When a puppy joins the family, everything changes. There are new responsibilities: walking or cleaning up after the toddler, feeding, shopping, visiting the veterinarian, and sometimes coat care. More and more people also brush their pets’ teeth and attend puppy classes. After graduating, they sign up for obedience training with their dog or train one of the dog sports. There are a lot of it. Some of these elements are indispensable, others are optional.
I will describe here what I think you absolutely must do:
- Go for an introductory visit to the veterinarian.
Take care of your young friend’s well-being there. Your task is to make the youngster love the clinic instead of being afraid of it. This will make your life easier in the future, avoid your dog’s stress, and make the doctor’s job easier. You will all save a lot of time and stress.
During your first visit, make an appointment for the obligatory vaccinations. This is an excellent time to discuss your dog’s diet. There are many options. You can give your dog dry or wet (cans) food. Remember not to choose the cheapest one. It’s not worth it: what you save on food, you will spend later (often even more) on treatment. “You are what you eat” applies to both people and dogs. You can also opt for the BARF diet or the preparation of home-cooked meals. If you choose the last option, talk to your veterinarian about it. Some products that are very healthy for us can harm dogs (e.g. groats). It is essential that the diet is balanced and provides the young body with everything it needs for proper development. Remember never to give your dog poultry bones (they break lengthwise and can cause intestine perforation).
You can also consider chipping your puppy.
- Consider where the bowls should be placed and how many of them you need. A dog, like a human, likes to eat in peace. Do not place the bowls where the household members often pass. Remember that water must ALWAYS be available.
- Also, think about where to place the dog’s bed. This is important because dogs sleep most of the day. Sleep and relaxation significantly affect emotional state, well-being, and behaviour. It applies to dogs as well as humans.
- Determine the house rules. Consider whether you want your dog to sleep with you and/or climb on sofas or armchairs. Or he may have only one armchair on which he can rest. You may want your dog to get on the bed only at your invitation. Do you agree to him jumping on you when you come back home? Remember that an adult dog will still do what you allow your puppy to do. Therefore, from the very beginning, the rules that will apply in the future should be introduced. These are just two examples of things to think about; as you guessed, there are some more.
- Be sure to find out what your dog’s needs and predispositions are. Some needs, such as eating, drinking, walking, exploring freely or resting, are the same for every dog. Still, others depend to a large extent on the breed. Predispositions will hint to you which games will suit your dog, what activities will be enjoyable for him, and which will relieve anxiety or stress.
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