Chances are, if you’re reading this, you just got a puppy or are looking into getting one. So here’s the essential puppy care for beginners you need to know.
Puppies can be great pets and bring a lot of fun and joy to your life. Most know that puppies are a lot of work and take time, energy, and money to take care of. Today, we’re going to talk about training, nutrition, health, and playtime with man’s best friend.
Get a Vet
It may be common sense to have a vet when you have a pet, but you will need one immediately when getting a puppy. It’s the first stage of puppy care for beginners. A vet will get their first check-up to make sure they’re healthy from the start. Ask your vet for the following things as well:
- How to set up a vaccination plan with your vet.
- Discuss safe options for controlling parasites, both external and internal.
- Learn which signs of illness to watch for during your puppy’s first few months.
- Ask about when you should spay or neuter your puppy.
If you’re confused on which vet to go with, you can ask any friends or family that have pets of their own for suggestions. If you adopted your puppy from a shelter, you can ask the shelter for their highest recommendations when it comes to vets.
Nutrition
When you first get a puppy, food can be quite intimidating. If you’re at a pet store or your local grocery store, you’ll see a lot of options. Since your puppy is growing at a fast rate, it is important not to get dog food but food specifically for puppies.
You also need to make sure your pup has fresh water at all times. Be aware of when your puppy is eating and drinking as this can lead to 3:00 in the morning bathroom trips. Here’s how often you should feed your puppy:
- 6-12 weeks – 4 meals per day
- 3-6 months – 3 meals per day
- 6-12 months – 2 meals per day
Training
Getting your puppy introduced to training or obedience school as young as possible is important. You’ve heard the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Well, that’s a cliché for a reason. The simple commands such as “sit,” “stay,” and “come” will be commands you use for the entirety of your dog’s life, so getting them trained on them is important.
If you’re looking into obedience or training classes, be sure to check what ages they allow in the class, how often it is, and what is required of you and your pup to do as “homework” when class isn’t in session. It’s basic puppy care for beginners to get training off on the right foot!
Playing
Lastly, it is important to play often with your puppy. This can create a stronger bond between the two of you and can even serve as some training for things like fetch. If you feel comfortable, bring your puppy to a dog park or invite over a friend’s dog so they have some fun and make a new friend in the process.
When looking at puppy care for beginners just make sure to look at your puppy’s all-round well being. And each of these areas shouldn’t be ignored!
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