Top Tips For Caring For Your New Puppy

Looking after a new puppy is no walk in the park – it takes patience, commitment and plenty of planning to ensure your puppy remains happy and healthy. Establishing an effective and wholesome routine in the first few weeks will allow your puppy to pick up the correct habits early on, saving you a great deal of hassle later in life.

First trip to the vets

First and foremost, it is extremely important to find an accredited veterinary practice that will ensure your puppy is fighting fit and will take the necessary preventative measures so your beloved pet remains healthy. In preparation for your first visit, it is recommended that you make a list of questions you would like to ask your vet so you can learn how to take proper care of your new puppy. A few things to consider are:

Diet. Puppies should not be eating the same diet as an adult dog, so ask your vet which foods they recommend, how often to feed and the portion size required for your dog.
How you should spay or neuter your puppy. This can significantly prolong your pet’s life, reducing behavioural problems and eliminating the possibility of testicular cancer in male dogs. Spaying will control behavioural changes in female dogs by reducing many of the attitudes associated with the ‘heat’ cycle. It will also prevent unwanted offspring and reduce or eliminate diseases such as mammary tumours, ovarian cancer, and urinary infections.
Early symptoms and signs of illness.
A vaccination program is needed to prevent diseases. It is important to take note that until this plan is completed, keep your puppy away from other animal which haven’t been vaccinated and dog parks.
Micro chipping. Keeping your new puppy safe and secure in their new environment is essential, so it is highly recommended that you get them micro chipped at the same time as their vaccinations.
Treatment for flea control. Not only do fleas irritate the skin, they can also cause anaemia and give your pet tapeworms. Therefore, check with your vet what course of action is appropriate for your puppy as adult treatments are not suitable for younger animals.
Establish a worming program which best suits your puppy. Worming should begin from about two weeks of age and a typical program states it should be carried out every two weeks until 12 weeks, then monthly until 6 months.

Training basics

Patience, organisation and plenty of positive reinforcement are key factors to remember when training your new puppy. It is a time-consuming task which requires determination and consistency, but the incredible results will be well worth the work. The sessions should never be too long as your puppy will get tired out quickly, and try to keep tasks as simple and achievable as possible, praising them with small treats and avoiding distractions and punishments.

Toilet training

Establishing an effective bathroom routine will be extremely beneficial in the long-run and will allow your puppy to pick up healthy habits early on. Until your puppy has had all their vaccinations, make sure you find a place outdoors which is inaccessible to other animals for them to go to the bathroom. The most common times to take them out into the garden or on a grassy area are:

Immediately after your puppy has eaten or drank lots of water
During or after exercising/physical activity
After waking from a nap

To reinforce positive behaviour by going for potty outside be sure to praise your puppy with small treats, and never punish them for accidents.

Insurance

Finally, vet bills can be an expensive burden on pet owners, so taking out pet insurance is extremely beneficial as it provides more options if your pet requires a costly operation or life-saving treatment. Be sure to do your research as there a great number of policies available on the market today.

Here at Jaycliffe Pets, we offer clean, comfortable and affordable kennel and cattery facilities for the temporary care of pets throughout Rotherham, Doncaster, Sheffield and the surrounding areas. Our team of fully qualified experts are committed to delivering first class services to ensure your beloved pet is totally safe, happy and healthy. Don’t hesitate to give us a call or contact us online today for further information – we are always happy to help with any enquiry.