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

One of the many things that you must do for your puppy is to make him comfortable. You should definitely have a doggy bed and a set place for your puppy to sleep. Also, it is good to have plenty of toys, food, and water dishes.

Besides that, you should make sure you leave plenty of time to spend with your puppy in order for him to know you and feel safe and secure when around you. Make sure he knows that you are there to take care of him. Don't forget that your puppy has just been stripped of his mother and siblings and the only home that he has ever had. In order to feel safe he is going to need a little reaffirmation.

2. Feed Him Right

You should remember that a puppy is a baby dog and he should be treated much the same way you would treat a young baby. You will not want to give him grown-up dog food for a while and you should check with a vet or the pet store or his previous owner to see what he has been eating. If you would like to feed him a different kind of food, do not just chance it quickly because he may stop eating or even get sick. Gradually replace your food with what he has been used to eating and he will learn to like the new food. Remember to treat him like the new baby he is and you will get along well.

Do not feed table scraps to your new puppy. It creates a bad habit for both you and your puppy and may not be good for your puppy's health.

3. Medical Care

Responsible ownership of a puppy includes seeking regular veterinary care. Necessary treatments include worming and vaccinations to protect the puppy. To ensure that your young dog receives the best possible care, schedule an appointment as soon as possible, and establish a regular vaccination and examination schedule as recommended by your veterinarian. Getting the proper vaccinations and checkups is an important part of learning how to care for a puppy.

4. Puppy-Proof Your Home

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. Train Him Properly

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.