How to Care for a Puppy

Looking to learn how to take care of a puppy? Bringing a new pup into your home will change your life forever. Puppies are definitely a lot of work, but they also bring plenty of joy to your world.

Whether you are ​getting your first puppy or just need a refresher course, here's what you'll need to know to get your puppy on the right track to adulthood. From choosing the right puppy and making your home safe for your new furry friend to caring for and training your pup, you'll find tips for it all.

1. Choosing the Right Puppy

If the time is right for getting a puppy, you will now have to choose the best match. Perhaps your future companion will find you. A puppy can come into your life by chance and you can feel an instant connection and know it is the right one, but it doesn't always happen like that. Often, you must take on the important task of going out and finding the right kind of puppy for you.

First, examine your lifestyle and consider what you are looking for in a puppy. Purebred or mixed breed dog? Big or small? There are even more factors to consider, such as grooming and exercise needs, temperament, and potential health issues.

Next, you need to decide where to look for your new puppy. Will you visit an animal shelter to adopt your new dog? Perhaps you will seek out a responsible breeder. Research and patience are essential throughout this process. When you have finally found the right puppy, you'll have a friend for life.

2. Getting Your Home Ready for Puppy

Before you bring home your cute little furball, you need to ensure your home is as safe as possible, both for your new puppy and your belongings. The puppy-proofing process is similar to toddler-proofing a home, but there are differences.

First, get an idea of your puppy's eye view of your home. Electrical cords, potential toxins, and breakable items should be placed completely out of reach. Remember that your puppy can jump, climb, chew, and scratch, so place what you can very high up or in a locked cabinet.

Be aware that "child-safe" latches do not tend to work on curious and determined puppies. It's best to secure lower cabinets and drawers with locks or metal hardware. These should be chew-proof and require opposable thumbs to operate.

Install durable baby gates or pet gates if needed to keep your puppy away from certain rooms of your home. It's a good idea to keep your dog away from the kitchen (especially the trash can) and the stairs. Proper puppy-proofing not only keeps your puppy safe but also gives you peace of mind.

3. Naming Your Puppy

As your puppy joins the family, the all-important job of naming this new addition is a priority. Obviously, you will be using your dog's name constantly throughout his life, so your choice should be a wise one.

Pick something that has a nice ring to it and is not too long. It should be easy to say and simple for your puppy to understand. It's also important that your dog's name does not sound too similar to other words you plan to teach it.

You may want to name your puppy something that describes its personality or appearance. Or, you may want something unique. Once you have chosen a name, use it plenty. Before long, your puppy will learn its name and respond to it.

4. Essential Puppy Supplies

Your new puppy will need certain items from the very start. Some are essential for your pup's well-being, while others are quite helpful. The most important items include a leash and collar with identification, food and water bowls, and chew toys. You should also get a comfortable dog bed for puppies. and, preferably, a crate or kennel.

Some of these items can last as your puppy ages, but many of them will need to be replaced as your puppy grows. Collars may be adjustable up to a certain point. A kennel can be purchased in a larger size for the future but should be blocked off with boxes or other objects to make it the right size for the puppy.

It's also important to properly prepare for the expenses associated with dog ownership.

5. Choosing Your Puppy's Food

Your puppy's diet can make all the difference in its future health and well-being. Before you decide on a puppy food, do your research. Talk to your vet, other pet professionals, and fellow dog owners. Remember that if the food you initially choose does not meet your expectations, you can gradually switch to another food.

In today's dog-friendly world, the choices of diet seem endless. Some owners like to feed premium foods, while many feel that holistic and natural diets are best. Homemade and raw diets are also becoming increasingly popular.

While researching puppy food, consider the quality of ingredients, inclusion of proper nutrients, and taste. Make sure to choose food that is appropriate for growth—not adult dog food or "maintenance" formulas. The food should be healthy for your puppy, and your dog should enjoy eating it.

6. Keeping Your Puppy Healthy

Preferably, you will find a veterinarian before you get a puppy. Within a few days of taking your new puppy home, you should bring it to your vet for a general exam. Take steps to make it a good experience so your puppy will be less likely to fear the vet's office.

Throughout your puppy's first six months, you will see a lot of your vet. This begins with puppy vaccines and usually leads to spaying or neutering. Typically, puppies should be spayed or neutered at around 6 to 12 months of age to avoid certain health risks like breast tumors, pyometra, and behavioral issues, as well as certain types of cancers.

Your vet can help identify any potential health problems early on, and advise you on caring for your dog long-term. The initial visit also opens the doors to communication with you and your vet. To help keep your puppy's expenses down, you may consider purchasing pet health insurance, which could cover up to 80% of your dog's health care costs for many illnesses or injuries. Most of these plans cover some portion of their specified list of illnesses and injuries but do not cover necessary preventative care (vaccines, wellness lab work, exams, etc).

Pet insurance can be quite costly, so another option is to instead set aside a certain amount of money into a savings account dedicated to your pet's care, in place of monthly insurance payments. Alternatively, some veterinary hospitals offer pet care plans with monthly membership fees to cover preventative care options. With many of these, illness and injury fall outside of preventative care and need to be planned for separately.

7. Puppy Vaccinations

Vaccines protect your puppy and other dogs from potentially fatal illnesses. Just like human babies, puppies (and kittens) need basic immunizations to take over when maternal antibodies fade. The puppy vaccination series is one of the most important aspects of your dog's early life.

Unfortunately, pet vaccination has become controversial for those who fear vaccines in general. Due to ongoing studies about vaccine efficacy, veterinarians can use three-year vaccines more often than one-year vaccines, but the necessary level of antibodies to protect your dog depends on a well-established vaccine history. Antibody titer testing is available for some of the more common vaccines, but without proper vaccination early on, the titers will not be at safe levels for protection. However, when it comes to puppies, there is a different set of rules as the threat of vaccine-preventable diseases is extremely high for dogs. Not only may your new puppy die from these illnesses, but some of them can also be spread to humans.

Routine vaccine visits also allow your vet's office to see your puppy every few weeks and monitor its growth and overall health. This offers you the chance to discuss questions and concerns with your veterinarian and learn what health care recommendations are ideal for your puppy, including health risks like dental disease to plan for and prevent. Talk to your vet about the best immunization plan for your puppy.

8. Housetraining Your New Puppy

Housetraining is one of the first things you will teach your new puppy. This process can sometimes be quite arduous, though some puppies catch on earlier than others.

You should begin housetraining as soon as you bring your puppy home, but it takes patience. Puppies are generally not able to control their bladders and bowels until about 12 weeks of age. If your puppy is younger than this, just be patient.

Starting early can help get your puppy into a routine. As your dog grows and develops control over its bodily functions, it will know what to do. As a general rule, you should take your puppy to the designated "potty spot" immediately after eating or drinking. However, accidents happen, so be prepared, consistent, and patient. Part of the learning curve is communication: Puppies do not automatically know words, gestures, or basic commands, and they also speak in body language that may be more subtle than many people are used to. Patience and positive reinforcement are necessary to build successful communication between you and your puppy.

9. Basic Puppy Training and Socialization

Beyond housebreaking, there are many more things you will need to teach your dog. Start by working on socialization. Next, leash training will set the stage for teaching basic commands, like sit, come, and stay. Teaching various basic commands can help you curb some behavior problems.

Just remember that puppies are curious, active, and teething. They put everything in their mouths, including your hands. Work with this by replacing the inappropriate object with an acceptable toy or safe chew. Distract your dog from mischievous behavior by offering something more pleasing, like a game, walk, or other activity. Reward your puppy with treats or praise for shifting his attention.

While puppy training can be a challenge, the outcome will make your efforts worthwhile. A solid foundation of training provides structure and gives your dog confidence. Well-trained dogs are happier dogs. Well-socialized puppies are less anxious, more comfortable dogs as they get older.

10. Bonding With Your Puppy

The bond you have with your puppy begins the moment it comes into your life and never stops growing. You can nurture this bond through affection, feeding, training, grooming, playtime, general exercise, and participation in various activities. You may want to join an obedience class, start training in dog sports like agility and flyball, or participate in dog shows.

One of the kindest ways to bond with your dog and allow your dog to bond with others is to get involved with animal-assisted therapy. If your puppy is right for therapy, it can begin training to visit people in hospitals and nursing homes or help children to read and learn. Strengthening and preserving the human-canine bond benefits the health and well-being of both you and your puppy.