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New Puppy Care for New Owners
New puppy care should cover all the essentials when it comes to
bringing a new dog into your home including health information,
puppy behavior training and basic dog care. Knowing what to
expect can help your pup become accustomed to his new
environment and feel comfortable while being obedient. Patience
is an absolute necessity with a new puppy and everyone in your
home must be ready for the responsibility required to have a
dog.
Dog Care Basics
Some basic items for a new puppy include:
- Food and water bowls that are sturdy and easy to clean
- Leash and collar
- Bed or sleeping mat
- Crate, if you will be crate training, that is the right
size for your puppy
- Puppy chew toys
Puppy-proofing your house is also important to prevent
injuries, choking or accidental ingestion of hazardous items.
New puppies are very curious and playful and can get into
everything; look out for these potentially dangerous items and
make sure they are out of your puppy's reach:
- garbage bins
- electrical cords and wires
- medicine
- cleaning supplies
- blinds and curtain cords
- small objects like jewelry or children's toys
- plants
Puppy Health and Vet Care
New owners should watch their new puppy every day and look
for any changes in weight, appetite or thirst, or bowel
movements. Puppies are more likely to pick up diseases or
parasites due to their weaker immune systems. Vaccinations can
prevent your puppy from catching many serious diseases while a
balanced diet made up of quality ingredients will boost his
immune system and encourage him to lead a healthy and active
lifestyle.
Vaccinations: Vaccines are an essential part of vet
care and core vaccines for distemper, rabies and parvovirus can
prevent serious and possibly deadly diseases. There is some
debate among vet's about vaccination schedules and booster shots
so discuss vaccination options with your veterinarian.
Oral hygiene: Starting early is essential when it
comes to puppy health care; start a teeth cleaning routine when
your dog is between 8 to 16 weeks old and he will become
comfortable with this activity, making oral hygiene easy and
painless for both dog and owner. Look for pink gums and clean
teeth when inspecting your pup's mouth. Also, keep brushing
short and simple with a dog toothbrush or finger comb to easily
maneuver around the mouth.
Ears and eyes: Like oral hygiene, new owners should
set up a weekly routine of checking a dog's ears and eyes to
look for any changes in appearance. The inner ear should be pink
with little to no discharge or odor. Eyes should be clear and
have no discharge, and the white part of the eyes should be free
of discolorations.
Puppy Training
Puppy training requires patience, confidence and repetition
in order to teach your puppy to behave and be obedient. There
are many methods available but no training plan will work
without constant work from patient owners. Punishments should
never be used; instead, praise your puppy for correct behavior.
Whatever method you chose, consistency is essential or your
puppy won't learn.
Local dog training and "pre-school" classes for puppies are
often available to help owners train their dogs while also
allowing the pups to learn how to interact with other animals.
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