away from reach of puppy.
9. Puppy House Training
Housetraining using a crate:
- Make sure the crate is large enough for the puppy to stand, turn around and lie down inside. It should also have plenty of ventilation so that fresh air will flow.
- Line the bottom of the crate with newspapers or puppy pads. If you use newspapers, change them frequently as soiled ones can make your house smell like a kennel.
- Feed your dog in his crate but remove his food bowl when he’s done eating. It helps prevent him from associating his crate with unhappiness or hunger pangs.
- Take him directly to his bathroom spot and wait until he does his business to help with potty training.
- Take your puppy outside immediately after he wakes up in the morning, after each meal and every two hours throughout the day, especially after playing or chewing on a toy (behaviors that stimulate bowel movements).
- A good daily routine will prevent boredom-based behaviors like chewing or digging. It will also give you plenty of time for playing and bonding with your new puppy!
10. Rewards and Treats
Treats and toys are a great way to communicate your approval when your puppy does the right thing. Treats are an obvious choice, especially if they’re filled with something delicious like peanut butter or bacon bits.
Toys are another option; if you notice that your puppy loves to play with stuffed animals, consider investing in some rope balls or bones that he can work on while away from home.
Praising and petting him (without taking his face into both hands) is also considered a reward!
Summary!
Puppies are great fun, but, as with all babies, they do take a lot of looking after. If you’re thinking about getting a puppy, prepare yourself for lots of work and a big responsibility. This guide discusses the ten most important steps that will help you create a good routine for your new puppy.
The post How To Take Care of A puppy? A Complete Guide! first appeared on Caring For Your Dog.