Preparing for a new puppy involves gathering all the necessary items and being ready to invest plenty of love, effort, patience, and attention to ensure a smooth and happy beginning for both you and your new furry companion.

Find a Good Vet:

The initial destination for you and your new puppy should be the veterinarian for a thorough checkup. This visit is crucial to confirm your puppy’s health status, detect any potential health issues or birth defects early on, and establish a solid preventive care regimen. If you haven’t chosen a veterinarian yet, seek recommendations from friends or the shelter where you adopted your puppy. Additionally, local dog walkers and groomers can offer valuable suggestions based on their experiences.

Purchase High-Quality Food:

Because your puppy’s body is undergoing crucial growth stages, it’s essential to choose a food specifically designed for puppies rather than adult dogs.

Small and medium-sized breeds can transition to adult dog food between 9 and 12 months of age, while large breed dogs should continue with puppy kibble until they are 2 years old. It’s important to ensure your puppy always has access to fresh and plentiful water.

Feed multiple times a day:

• Age 6-12 weeks – 4 meals per day.
• Age 3-6 months – 3 meals per day.
• Age 6-12 months – 2 meals per day.

Set Up a Consistent Bathroom Schedule:

Since puppies generally resist wearing diapers, housetraining swiftly becomes a top priority for most puppy owners. Experts emphasize that patience, preparation, and consistent positive reinforcement are crucial allies in successfully housetraining your puppy. It’s also advisable to have a strategy for cleaning carpets ready, as accidents are inevitable.

While your puppy is still completing her vaccinations, it’s important to choose an outdoor area that other animals cannot access to minimize the risk of spreading viruses and illnesses. Offer plenty of positive reinforcement when your puppy successfully goes potty outside. Equally crucial is avoiding punishment when accidents occur indoors.

Understanding the right times to take your puppy outside is nearly as crucial as praising her when she does relieve herself outdoors. Here are the typical times to schedule potty breaks for your puppy:

• When you wake up.
• Right before bedtime.
• Right after your puppy finishes eating or drinking a substantial amount of water.
• After your puppy wakes up from a nap.
• While your puppy is active and after physical exertion.

Teach Obedience:

By instilling good manners in your puppy, you’ll ensure positive social interactions throughout its life. Moreover, obedience training fosters a closer bond between you and your puppy.

Training your puppy to follow commands like sit, stay, down, and come not only impresses others but also ensures your dog’s safety and control in potentially risky situations. Many puppy owners discover that obedience classes are beneficial for both dog and owner, starting around 4 to 6 months of age.

Tip: Focus on positivity. Using positive reinforcement, like small treats, has been shown to be much more effective than punishment.