New Puppy Tips & Checklist : Getting Ready for Your Puppy
Adopting a new puppy or dog is a huge commitment in life and will be start of a loving and caring journey with your new pet. Dogs are a human’s best friend and their loyalty, care and protective nature will quickly become the foundation of a new family member. Assuming responsibility for a new pet is a basic requirement when taking this step into the dog keeping world, learning and dedicating time to knowledge building is an important part to successfully welcoming and homing your new friend. To help you understand and kickstart your dog caring journey, we have produced an essential overview to welcome your new pup.
- Essential items list
- Diet Care
- Health Care
- Behavioural training
- Mental Health
Essential items list
To get a head start on the basics of dog keeping you will need to think about facilitating the lifestyle a dog which includes exercise, eating, sleeping and keeping healthy. These essential items will help any new dog owner hit the ground running:
Dog leash: Dogs need exercise and staying safe in the outdoors is important. Supervising walks is a must and a leash will prevent a dog from straying into traffic or other dangerous situations.
Two dog bowls: Feeding your pup in a clean and appropriately sized space is important. Providing food and water in large enough bowls will make feeding times enjoyable without mess.
Dog bed: Dogs and puppies will need a comfortable and warm space to rest. Choosing an appropriately sized bed will let your pet rest and reenergize.
Dry Dog food: Canine Dietary requirements are important to consider. Depending on breed and age, several food choices will be available to choose from. Puppies younger than 6 months will need a special mix to get their fill of nutrients to grow healthily. Softening fried food variants will help ingesting as they go through the teething process. After around 6 months it will be time to transition to adult dog food to regulate nutrition.
Dog Shampoo: Keeping clean and healthy is important when owning a dog, especially those that have roamed the outdoors. Small to medium-sized dogs are advised to take a weekly bath while larger breeds can be washed bi-weekly. Specialized dog shampoo will keep your pup clean and looking fabulous without irritating or drying out the skin.
External deworming: Living a comfortable life is important and getting rid of fleas, worms, mites and various other parasites is a priority. Procuring the right deworming drops and other external items will help keep your puppy healthy along with everybody else in the household. Hygiene standards are to be kept high to promote sanitary living, especially in spaces of defecation and resting, avoid using toxic products.
Internal deworming: Internal parasites are not easily noticed but are common and require treatment. Dogs are exposed to internal parasites through their daily activities, whether it’s playing with toys or contact with other dogs, there is a risk of infection. Getting a prescribed Anthelmintic drug and administering the correct dosage will help cleanse the body of harmful parasites.
Diet Care
Knowing what your dog can and cannot eat is a basic part of fulling the canine dietary requirements. Feeding safe and nutritious food will help to ensure healthy growth and avoid long term malnutrition problems.
Food
Dry dog food is a staple part of a diet as their recipes are designed to incorporate nutrients that are not typically found in human meals. Dogs cannot consume the same foods as humans due to several incompatible contents such as high salt and oils. A dog’s digestive system is sensitive, any harmful food will soon to deterioration of fur and health quality.
Maintaining a ratio of fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals and trace elements in dog foods is manageable with modern pet food supplies. All the necessary nutrients for a healthy dog are provided in most quality brands. Quality dog foods will usually contain a higher source of unsaturated fatty acids and enzymes to promote better digestion and fur quality. Investing in a highly nutritious diet will have great benefits long-term as it will contribute to bone strength, body structure and fur quality, making your pup stand out from the crowd.
Gastrointestinal (GI) motility is the process of food ingestion and digestion. Having a healthy GI tract is important to allow breakdown and absorption of nutrients. Good foods will have enough ash and crude fiber to promote GI health, producing stools that are smooth without risk of causing gland inflammation.
Dog foods are dry and without moisture content and hydration will need to come from other sources. During hot summer weather it’s best to monitor a dog’s drinking habits to ensure enough water is being consumed. Supplying fresh and clean drinking water with access on demand will help promote drinking. Consider using a dog water dispenser or water fountain for an easy and attractive way to encourage your dog to drink.
Health Care
Before taking your puppy home, a visit to the vet for a physical examination is in order. Getting checked for canine distemper and parvovirus and other abnormal will determine if all is well. After a week, a follow up visit will be required for vaccination if no health problems were present. Your vet will explain the vaccination procedure, the puppy should be kept warm and preferably without a bath during this period to avoid catching a cold.
Getting some time in the sunshine is beneficial for a dog’s health. Basking in warm sunlight promotes blood circulation and increases metabolism. Natural sunlight induces the production of Vitamin D in the body and thus prevent bone diseases such as rickets. Taking your dog out during sunny spells will help to ensure that enough exposure in the sun is received for a healthier lifestyle.
Let your dog rest well. It is possible to overplay with them, if they display signs of fatigue it is time to let them enjoy some relaxation. A dog who wants to sleep should be left to do so in peace and quiet. Dogs will respond energetically when it’s time to play and there will be plenty opportunity to do so.
Dogs need around 12-14 hours of sleep a day and their activity schedules vary greatly from humans. If your dog is sleeping for most of the day, this is normal and they should be left to wake when their body chooses. Young pups may wake up at irregular times but as they mature, a normal sleeping pattern will emerge and they should sleep through the night.
Behavioral training
Puppies are the juveniles of the dog world and will behave as young children would, curious and energetic. They will run around, bite toys and bark with joy throughout the day. In some cases, a puppy will find their experience in moving to a new home a little scary. Signs of anxiety and feelings of unease are common due to separation from their peers. It will take time for them to adjust to their new environment, care and attention will help them settle into life in their new home.
New dog owners will need to familiarize and implement ground rules when raising a puppy. Without an understanding of appropriate dog behavior, a number of issues can arise including pooping all around the house, biting of furniture and general chaos in the house that can be heard all around.
As such, it’s very important to train your puppy. Puppies need to be carried to their fixed-point of defecation, learning where it’s acceptable to poop and urinate. There are several training exercises to go through as your pup matures including walking, calling, body touch desensitization, food, socializing and much more. Training will build a bond of trust and love between owner and dog.
Mental health
Dogs are emotional creatures that require your company to avoid feeling lonely and abandoned. They will always want to stay by their owner’s side, aside from when they wish to eat and sleep. Toys can keep a dog busy but direct interaction between you and your pup will always be best. Every dog has a unique personality and you will learn about their traits and habits as you spend time with them.
Dogs can feel many emotions, much like humans, they can also feel jealousy. Dogs may display signs of jealous as they strive to be the top dog in your life out of love and respect. It’s important to give a dog the attention they deserve and be aware of any factors that may be influencing feelings of insecurity. Common causes are new puppies, new-born babies or even partners coming into the household. Making a dog feel loved and involved is the best way to avoid jealousy in any new situation.