By Jeff Van Dalsum
Caring for puppies is not something that should be taken lightly. A large percentage of puppies are later abandoned due to the fact that the owner was not fully prepared to care for another life. Typically, the owner later realizes that he doesn't have enough time, energy, or money to make the commitment.
To comprehend this immense responsibility, think of it as adding a new baby to your family. He will require constant attention, supervision, care, and love. It's a lot of hard work at first, but the results are very rewarding.
To fully understand what it means to care for a puppy, there are several aspects that you will be responsible for and that you should understand before you make the commitment.
Health
Caring for a puppy means constantly monitoring his health. One of the first things you should do as a new puppy owner is to select a veterinarian and schedule an appointment. Your new puppy will need certain vaccinations to prevent common diseases. Worms and fleas can also be a problem for puppies so make sure to discuss this with your vet. Always be on the lookout out for signs that could indicate that your dog is sick. Ideally, a perfectly healthy puppy should have smooth skin, a clean coat, and bright eyes.
Sleep/Rest
Caring for a puppy also involves preparing a safe and cozy sleeping place. Choose which room he will sleep in ahead of time. If you decide to let him stay in your room, you should know that there could be howling, whimpering, and barking as the puppy deals with separation anxiety the first few nights. A good way to ease this transition is to bring his bedding to the breeder or shelter (wherever you receive him) a few days before taking him home to give the puppy a familiar object in your house.
Feeding
You will also be responsible for feeding your puppy each and every meal. If you have other pets, you should be sure that each one has his own set of bowls for water and food. Sharing bowls tends to lead towards territorial conflicts and bullying as each pet tries to assert their dominance over one another.
Also, the quantity of the food that you give him varies over time. Puppies eat much more frequently than older dogs and also have extremely different nutritional requirements. Therefore, it's important to select the right type of dog food for each stage in his life. As a general rule of thumb puppies 6 to 8 weeks old eat four times a day, 12 to 20 weeks old eat three times a day, and 20 weeks and older eat only twice a day.
Play/Exercise
Another aspect of caring for puppies that is very important not to overlook is play time and exercise. Make sure to establish a safe place where your puppy will be allowed to be himself. This may be indoors or outside, but either way the area should be a controlled environment for the first few months of your puppy's life. Play with your puppy regularly to promote socialization and healthy development.
Also, make sure to buy appropriately sized toys for your puppy. If he is small, he should have smaller toys. For larger breeds, small toys can be a choking hazard. Most toys such as bones, ropes, stuffed animals, and balls come in all different shapes and sizes.
Potty Training
Potty training can be one of the most frustrating parts of owning a new puppy, but it's very important to get right. When and where to potty are the things that your puppy has to learn, and it may take some time. If you're at work during the day, you should seriously consider crate training.
Grooming/Cleaning
Proper upkeep, such as grooming and cleaning, are an essential part of puppy care. Not only will it encourage healthy development, but it will also remove unpleasant odors. Most puppies love to be brushed so don't be afraid to give it a try. It will remove dead hair and keep his coat beautiful. Also, don't forget about brushing his teeth and gums regularly.
Now that you understand what it takes to properly care for a puppy, you might be feeling slightly overwhelmed, but you shouldn't. Caring for a puppy is only difficult at first. The adjustment is the hardest part. Once you establish routines and good habits, the only thing left to do is enjoy the company and make memories together. The most important thing is to prepare your life for a puppy ahead of time to reduce the time it takes to adjust to your new family member.
Perfect Puppy Care is a website dedicated and developed by puppy care enthusiasts who have taken it as their goal to help you raise a happy, healthy, and well-behaved puppy.
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