How To Care For A Puppy
It is very exciting when you get a new puppy, however if you want him to feel at home and to grow up into a healthy adult dog it is necessary to know how to care for a puppy before you even bring your new friend home. When considering the health, safety and comfort of your new puppy, take into account these 5 things.
1. Comfort
In order for your new puppy to be secure and comfortable in your home, you should prepare for its arrival. Set up a special place for your puppy to sleep, with a soft, warm bed as well as toys and a convenient location for food and water.
First of all, you must spend as much time with your puppy as to fully acquaint you with him. You must make him feel safe and secure. This is necessary because he has just come to you leaving behind his mother and siblings and his known environment.
2. Proper Food
Puppies have delicate digestive systems so do some research before choosing what you will be feeding your puppy. When you acquire your puppy, ask the owner what they have been feeding the dog. If it is not the food you would choose, gradually mix the old food with your new food. Start with a small amount of the new food and gradually increase the amount until you reach 100% of the new food.
Make sure that you do not start your puppy off by giving him scraps leftover from the table - he needs to be able to adjust before he can handle “people” food.
3. Medical Care
Knowledge and regular practice of veterinary care are of foremost importance when learning how to care for a puppy. You should remember that puppies often need to be wormed and adequately vaccinated. The new puppies must be taken to a Veterinarian for vaccination as well as for scheduling regular check ups. This will keep the puppy in good health.
4. Keep Him Sage
To keep your puppy safe in his new home, you should “puppy proof” your home as you would with making it “child proof” with a toddler. Areas of concern or danger should be blocked off to protect him. He also needs to be protected from children and older pets who may not realize he is not a toy.
5. Obedience Training
Obedience training for your puppy is critical as it will help him turn into a well behaved dog. Not only will this insure that your dog is a pleasure to be around but it will also allow you to keep him safe. If your dog is obedient you can easily call him back if he is heading into danger. It’s never too early to start training your dog so you might want to have a plan for this before you bring your puppy home.
Learning how to care for a puppy isn’t hard, but it takes a bit of planning and commitment on your part. Don’t worry, if you plan it properly and give your puppy lots of love, you will be amply rewarded.
