There is no doubt about it, puppies are adorable. Bringing a new puppy home for the first time can bring lots of excitement, love and enjoyment. However it is important to understand the responsibilities of owning a puppy.
Establishing good habits in the beginning will be rewarding for many dog years of happiness to come. If you are thinking of adding a puppy to your family, here are some important tips about responsible puppy care.
Find a local vet
One of the first things you should do when you get a new puppy is to find a local vet and book a health check. Our vets will not only check your puppy’s general health but will also discuss a preventative healthcare routine including vaccinations, parasite control, micro chipping and de-sexing options. Our vets can also inform you about early signs of illness to look out for.
It is also a great time to ask about any questions you might have such as nutrition, exercise and obedience.
Diet and nutrition
As your puppy grows, a complete and balanced diet is important. There are wide a range of puppy food products available that are specifically formulated for your puppies needs.
Our vets can provide you with the best advice about what diet is most suitable for your puppy.
Establish a toilet routine
Toilet training is generally high on the priority list for puppy owners. Patience, planning and plenty of positive reinforcement will go a long way. It is also good to have a carpet cleaning plan in place, as accidents will happen. Until your puppy has had their vaccinations you will need to find a place outdoors that’s inaccessible to other animals to practice. Give your puppy plenty of opportunities to go outside and reward them when they go where you want them to go. Rewards can include praise, treats, a toy or a pat.
Positive reinforcement also means refraining from punishing when they have accidents indoors. Common times to take your puppy out to toilet train include:
When you wake up
Just before bedtime
After your puppy eats or drinks water
When you puppy wakes from a nap
During or after physical activity
Establish a grooming routine
Regular grooming is an important part of general dog care, particularly for those with medium to long hair. Starting early, when they are a puppy, will help them adjust and establish a regular routine early on. Grooming should always be comfortable for your puppy. Be gentle and reward your dog for allowing you to groom them. This way they will associate grooming as a positive experience, making it easier for both of you.
Teach obedience
The early months of your puppy’s life are the perfect time to teach some basic obedience skills. Teaching these skills not only strengthens the bond between you and your puppy but can also help them settle in as a well-mannered, happy member of your family.
Teaching your puppy to obey commands such as sit, stay and come will not only impress your friends but will help your dog stay safe and under control in potentially hazardous situations.
It’s important to keep it positive. Positive reinforcement such as small treats, praise or a pat has proven to be vastly more effective than punishment.
Our puppy school classes are currently unavailable. We will update you when it becomes available again.
Be sociable
Just like obedience training, proactive socialisation is important for your puppy. Between approximately 3-17 weeks of age puppies go through a critical socialisation period. The experiences that your puppy has during this time can influence and shape their behaviour well into the future.
Socialising your puppy must be done in a safe and positive environment, such as puppy preschool. You can also take your puppy to meet with other puppies and dogs of your family or friends. It is important to make sure that the other dogs and puppies are friendly, healthy and up to date with their vaccinations.
