Home & Family Facts and Notes

Raising a healthy dog begins with caring for him correctly from the time you bring him home. Below are 5 tips on how to care for a puppy that will keep him healthy and comfortable.

1. Keep Him Comfortable

One of the many things that you must do for your puppy is to make him comfortable. You should definitely have a doggy bed and a set place for your puppy to sleep. Also, it is good to have plenty of toys, food, and water dishes.

You want to set aside time to spend with your puppy when you bring him home, so he’ll feel safe and know that you are going to take care of him. He has just left the only family he’s ever known to come live with you; so he’ll need some patience and some time to feel safe with you.

2. Feed Him Right

You should remember that a puppy is a baby dog and he should be treated much the same way you would treat a young baby. You will not want to give him grown-up dog food for a while and you should check with a vet or the pet store or his previous owner to see what he has been eating. If you would like to feed him a different kind of food, do not just chance it quickly because he may stop eating or even get sick. Gradually replace your food with what he has been used to eating and he will learn to like the new food. Remember to treat him like the new baby he is and you will get along well.

When he comes home, your puppy may want to eat your table scraps, but you should introduce these foods slowly. His stomach will need to adjust before it can handle a lot of “people” food.

3. Medical Care

One of the most important aspects of learning how to care for a puppy is making sure your provide adequate Veterinary care. You’ll need to make sure to schedule regular appointments at the veterinarian’s office. Sometimes a puppy needs to be wormed; they also need regular vaccinations to stay healthy. Be sure to find a veterinarian and schedule check ups soon after your puppy comes home. This step will ensure your puppy has the best chance of being healthy.

4. Puppy Safety

Puppies have a lot of energy and like to explore. You’ll need to take some steps to keep him safe. Look around and see what areas might be dangerous for him; you’ll want to keep him away from these places. If there are other pets in your home, you’ll want to supervise their interactions to make sure things don’t get too rough for your new puppy. If there are children in your home, make sure they understand the new puppy isn’t a toy and teach them how to treat him gently.

5. Train Him Properly

A dog that isn’t properly trained can be a nuisance who no one wants to be around. If you don’t want your puppy to grow into a nuisance dog, then you need to have a plan for obedience training. Not only will this make him a dog everyone wants to hang out with, it will help you to keep him safe.

Learning how to care for a puppy takes a bit of planning, but mostly you should plant to give your new pup a lot of love and attention - those two things are most important for helping your puppy grow into a happy and healthy dog.

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