So you got your first new puppy! Congratulations! But what now? Here are some tips to follow so that you and your new best friend can be besties for life.
When you get a new puppy, you should establish who the owner is right away. The puppy should know exactly who is the owner. Not only that, but you’ll want to bring it to the vet as soon as possible because they will check it for health conditions or any other issues that may be present or could be an issue in the future.
Make sure to housebreak your pup as soon as possible and don’t forget to make sure they have regular exercise. As for housebreaking, create a routine right way because you want the dog to know what time of the day to go potty and to eat are. The same goes for exercise, such as walks, playtime or time in the yard.
Make sure you keep a feeding schedule for your pup. Give your new fur baby food at the same time every single day and don’t just leave it out for grazing. After your puppy has finished eating, bring it outside and let it go to the bathroom.
Safety Tips
Make sure you keep materials that can harm your puppy away from it. Your cabinets should be secure and don’t leave stuff laying around. Remember, your puppy is going to test boundaries and learn where its boundaries are. Keep all harmful materials out of reach, just as you would if you had young kids.
Puppies tend to eat anything. They love to put anything in their mouths. Do things like tying up extension cords and teach them to not play around with them. If you think there is something your puppy would want to play with, then move it somewhere else.
Pets love to dig through the trash, so make sure trash containers are not in easy reach and place leftover food outside in the bin. Human food can make your puppy sick, so don’t leave leftover foods where your pet can get to it. Many people feed their doggies human food, but it is better to be safe than sorry, so just don’t do it.
Discipline Tips
Never, and we mean never hit a puppy or any other kind of animal because this is a horrible form of discipline. Your dog will only be afraid of you and tremble when you go near it if you do this. You want your puppy to grow into a dog that will love you unconditionally, so don’t hit it.
Learn how to use the word no when your puppy does something you don’t want it to do. Eventually they will learn what that word means and they will learn not to do those things. Like kids, remove anything that could harm your puppy, if it is in easy reach or can easily be found by them.
Learning And Growing
Allow your puppy to play and encourage it but don’t let them bite you. Puppies need to know right from the start that biting is not allowed nor is it acceptable behavior. If they feel the need to bite or chew, then buy them a few chew toys that they can play with.
Playtime is a great experience for both humans and their pets, so bring your dog/dogs out and let them run around the yard or the park. Just make sure you keep a close eye on them and know when they are starting to get tired. When you notice them tiring themselves out, then give them water and find them a place to rest. Invest in a good bed and eventually they will know it is their place and they will go to it whenever they want to relax and/or sleep. Good training is essential!
Set The Rules
It’s your home and you should and need to set rules. If it’s fine, then let your puppy go on the furniture but if not, then make sure you establish the rule of no dogs on the sofa. If you get a large dog breed and you allow them on the couch when they are a puppy, then this may be an issue when they are older because of how much room they can take up.
Smaller dogs don’t take up that much room, so it’s fine to let them onto the couch and other furniture. However, the choice is ultimately yours to make. Just consider the consequences before you establish rules for your puppy because when they learn things at a young age, it is hard to get them to stop doing those things when they reach the age of maturity.
If you let your puppy out into the yard, then keep an eye on them, especially if it’s hot out. Also, buy some dog shoes because they can come in handy on walks with your dog. They won’t burn their paws on hot surfaces. Another thing you want to do is bring around plastic bags when you are out with your dog because if they go to the bathroom, then you can pick it up.
Speaking of walking, it’s a good idea to keep your puppy on a leash. A harness is better though because it tends to be more comfortable for the puppy. It is up to you what you decide to use.
If you treat your dog right and take good care of it, it will remain loyal and loving to you and your family. They will love you unconditionally too. With that said, keep the above advice and tips in mind if you are thinking about getting a new puppy.