Puppies could be a source of unbridled joy in our lives. These cute, cuddly little creatures help us being more passionate and disciplined; in other words, they encourage us to become a better person.
All that said, raising a puppy has its fair share of burdens and responsibilities. If you care for your puppy the right way, you will be rewarded with its bustling companionship. Otherwise, you might have to put up with the sight of your much-adored pet suffering and in extreme cases, encountering premature death.
Today, we will talk about the do’s and don’ts when it comes to owning a new puppy. Please, read on to know how you can make your puppy feel more at home and comfortable.
PUPPY CARE TIPS
• DON’T GET PUPPIES YOUNGER THAN 8 WEEKS
Puppies naturally wean off eight weeks after birth, so it’s not a good idea to separate the puppies from their mothers before they grow at least eight weeks old. It’s imperative that young puppies nurse from their mother instead of bottle feeding. The essential vitamins and minerals present in mother's milk make it the ultimate nutritional choice for the puppies. Studies suggest formula fed puppies face greater health risks since many puppy formulas are low in vital nutrients. When you are bringing home a puppy, it should be able to walk on its own, it should need milk and it should have all of its teeth to be able to start eating solid food.
• FEED YOUR PUPPIES HIGH QUALITY DOG FOOD
A puppy’s physiology is different from that of a full grown dog. Their body structure is still developing; therefore, they need a specifically devised dietary plan. Avoid foods coming with artificial flavors and colors as these could trigger allergic reactions in many puppies. Puppies solely feeding on canned foods are often malnourished and suffer from diarrhea, which leads to a drastic reduction in weight. We recommend feeding your puppies raw food, but if you can’t do so, there’s also high-quality dog kibble. Refrain from feeding your puppy food crumbs when you are eating at the table. Most human food is not suitable for dogs, not even homemade meals; when we cook for ourselves we’re using spices, onions, herbs etc. which could be a digestive nightmare for your pets.
• DON’T TAKE YOUR PUPPY FOR A WALK….NOT RIGHT AWAY
It might be tempting to take out your puppies for a walk, but you should not allow them roaming around the neighborhood. Always keep your puppy at home and only take them outside for their scheduled vet check-ups. You can take your puppy to outings once he is fully vaccinated and his immune system has grown strong enough. Exposing an unvaccinated puppy to the outside world could pose serious health complications since its extremely vulnerable to diseases at that stage.
• GET YOUR PUPPY MICROCHIPPED
Don’t forget to get your puppy microchipped and get identification tags to go on their collar. So many pets go missing every year and it’s not just bad pet owners who lose their dogs; it can happen to anybody. Having your pet microchipped will dramatically increase your odds of finding them if they ever go missing.
• FIX A COMFORTABLE BED FOR YOUR PUPPIES
Who doesn’t love a good night’s sleep? Fix your puppy the perfect dog bed so that it could rest with utmost comfort. An adequate amount of sleep keeps your puppy free of lethargy and facilitates its growth properly. Keep separate beds for each for your pets and ensure all of them are dry, warm and cozy.
• DON’T USE PARASITE MEDICATIONS
You must keep your dog free of parasites but don’t resort to using flea and tick medication on puppies. Even though, these medications are effective in tackling parasite infections immediately they can have severe side effects in the long run. The majority of pet poisoning cases are actually because of flea and tick medications. They can cause seizures, brain damage and also lead to the dog’s death. So, if your puppy does have ticks or fleas try your best not to use medication. You can wash them with regular dishwater, get them full of suds and leave them for 10 minutes. This will help kill the fleas and then afterward, comb them down with a fine tooth comb remove anything that is left.
• PUPPYPROOF YOUR PLACE
Make sure you take the following measures to prevent any potential accidents when the puppies are playing inside the house-
• Keep all sharp and breakable items out of your puppies reach.
• Use a plastic coating to cover all electrical wires or raise them to a level where the puppies can’t reach them.
• Safely lock away all chemicals and toxic materials in your cabinets.
• GET YOUR PUPPY A CRATE
A lot of dog owners aren’t fond of the idea of putting their dogs into crates and view it as a cruel gesture of imprisonment. However, there is nothing scandalous about keeping your puppy in a crate for a short period. Dogs naturally find themselves a den, which they use as their own private space, and the crate could be that safe den for them. Crates can be super convenient to housebreak your dog as you can train it to defecate in a specific area of the crate regularly. Another reason that a crate is essential to have is so that you have a safe place to put your dog if you are having a gathering at your house. Parties are scary places for dogs as they get confused among so many unknown people. There’s also the issue that they could bite somebody and even escape your house unnoticed during the party. It’s always safer to have your dog put away somewhere so that nothing happens to them while you are entertaining guests at your house. A crate is a very safe place for your dog to be during all of this and it will be better if your dog is already trained to be in a crate.
FINAL SAY
Nothing can beat the joy of welcoming a sweet new puppy into our homes but what most of us fail to realize is the massive amount of effort required to transform your adorable puppy to a healthy, socially amicable adult. Hopefully, you will find our tips helpful in raising your puppy and get yourself set up for endless fun with your canine chum. Get more information at Bytebest.