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How To Take Care of Puppies?

Puppies bring abundant joy to our lives from the moment we bring them home and caring for them comes as second nature to us. ‘How to take care of puppies’ is one of the most frequently asked questions by new puppy owners. But taking care of puppies is quite easy with the right method. IAMS is here to help you every step of the way in raising your puppy. From having a varied dog food range to providing tips on dog nutrition, we have got you covered.

Why Do Puppies Need Special Care?

Puppies need healthy food and a safe environment as they’re vulnerable to various types of illnesses and diseases. Also, puppies have a natural tendency to chew on objects, so it’s important to ensure that they don’t end up swallowing dangerous objects. Make sure you offer toys to your puppy to satisfy its need to chew.

How Does Proper Care, Nutrition And Training In The Early Years Affect Your Dog’s Health?

If you feed your puppy healthy food from the start, it will remain healthy even in its old age. Proper nutrition from the start ensures that your puppy does not fall sick or even suffer from fur loss. Making sure that your puppy remains active is very important. A sedentary lifestyle, even for dogs, is extremely harmful to their health in the long run. All these things are an essential part of taking care of your puppy that adds to its healthy and long life.

Puppy Developmental Stages:

Here is a table that will help you understand your puppy’s growth and developmental stage better:

Growth stage

0-7 weeks

7-8 weeks

8-10 weeks

8-16 weeks

4-6 months

6-12 months

12-18

months

Character traits

Puppies learn social behavior like when to bite, submission, paying attention and general interaction with other dogs.

This is the best period for puppies to bond with humans.

This is a very vulnerable stage for the puppy, and it is best if it has positive experiences during this stage. It is also called the ‘fear period’.

You can start training your puppy during this stage. And avoid incorporating punishment for this purpose.

Your puppy may appear more confident and independent during this stage.

This is the stage when your pup is high on energy. You must ensure it does not experience boredom during this stage.

By the time your pup reaches this stage, it should have reached emotional maturity as well.

You may begin training them at this stage with basic simple manners.

It is important to make your puppy feel good if it’s sad.

Ensure you get your puppy spayed or neutered by the 6^th month.

Provide many opportunities to your dog to play with different kinds of toys.

During this phase, your dog tends to assert its dominance and hope to improve its status in your house.

Tips For New Puppy Owners:

Owning a puppy feels special, doesn’t it? You have to keep a few things in mind when you bring your puppy home. Here are some tips that may help you raise your dog with ease:

You can buy supplies for your pups like stainless steel, non-tip food and water bowls.
A personalized crate that has a pillow and a blanket for your pup.
Be patient with your dog as it is learning to get acquainted with its new surroundings.
Buy premium pet food for your new friend to get off to a good start.
Buy your pup a collar and write its name and your phone number on it.

Puppy Care FAQs:

How Do I Take Care Of My First Puppy?

As a dog parent, you need to understand how to take care of your puppy. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

First and foremost, basic health – which includes freshwater, nutrition-rich food and sleep.
Ensure your puppy stays in a safe environment.
Psychological needs – which includes socializing with other dogs.

How To Keep A Newborn Puppy Healthy?

It is advisable to clean your puppy’s den or crate regularly. Getting your puppy vaccinated from time to time is also very important. Ensure you check for early signs of diseases in your pup. You can also treat your puppy with healthy snacks.

When Should I Start Training A Puppy?

You can start with basic obedience training using commands like ‘sit’, ‘lie down and ‘stay’ when your puppy is around 7 weeks old. It is also advisable to name your puppy immediately when it is bought home as this will make it attentive whenever its name is called out from an early age, and subsequently, makes it easier for you to train. Lastly, you should not get impatient when it comes to training your puppy.

What Are The First Things To Do After You Adopt A Puppy?

It is advisable to set a routine for your puppy when it is brought home. Here is what you can do:

1. Get your puppy familiarized with the designated potty area. Whenever your puppy goes there to pee or poop, praise it.

2. Settle your puppy in its crate or den. Keep all its toys and supplies there. Let your puppy get familiarized with its place. If it starts chewing the bedroll or pees on it, remove it permanently.

3. Observe what your puppy does when it goes inside its crate or den. You may also play with your puppy while it is getting acclimatized with its den.