Puppy Care
for new parents
A new puppy safely snuggled in your arms, lucky you! Now you need a crash course in puppy care? No problem. Let's get started.
Puppies are irresistible little bundles of love! Soft and warm, with round tummies and velvety ears, they have the power to melt the hardest of hearts.But although Fifi may look like an adorable stuffed toy, she's a living, breathing creature and she needs lots of love, care and attention if she is to grow up into a happy, healthy, well mannered dog. Puppycare 101 here we come!
First things first
It's best to get your puppy when he or she is between 7 & 10 weeks old and at this age puppy care is quite straightforward. Fifi's needs are simple - a good, nutritious diet, proper veterinary care; a warm, dry place to sleep, safe toys to play with and lots and lots of love and attention. She's just like a human baby, helpless and totally dependent on her parents - and that's you!
Diet
A puppy is pretty much an infant, and just as you wouldn't give a newborn baby a T-bone steak you shouldn't feed your puppy adult dog food. Puppies require a well balanced diet, this can be provided by a good quality commercially prepared dog food.Puppy care can be expensive at first, but don't be tempted to skimp on puppy kibble What you feed your puppy now is one of the most important parts of puppy care, and will directly affect his or her growth, mental and physical development and overall health throughout her life.
There are also other options such as homemade dog food, raw food diets and organic dog food. Please remember, what you feed Fido is a very important part of your puppy care duties , so look at all the possibilities and choose whatever you feel best about. All Fido wants is a full tummy (and he doesn't really care whether it's full of nutritious puppy kibble or your best slippers), so it's all up to you!
Sleep
Young puppies sleep A LOT! Remember, they're just like babies, they'll need to eat, play, potty and SLEEP (but definitely not in that order).If we're talking about basic puppy care, then your new puppy doesn't need an expensive bed! Little Fido will be happy with a blanket in a cardboard box at first (although he'll be likely to nibble on his bed once in a while).
There are beanbag type beds, cedar shaving filled beds, wicker baskets, padded baskets. I could go on and on but I'm sure you get the picture. Again, choose whatever takes your fancy - but bear in mind that whatever you choose it's a good idea to make sure it's washable (or at the very least the cover is). Little puppies are prone to all kinds of 'accidents' and you don't want to have to consign your designer dog-bed to the trash can after only a week.
Veterinary puppy care
If you purchased your puppy from a reputable breeder or picked a homeless puppy from the local shelter, he or she will most likely have had the basic vaccinations required for her age. If you got a free puppy, or pet-shop puppy it is best to assume that no shots have been given (unless you were given shot records to prove otherwise) and start at the very beginning. Appropriate puppy care would include an initial (and thorough) check up and any vaccinations your new baby needs. A normal schedule for puppy vaccinations is as follows -
6 - 8 weeks old - 1st DHLPP + Corona
11 - 12 weeks old - 2nd DHLPP + Corona
15 - 16 weeks old - 3rd DHLPP + Corona
16+ weeks - Rabies It's vitally important that your puppy get all the above shots to protect him or her from potentially fatal diseases. Some breeds are more susceptible to certain dog illnesses than others, and need to take additional precautions. Rottweilers, for example, need to have an additional (4th) Parvo shot at around 17 - 18 weeks of age. This is because they seem to have a breed-specific weakness and are pre-disposed to catching this horrible disease. Pitbull terriers are also more at risk of catching Parvo than most other breeds. Vaccinations are a big part of puppy care, so always talk to your veterinarian and follow his or her recommendations regarding your puppy's shot regimen. It's always a good idea to take a new puppy to the veterinarian you've chosen
as soon as you can after getting them home. The vet can do a thorough examination and that way if there are any potential problems you will get a heads-up. They can also check him/her for worms and give any medications if necessary.
Toys
Like a baby, Fido will want lots of toys to play with, and they're an important part of the 'puppy care basics' tool-chest. There are tons and tons of options out there so take your time and choose wisely. Look for sturdy, well constructed toys with no loose or sharp parts and stay away from cheap plastic or rubber toys which can be easily broken or torn up - that can lead to choking, digestive problems, cut mouths and all kinds of problems.
Kong toys are heavy-duty rubber toys which are almost indestructible, even for large breed dogs, and a lot of them are designed to be stuffed with treats which makes them even more interesting for your pup.
Nylabones are tough, nylon bones which come in a variety of sizes, textures and flavors. They are also very durable and provide a good solid chew for puppy teeth.Be very careful when it comes to stuffed toys. Make sure the seams and any legs, ears, arms etc. are very firmly attached. Puppies seem to love the sheepskin fabric that a lot of toys are made out of today. Thick rope toys are also popular, especially the ones with natural bones or hooves threaded onto them. Watch power-chewers with hooves though, they can break them and the sharp pieces can cause trouble if chewed or swallowed. Balls are always popular, but again choose wisely. Do not give small balls to large-breed puppies, they could choke on them. Tennis balls are fun, but if your pup tends to chew the covering off the ball, take it away as it then becomes a choking hazard too. Footballs and soccer balls are a lot of fun, but don't buy expensive ones as puppy teeth are very sharp and the ball will most likely be popped at some point(and sooner rather than later!) If you have a large, strong breed you may want to think about a bowling ball as a toy. We have a rottweiler male whose favorite toy in the world is a tie-dye bowling ball! Overall, use common sense with toys and always supervise Fifi when she's playing. That way, if she manages to disembowel her favorite stuffed animal or chew a big chunk out of her squeaky duck you are there to rescue her before she gets into serious trouble. Take a look at our Dog Toys page to find out more about all the wonderful options available. If you have a large or giant breed puppy, or one that is a 'power chewer', you'll love our selection of recommended, super-tough toys on our Indestructable Dog Toys page.
Love!
Well, this is the easy part. What's not to love about a puppy? This is the fun part of your puppy care responsibilities! Almost as much as he needs food and sleep, Fido needs love if he is to grow big and healthy. So play with him, give him lots of cuddles and tummy rubs, take him with you whenever you can. Love is not just about playing and cuddling though,it's also about making sure that your puppy gets everything he needs to be safe and happy. Food, sleep, toys, proper training and socialization are all vital to his wellbeing. Show your love by being a responsible puppy parent and the love you get back will be incredible.
For an overview of everything you need to know about caring for your brand new puppy, you can also check out our
New Puppy Care Page
If you want to learn more about puppy care you can check out a few of the very best books available on the subject on our Dog Books page. We've saved you some work by picking the best of the best, and even included an in-depth review and a link where you can purchase your choice right away.Didn't we promise we'd make this puppy parenting job easier for you? :)
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Choosing A Puppy
Adopt A Puppy
Puppy Names
Puppy Health
Puppy Kibble
Puppy Training
New Puppy Care
Puppy Behavior
Your Agility Puppy
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