You have recently welcomed a new cute and cuddly puppy into your home. A healthy diet is essential for a long, happy life together. What things do you need to consider when selecting your puppy dog’s diet? Always talk to your vet about a proper puppy dog diet. Remember that a puppy dog’s diet is not the same as an adult dog’s diet. Avoid a trip to the grocery store to grab a bag of adult dog food to feed your pet. This will not meet the nutritional needs of a healthy puppy dog diet.

You can choose to feed your new puppy one of several options. Natural and organic puppy dog diets have become more popular in recent years. Some pet owners prefer to feed a raw diet to their puppy. Most people choose to use kibble as the main component of the puppy dog’s diet. For this reason, I will focus primarily on this choice.

As you wean the puppy, a high-quality puppy food with tiny kibble is best. A puppy dog’s diet should include all the essential vitamins to create a healthy diet for excellent growth. Feed your new puppy three or four times a day. Your puppy dog’s diet should consist of puppy food moisten with water. Do not moisten the puppy food with milk. The milk acts as a laxative in your puppy dog’s diet. The water will create a softer, more palatable cuisine for your pet.

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There are too many internal and external parasites that dogs develop to list here. They begin in the fetal life of the pup and most times, the Mom already had them when she became pregnant. After about forty days of pregnancy, the parasites will travel through the placenta to the fetus. Parasites can also be passed through the mother’s milk. Of those parasites that have infected a pup, Most are quite mobile. They can move to the intestines and lungs.

An awful internal parasite is the heartworm. Transmitted by mosquitoes, they can be fatal to your dog. Have a blood sample taken and analyzed. Even if the test is negative, the vet will probably start your pup on heartworm medicine that he will take once a month. If positive, the animal will have to hospitalized.

Roundworms can be a problem because most puppies are born with them. The larvae are transmitted from the Mom to the fetus. They are easily transmitted to humans in the dog’s stool. They can be ingested if your dog eats another animal’s stool. Wash your hands frequently after handling the puppy and remove all feces from the yard. Some people have no symptoms at all. There have been cases where the worms have migrated to the liver, brain, and eyes of humans. Your puppy should be wormed at two, four, six, and eight weeks of age.

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You need to keep a watchful eye on your pup at all times. His environment, food, and social factors can affect him in different ways. Most importantly, he can become deathly ill with some of the illnesses that befall puppies. When you need to identify a problem, be sure to include your vet in the process. He will know the appropriate action to take.

Symptoms to watch for in your new pup are diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, sneezing, lethargy, pain of any kind, no appetite, and a fever. Dogs cannot tell us what they are feeling so we have to watch for these symptoms and call the vet to see if they need to be seen. Make sure their vaccinations are all up to date. Also monitor his contact with other dogs as they may be sick and the owners may not know it.

Once you see the vet and decide on a course of action, he may decide some medicine would help the animal feel better. There are several ways to get the puppy to take the medicine whether it is liquid or tablet. Some dogs may spit it out. You have to keep trying until they get it down or call the vet and see if something else can be done.

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Puppies generally need enclosed small places to feel secure. Crating works because the pup feels safe in his own private place. Some think that crating is like placing the pup in jail. In this instance, you should never use the crate to administer punishment.

Make sure the size of the crate is comparable to the dog. It is fine to get a larger crate if the dog will grow into it. Use a partition board to keep the crate smaller until th pup grows. Make sure the animal has enough room to lie down, turn around, and stand up comfortably.

Introduce him to the crate first. Let him explore around it. He may go in or just sniff around it at first. He will slowly become at ease with the structure. Begin by placing the pup in the crate for 20 minutes at a time. If he starts to whine, you should ignore it. Placing a cover over top of the cage also helps. It makes the crate seem more confined. You can also put a toy or blanket inside with him.

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Before you bring the pup home, you will need to dogproof your home. Much like a curious child, your puppy will be into everything. You must keep a vigilant watch over what goes into your puppy’s mouth.

Poisons such as cleaners, detergents, bleach, rat poison, and mothballs need to be placed high in cabinets. If the puppy gets into these caustic substances, he can become quite sick. In some cases, the ingested poison could be fatal.

Plants can be beautiful to spruce up your home, but some are deadly to puppies. Spinach and tomato vines, Aloe Vera, Ivy, Easter Lilies, Elephant Ears, Poinsettias, Poison Ivy and Oak, and Rhododendrons are just a few of the plants that can cause problems. Apple seeds, Apricot, and Peach pits can also make the puppy ill.

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A puppy progresses almost like children do. They need to eat, sleep, and learn new things along the way. Always interact and play with your puppy to give him exercise and keep him mentally and physically fit.

The first two to three weeks are usually the hardest. The puppy will begin to move around and open his eyes. He will know his Mom and her smell.

At three to four weeks, the pup will begin to recognize you. Any kind of negative happening like immediate changes can impact his personality. So try to keep things calm during this time. Mom is beginning to teach the litter how to be a dog, so they need to stay with her now.

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Choosing the right puppy for your household is very important. Will the dog get along with kids? Will the dog get along with other animals in the household? Does the dog have a good disposition? These are some of the questions you might ask when deciding what kind of dog you want.

Are you looking for a purebred or mixed breed or just a plain old mutt? Mixed breeds can be more affordable, whereas purebred can be quite expensive. Don’t dismiss the mutt option either from the local pound. Mutts can be just as lovable, energetic, and loyal as the other breeds.

Size matters. Think about how big or small the dog is that you want. Do you have room for the pup to run and play or will it be cooped up because you don’t go outside a lot. If so, do you have a room where the pup can run free?

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Puppies can be quite active and they need exercise to keep them in good shape. Usually a brisk thirty to sixty minute walk can be quite invigorating for them. If you are unable to do this every day, ensure your yard has more than adequate space for the pup to run around in and play. You can even take the dog to the high school’s track and walk it there. Some people even train their dog to walk on the treadmill with them. This will afford both of you some great time together and good exercise too.

Evaluate your dog’s needs and formulate an exercise plan that will work for both of you. A young puppy might like to go for a run whereas an older dog may just enjoy a nice leisurely walk. Start out with puppies for about 15 minutes. Build up to an hour as they get bigger and can handle it.

If you like to walk at night, use some reflective clothing so that cars will see you on the side of the road. You can also wear light colored clothing as well.

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Housetraining takes patience and the ability to follow a schedule. Most puppies respond to a schedule because it gets them used to doing the same thing at the same time every day and they learn the behavior you want easier.
You must first determine your puppy’s limit in holding his urine. Keep a diary for several days until you spot a pattern between eating and eliminating. This minus 15-30 minutes will give you the puppy’s comfort zone. This is how long he can hold his urine after he has gone potty.
The puppy will usually have to go after they eat, drink, play or sleep. Most dogs need to be taken out upwards of three to five times a day providing they haven’t drank an excessive amount of water. The best thing to do if you take him walking is not to bring him back until he does potty. Be ready to stay outside until he does. This could take some time. If you bring him back in before he is ready, he most likely will have an accident before you can get him back outside again.
The most important thing is to lavish him with praise each and every time he does the right behavior. This reinforces it because he receives attention and a treat. If you wait and praise him later, it won’t be effective. To keep him from finding spots, close doors to rooms with carpeting or rugs, because they prefer certain area to eliminate on.
If the puppy does have an accident, use a pet odor neutralizer to prevent any odor. They sometimes will sniff around until they find the exact same spot they went the last time. Don’t use ammonia based cleaners as they break down into urea, which is a part of urine.

After you select the puppy of your dreams, you get to take him home without a manual to tell you how to succeed at raising him. The first night is always hard because the puppy will start to miss his Mom and other siblings. He may cry or whine through out the night. One can hardly blame him for his actions.

The pup will need a soft, dry, and safe place to sleep. Perhaps throw in a cloth or toy that has his litter mates or Mom’s scent on it. If you run to him when he cries, you will be reinforcing the habit. Placing a sheet over the box or crate will get the pup used to going to sleep at that time.

Puppies are mischievous by nature, and like their feline companions, get into everything. Be sure hazardous items like marbles, wires, rocks, and any type of harmful plants are far out of the puppy’s way.

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