Caring For Your New Puppy

Bringing home a new puppy is a joyful occasion. These wriggling, excited bun-
dles of fur offer us immeasurable joy. Having a puppy is also a big responsibili-
ty.

As pet parents, its our job to make sure puppy stays clean, healthy, and well
looked after. This means feeding puppy properly, getting them the required vac-
cinations, making sure they get regular veterinary and dental care, and watching
for the sometimes subtle signs that may indicate they might not be in tip top
health.
By: Lauren Leonardi

2 FIRST TIME DOG OWNERS

MAKING SURE YOUR PUPPY PUPPY GROOMING FOR
IS HEALTHY BEGINNERS
Proper nutrition, paired with regular exer- Some puppies will require a minimum of
cise, is probably the most important thing grooming care - occasional baths or trim-
you can do to keep your dog healthy. Pup- ming of the dewclaw, for example. Other
pies may be inclined to hide it if theyre dogs - like fluffier or long-haired breeds, or
not feeling well. Their ancient instincts breeds whose eyes are moist or whose fur
tell them they might get booted from the tends to matt - may require more attention
pack if theyre perceived to be weak. As to their physique.
thoughtful pet caregivers, we need to
know what to watch for, and how to take
preventative measures
against illness in the 7 TRICKS TO
first place As pet parents, HOUSETRAINING
. its our job to make A PUPPY
PUPPY sure puppy stays Keeping pup well fed
VACCINATIONS and well looked after ar-
Vaccinations are one clean, healthy, and well ent the only concerns.
There are rules that
such preventative looked after. will need to be agreed
measure. Over the
course of the first year, upon, first and fore-
your puppy will get vaccinations to protect most: please dont pee on the rug. As with
them from rabies, distemper, parvo, hepa- all puppy-training, the key ingredients for
titis, and other diseases depending on the success are consistency, follow through,
breed, the region of the country you live and patience. Find a method that works
in, and other risk factors specific to your for the whole family, and stick with it.
dog. After the first year, your dog will re-
quire booster immunizations or titer tests HOW TO TRAIN A PUPPY
to determine if boosters are needed. Where and when to use the bathroom
arent the only training concerns pet par-
THE PROPER NUTRITION FOR ents will have. New pet parents will have
to decide what a new pets limits and rules
FEEDING A PUPPY
are. Then its up to you to effectively com-
Giving your puppy the correct balance of
municate the rules in a calm, clear, and
proteins, vitamins, and other nutrients they
consistent way. Whats more, training can
need will help ward off everything from
keep your dogs mind occupied and en-
gum disease to allergies. Keeping your
gaged, and thwart destructive behaviors.
puppy at their appropriate weight will help
prevent debilitating joint and bone prob-
lems and ensure a long and active life.
FIRST TIME DOG OWNERS 3
 16 Important Things To Know About
Getting A Puppy
By: Anna OBrien
1. You will need to all times. In many counties, dogs a far greater chance
puppy-proof your house. the cost of the license goes of being returned home.
This means tucking electri- back to the local animal The chip gets inserted
cal cords out of sight, keep- shelter, so your money with a needle under your
ing shoes and other items helps provide homes and puppys skin between their
off the floor, placing the services for other pets in shoulder blades and can be
trash can in an out-of-reach need. read by a special scanner
area, and keeping all small so that veterinarians and
items like hair ties, rubber animal shelters across the
bands, bobby pins, loose U.S. can scan stray ani-
change, yarn and dental mals that are brought in.
floss, jewelry, and even
socks away from the edg- 4. Your puppy needs to
es of tables or counters. go to the vet and get
Its also a good idea to vaccines.
keep the bathroom door Like, by law.
closed and off-limits to Youre going to be spend-
your puppy. Puppy gates ing a lot of time with your
are an easy way to sec- veterinarian, at least for
tion off areas of your the first six months of your
home. puppys life. So take time
picking your vet; find some-
2. Youll need a one you (and your puppy)
license for your 3. Your puppy needs ID. click with.
puppy. One of the first purchases The legal minimum for pup-
Most states have some for your new puppy should py vaccine requirements
version of leash laws and be a well-fitted collar with a in most states is a rabies
license laws. Check with tag that includes their name vaccine, usually given at 12
your local authorities for and your contact infor- weeks old. This also comes
what you need in order mation. And a permanent with a rabies tag (for your
to legally keep your pup- microchip is also a great in- puppys collar) and a certif-
py. Most dog licenses are vestment. The chip is cod- icate for your records. After
reasonably priced, need to ed with a unique number the first year, your dog will
be renewed annually, and that is linked to your pup- need a booster every three
come with a tag that should pys name and your contact years.
be on your dogs collar at information, and gives lost But there are lots of other

4 FIRST TIME DOG OWNERS

(easily preventable) con- cal products that protect can provide to treat com-
tagious diseases, like par- against fleas, ticks, and mon gastrointestinal para-
vovirus, distemper, influen- heartworm disease. Talk sites in dogs.
za, and kennel cough, that with your veterinarian about
are deadly for your pup, which preventative prod- 7. You should get your
and they should be vacci- uct is best for your pet and puppy spayed or
nated for those too. Most then set a monthly remind- neutered.
puppies can get their first er on your calendar or Bob Barker is right: Most
set of shots around six to phone to administer it. veterinarians recommend
eight weeks of age and will spaying your female pup-
need boosters every three 6. Theres a chance your py or neutering your male
weeks until 16 weeks. Talk puppy might have puppy between four and six
to your veterinarian about parasites. months old.
which vaccines are right for Internal parasites such We change animals when
your pet. as tapeworms and round- we spay and castrate
worms are common in the them, both in good and bad
5. Your puppy also needs intestinal tract of young ways, says Dr. Margaret
protection from fleas, puppies. These worms, Root, professor of repro-
ticks, and mosquitoes. often transmitted from the ductive veterinary medicine
All of those pests can environment and from the and assistant dean of ed-
cause some serious health puppys mother, can cause ucation at the University
issues for your puppy. diarrhea and weight loss, of Minnesota College of
A severe flea infestation as well as irritation and Veterinary Medicine. And
can cause blood loss and inflammation to the lining some recent studies have
weakness. Fleas also of your puppys digestive shown that spayed and
transmit tapeworms, which tract. Hookworms are par- neutered animals can be
cause gastrointestinal is- ticularly vicious, as they at higher risk of develop-
sues and weight loss. Ticks hook onto the wall of the ing other forms of cancers
are even nastier, since cer- intestine and suck blood when compared to their
tain species can transmit from the tissue, resulting sexually active compatriots.
diseases like Lyme dis- in sometimes severe blood But the proven benefits
ease and Rocky Mountain loss in young animals. of the procedure, in gen-
spotted fever. Mosquitoes As gross as this all is, take eral, outweigh owning an
transmit heartworm disease heart: Diagnosing intesti- intact animal. Intact pets
in dogs, a potentially lethal nal parasitism is as easy are more likely to roam and
parasite that sets up res- as delivering a fresh poop get into fights, not to men-
idence in your pets heart sample to your vet. There tion the issue of unwanted
and pulmonary arteries. are numerous safe and litters of puppies which
The good news is that effective deworming medi- matters, given that the AS-
there are very good oral cations (called anthelmint- PCA estimates 1.2 million
medications and topi- ics) that your veterinarian unwanted dogs are euth-

FIRST TIME DOG OWNERS 5

anized each year in U.S. old. To make sure they hikes, jogs, or agility train-
animal shelters. dont catch anything from ing until theyre at least a
Additionally, a neutered dog their new friends, your pet year old. Relaxed, natural
wont get testicular cancer should have had at least movement and play out-
because, well, he doesnt one set of vaccination side, however, is fine at any
have any, and spaying your boosters seven days before age.
female puppy prevents her the first class.
from developing potential- 11. Patience and
ly life-threatening uterine 9. Keeping your puppy consistency are the keys
infections. entertained will keep to house-training.
them out of trouble. One of the biggest chal-
8. Your puppy needs a Its probably an amend- lenges of owning a puppy
social life. ment to Murphys Law that is training them not to use
Not to psych you out, but a bored puppy will cause your kitchen rug as their
you can really influence destruction. Of course, they latrine. Routine trips out-
your puppys emotional wont mean to destroy, but side are key to help them
development at a young since their means of ex- form the connection that
age. The period roughly ploring the universe are to outdoors is the right place
between three to 12 weeks taste everything, this may to relieve themselves. Key
of age is called a puppys involve chewing on your times to take the puppy
socialization period. This is couch or your mother-in- outside for a bathroom
the time to show your pup- laws vintage leather hand- break are right after meals,
py the world take them bag. Therefore, keep your in the morning, and right
into stores, to parks, for car puppy busy. This includes before bed. And about 45
rides, and let them meet lots of outside exercise as times in between.
other dogs and people. well as providing the right In all seriousness, every
Also, this is a great excuse toys. Sturdy chew toys two hours for the first few
to host one of the cutest like a Kong or thick rope weeks is a good guideline.
things in the world: a puppy are great for busy puppy Obviously, the time be-
party. mouths. tween breaks will increase
Puppy socialization class- as your puppy gets older,
es are helpful for making 10. But its important not their bladder gets bigger,
sure your puppy is getting to give your puppy too and they start to learn how
the right kind of (controlled) MUCH exercise. to let you know when they
pup-on-pup interaction. For some larger breeds, need to go.
According to the American it can take up to a year of
Veterinary Society of An- age before their joints and 12. Its important for your
imal Behavior, generally, bones are fully developed. puppy to get the right
puppies can start social- So take into account your food and to eat often
ization classes at as early pups breed and size, and enough.
as seven to eight weeks dont force them on long Puppies grow fast. And just

6 FIRST TIME DOG OWNERS

like children, they need
properly balanced nutrients
in order to foster healthy
growth and development.
Most brand-name commer-
cial puppy foods are solid
choices. A general rule of
thumb is to feed your pup-
py three meals a day until
three months old. Between
three and six months, you
can decrease meals to
twice daily.
And while youre sure to be
giving treats to your little
one frequently (because
youre training, right?),
make sure the treats are
very small amounts of food
and are safe for your pup-
py. Feeding human food
and table scraps is a habit
thats better never start-
ed. If you start giving your
puppy treats from the table
when theyre little, its very
hard to discourage a full-
grown dog from begging at
every meal.
man medications like anti- man toothpaste is off-lim-
depressants and cold med- its due to the high levels
icines can also be trouble, of fluoride, but there are
so keep them well out of plenty of pet-friendly tooth-
reach, and never give your pastes (and toothbrushes)
pup any medications or out there.
supplements unless spe-
cifically directed to by your 15. Your puppy should go
veterinarian. to school.
Puppy training classes
14. Puppies teeth need are designed for puppies
brushing, too. around eight to twelve
Dental care is super import- weeks old, and allow them
ant in domestic dogs. And to socialize and begin
while your puppy shouldnt learning basic commands
be building up plaque just like sit and down, and
yet, now is a great time to to walk on a leash. Puppy
get them used to a tooth- classes are great for own-
brush. Regular brushing ers, too, since youll be the
(every week or so) should one interacting with your
be a part of your puppy pet- pet. These classes help
care routine that will carry both pet and owner learn
on into their adult life. Hu- basic commands and con-

13. You need to know

your puppy poisons.
Common foods we enjoy
on a daily basis are actually
toxic to dogs. Chocolate,
grapes, raisins, onions,
coffee grounds, garlic, and
sugar-free food containing
xylitol are some of the most
common toxic foods for
dogs from the table. Hu-

FIRST TIME DOG OWNERS 7

sistency with training. the surgery can be done at
Ask your vet for recommen- the same time as a spay or
dations for a good local a neuter.
puppy class; some clinics The more you know about
even hold their own. If you your breed, the better youll
find a class on your own, be able to watch for warn-
ask for references before ing signs of a specific prob-
signing up. lem and maybe even be
able to prevent it.
16. Special breeds have
special needs.
If you have a purebred
puppy, get familiar with the
breeds history and traits,
because some breeds are
known for specific health
problems. For example,
giant-breed dogs such as
Great Danes and Irish wolf-
hounds are prone to bone
cancer and joint problems,
whereas Cavalier King
Charles spaniels are known
for heart issues.
Large-breed dogs with
narrow, deep chests, such
as Weimaraners, setters,
and Doberman pinschers,
are more prone to a serious
condition called gastric dil-
atation and volvulus (GDV), They might only be
which is the bloating and
twisting of the stomach. here for a part of your
And If you own a breed
that is predisposed to GDV, life but for them, you
your veterinarian may rec-
ommend a prophylactic are their whole life.
surgical procedure to tack
the stomach in place to
prevent this condition; this
is called a gastropexy, and

8 FIRST TIME DOG OWNERS