Pablo Luna
While puppies can be quite cute to look at, taking care of one is no walk in the park. Rest assured that taking care of a puppy can change your life in several surprising ways. To ensure that your puppy will grow into a healthy and thriving adult dog, below are some tips on how you will be able to properly take care of a puppy.
Find a good vet
One of the primary things that you need to do in taking care of a puppy properly is finding a good vet. The reason behind this is that the first place that you need to go together with your pup is to the vet for a checkup. With this visit, you will have a good idea whether your pup is in his best health, or you need to address certain health problems. A good vet will also be able to guide you when it comes to rearing your pet, particularly when it comes to the vaccines that he needs to complete.
Get your home ready
Another thing that you need to do to be able to properly take care of your pet is to get your home ready and pup-proof. For instance, your new pup can chew on the wires on the ground of your home. Not only is this devastating but this can also seriously harm your puppy. For this reason, you need to take the time to elevate these wires to ensure that they are not within the reach of your pup. In parallel to this, you should also make sure that your trash cans are heavy enough to prevent them from being knocked over by your pup. Keep in mind that your pup getting into any garbage can lead to gastrointestinal obstructions.
Shop for quality food
You should also shop for quality food for your puppy. In this case, the best thing that you can do is to get in touch with your vet to get recommendations on what you can give your young furry friend. There is also the option for you to explore online sources to have a good idea of some of the best puppy foods that you can give your puppy. Just make sure that you are getting those that are specially formulated to cater to the needs of puppies as opposed to those that are intended for the consumption of older dogs.
Make sure to establish a feeding schedule for your pup. If your puppy is only somewhere between 6 to 12 weeks of age, then you should feed him four meals a day ideally. For puppies between three to six months, three meals a day would be perfect. On the other hand, for a puppy that is half a year to a year old, feeding him twice a day will already be sufficient. Just make sure that your puppy has access to fresh and clean drinking water at all times.
Essential puppy supplies
Apart from shopping for quality food, you should also ensure that you have essential puppy supplies such as a leash and collar with proper identification. Alongside this, you should also buy food and water bowls, as well as chew toys. A dog bed is also essential, together with a crate or a kennel that will prove to be beneficial during training.
Establish a bathroom routine
For most new puppy owners, house training is a priority. In this case, what you need to do is to establish a bathroom routine for your pup. Some of the most common times that you can consider taking your new pup out to the potty is when you wake up as well as right before bedtime. You can also take him out right after he eats or drinks lots of water. It is also a good idea to take your puppy out to the potty immediately after he wakes up from a nap or during and after physical activity.
Teach obedience
When you are a pet owner, you should take the time to teach him obedience because when you establish good manners, you are also preparing him for socialization. Some of the things that you can initially teach your pup include simple commands such as sit, stay, and down. Apart from impressing your friends, these commands will help keep your pup safe and under control, particularly during hazardous circumstances.
Encourage Your Pup To Socialize
Aside from basic commands, you should also encourage your pup to socialize. In this case, you can consider enrolling your pup in dog training lessons to help them interact with other dogs while they are learning various other commands. While puppy training can prove to be a challenge, you will soon realize that your efforts are all worth it in the end.
Be Keen On Early Signs Of Illness
With a new pup to take care of, you need to be keen on early signs of illness, particularly those that need the immediate attention of your vet. For instance, lack of appetite as well as poor weight gain warrants immediate vet notification. Other signs that you need to be wary about include vomiting or a swollen painful abdomen, as well as lethargy, diarrhea, and difficulty in breathing.
Bond With Your Pup
Finally, make sure that you take the time to bond with your pup. Keep in mind that giving him food and shelter is not enough in taking care of a puppy. Rather, you should also provide him with the time and attention he deserves.
To help you properly take care of your puppy, make sure to find a good vet. In parallel to this, you should also ensure that your home is pup-proof and you have shopped for quality food. You should also be complete with the essential puppy supplies. From there, some of the things that you need to teach your pup are a bathroom routine and how to be obedient and socialize. Make sure that you are keen on early signs of illness but the most important one is to take the time to bond with your pup. All these are geared towards ensuring that your pup will grow into a healthy and thriving adult dog.
