Five Easy Ways To Have A Happy Healthy Puppy

You may not be raising the worst puppy in the world, but there's no doubt that these little critters are loving, lovable and yes, challenging! From housebreaking accidents to the shredding of a couch pillow by your teething pup, you'll need a lot of patience and even more love.

Here are some tips for raising a really great puppy:

- Vet care and Nutrition: He needs all his vaccinations and nutritional puppy food for a full first year while his bones and muscles are growing. Pups that grow ill from poor food and lack of vet care won't have that boundless energy that is so much fun.

- Socialize!: From the day he comes into your home, start teaching your puppy the rules of the house. Help him get used to his new home; the location of his food and water bowls, where he sleeps, places that are off-limits.

Make sure you touch and hold him a lot so he learns that it's safe to be with people. New pups miss their mother so don't be surprised if your little one want to snuggle in your. He needs to feel secure, warm, and loved.

- Play!: Puppies have a lot of excess energy to work off, so give him lots of indoor and outdoor playtime. Puppies love to play "throw and chase." He may not get the "fetch" thing, but if you throw it, he'll chase it

- Love him!: "Because I love you, I know you'll love me back." And he does love you - absolutely and unconditionally. He lives and breathes for the moments you spend with him, whether you're playing, eating, going for a walk, or curled up on the bed for a nap; all your puppy wants is to be by your side. Don't disappoint him!

- Keep him safe: He's only a baby - not knowing what's good for him and what can hurt him. Pups will try anything; he'll chew plant leaves that could poison him, he'll get into chemicals, and he'll be inquisitive about that rattlesnake!

It's up to you to protect him from himself by supervising where he is and what he's doing. If he's too quiet, chances are he's up to no good!

A happy puppy is joy to all, teach him, love him, treat him well and he will be a joy for many years to come.