Puppies – Pet Care at a Glance

Choosing a puppy is a serious business. Research the different dog breeds and find one that matches you and your family’s lifestyle and energy levels.

Are you out a lot at work or socialising? Then don’t choose a dog that needs lots of exercise (though all dogs need daily exercise.) If you are an outdoors person choose a dog that that can keep up with you. Think about where you live. Choose a puppy that, when fully grown (and some do grow very big), is appropriate for the size of your house or flat.

Decide whether you want a pedigree puppy or a mixed breed, whether you want to buy your puppy or choose one from a rescue centre. Research the pros and cons of all these options.

Wherever you acquire your puppy, make sure you tell the owner or rescue centre staff what you want and expect of your dog. For example, people who want to show their dogs will have different expectations from someone who simply wants a canine companion.

Bring your puppy home during a quiet period – so avoid Christmas if you have big family celebrations. Your puppy has just been removed from the safety of mother and siblings so you need to make the transition from this first family to your family as trauma-free as possible.

Offer the puppy an old item of your clothing as you travel home so your scent will become familiar. Your puppy may whine or bark on the journey but will soon settle if left alone.

You should have already puppy-proofed your house and garden. Carefully dispose of potentially poisonous substances - paints, cleaning materials, medicines, some foods and houseplants. Move valuable items out of your puppy’s inquisitive reach. Keep shoes and boots in cupboards, remove plastic bags, keep doors and windows shut, close doors to the oven, washing machine and so on, and hide trailing electrical cables.

Slowly introduce your puppy to every member of the family. Explain to children that the puppy needs gentle, patient treatment. Help your puppy to learn their name by using it repeatedly.

Don’t introduce your puppy to any other pets you have straightaway. Let these others meet your puppy when they are ready and keep a watchful eye on proceedings. There may be a few spats at first.

You can help your puppy feel secure by providing a bed inside a puppy crate. You might also want to buy a puppy or baby gate to restrict your new puppy to certain areas in your home.

It is vital that you feed your puppy the right diet. Puppies use up tons of energy and need a first rate diet to assist in what will be rapid growth.

A high quality commercial puppy food will provide complete nutrition. Look for high levels of quality protein and plenty of essential minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, zinc and iron. Vitamin D helps build strong bones and teeth.

Smaller bite-sized kibbles are easier on the puppy’s small mouth. Give your puppy small amounts on a frequent basis. At two months of age puppies need four meals a day. By six months they should be on two meals a day.

Ensure your puppy has clean water to drink at all times.

Surprisingly, for such bundles of fun, puppies need less exercise than fully-grown dogs. Too much exercise will exhaust them and may damage developing joints, causing early arthritis. According to The Kennel Club, just 15 - 20 minutes, twice a day, for a young pup is adequate. Even if you have a big garden the puppy still needs to get out to explore new territories and socialise with other dogs.

Puppy training is a whole subject in itself. Consider attending puppy training classes with your puppy. Ask friends or vets for recommendations of good classes in your area.

If classes are not an option, make sure you spend adequate time in training your puppy to sit when commanded (useful when putting on the lead, grooming, greeting visitors etc), to lie down (essential when being examined or for administering first aid), to come back when recalled and in toilet training.

Use special dog treats to reward good behaviour.

Puppies are such bundles of energy it’s hard to imagine that they get ill – but they do. Puppies are prone to common illnesses because their immune systems are not fully developed.

Symptoms to look out for include vomiting, coughing (possibly ‘kennel cough’), diarrhoea. None of these symptoms are necessarily indicative of serious illness but if in any doubt whatsoever, or if symptoms persist, consult your vet immediately.

Parvo is a highly contagious viral illness affecting mainly puppies and young dogs. There are two forms of parvo: intestinal (more common) and cardiac (less common but more deadly). This illness should be treated by a vet immediately. Its form can be mild or fatal. Symptoms are fever, vomiting, loss of appetite and severe, bloody diarrhoea.

However, be assured that puppies are resilient creatures and there are few things that bring greater joy to a family than acquiring a puppy.

DISCLAIMER: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained here it is for educational purposes only. The writer of this article and flynnthedog can not diagnose any physical, mental or behavioural condition in animals nor prescribe treatment. We urge you to consult your vet if you have any concerns about your pet.