If you don't know what to expect when it comes to feeding your puppy, here is some information about what to look forward to.
When you bring home your new puppy, he will probably need his shots right away. This includes rabies vaccine, distemper/parvovirus, bordetella, parainfluenza, adenovirus 1 & 2, leptospirosis, canine coronavirus and kennel cough vaccines. These vaccinations can cost anywhere from $10-$50 each depending on where you buy them.
Your vet may recommend other types of vaccines as well. The best way to find out which ones your pup requires is to ask your veterinarian.
Once your puppy has been vaccinated, you'll notice that he starts eating more than usual. He will eat up to four times his normal amount in one sitting. As long as he eats regularly, there shouldn't be any problems.
However, if your puppy doesn't seem hungry or isn't eating much, contact your vet immediately. There could be something wrong with your puppy.
It's not uncommon for puppies to lose their appetite after they've had all their shots. But if your puppy seems lethargic or tired, consult your vet.
After your puppy gets his initial set of shots, you'll see that he begins growing quickly.
You should start preparing food for your puppy at around six weeks old. At this age, the puppy will have started gaining weight and will begin developing teeth. You want him to get used to chewing before introducing solid foods into his diet.
The first thing you should do is make sure that your puppy's stomach is empty so that he won't choke on anything while trying to chew. Then fill a bowl with water and place it next to your puppy. If he tries to drink the water, praise him.
Next, put some dry dog food in another container. Place both items near your puppy and let him sniff them. Praise him every time he sniffs the food. Once he becomes interested in the food, give him a small piece of it. Repeat until he finishes the entire treat.
As soon as your puppy learns how to hold down pieces of food, you can move onto soft treats like rawhide chews. Again, feed your puppy only a few bites at a time. Don't worry too much about choking hazards; most dogs are able to handle these kinds of treats without trouble.
At eight weeks old, you can introduce your puppy to cooked meals. Start by giving him just a little bit of meat. Gradually increase the size of the portions over several days. Be careful not to add salt or sugar to your puppy's food because these additives might cause diarrhea.
By 12-14 weeks, your puppy should be ready to try table scraps.
There are many things you can use to stop your puppy from gnawing everything in sight. Here are five tips:
Remember, though, that even if you follow these steps, your puppy still might continue to chew. It takes patience and consistency to train a young puppy. So remember to reward good behavior and ignore bad habits.
Barking is a natural instinct for dogs. They bark to alert others of danger, protect themselves, and communicate with people nearby. However, barking often causes unwanted attention and noise complaints.
To help control your dog’s barking, consider using positive reinforcement techniques such as clicker training. Clickers allow you to teach commands simply through sound instead of physical cues. With proper instruction, you can easily turn your dog into a quiet companion who obeys simple instructions.
Clicker training involves two parts—the command, and the response. When teaching a specific command, say “sit” and then click once.
The average size of a male puppy is between 10-12 pounds while females tend to weigh less. By six months old, most dogs reach full adult weight.
As soon as your puppy reaches 6 months old, you should begin socializing him so he learns proper behavior. Socialization helps prevent future behavioral issues such as aggression towards people, barking, chewing, digging etc.
Socialization also teaches your puppy good manners. You should spend time playing games like fetch, tug o' war, hide and seek and even ball toss.
This way, your puppy becomes familiar with different toys and objects. Once your puppy knows these items, he won't try to destroy them.
Another thing you should consider doing is teaching your puppy basic commands. Commands help teach your puppy certain behaviors.
Grooming your dog involves cleaning the coat properly. Most breeds shed hair throughout the year. Some breeds shed more often than others.
To clean your dog’s fur, use a soft brush made especially for pets. Make sure that you wash your brushes frequently because dirty bristles cause irritation.
Brush your pet daily using short strokes. Don't pull too hard; instead, gently stroke the coat back and forth. Use only natural bristle brushes. Avoid synthetic materials since they irritate skin.
Use a shampoo designed specifically for dogs. Be careful not to overdo grooming because excessive brushing can damage the coat. Instead, groom your dog just before bathing her.
Bathing your dog is another part of caring for your furry friend. Before washing your dog, check its ears, eyes, nose, mouth, paws, tail, feet and genitals. Then rinse off thoroughly.
Don't bathe your dog during hot weather. Hot water dries out the coat faster. Bathe your dog in cool water. Also avoid bathing your dog when she smells bad.
Dogs usually smell better when they're dry rather than wet. Dry your dog completely before putting her outside. Afterward, apply flea powder or insect repellent to protect against insects.
Washing your dog's face is optional but recommended. Wash your dog's face twice per week. Rinse the soap off first. Next, pat the area dry with a towel.