Care for a New Puppy

A new puppy enters a home as a bundle of nervous fluff. As a helpless baby animal, your puppy relies on you for care and comfort.

  1. Vet Visits

    • Visit the vet with your new puppy in the first week you have it for a full checkup and booster vaccination schedule.

    Rough Play

    • Teach the puppy to be gentle with humans early on in life by limiting rough play and biting to prevent injury to family members.

    Potty Training

    • New puppies rarely arrive on your doorstep potty trained. Take the puppy outside to relieve itself after it wakes from sleep or naps, drinks water or plays, or if he begins sniffing around the house.

    Toys

    • Provide hard rubber chew toys to help with the teething that all puppies experience. Pick up shoes, children's toys and other items that the puppy might chew.

    Crate

    • Consider using a crate as your puppy's comfort spot when you are away from home.

    Dog beds

    • Encourage your puppy at a young age to use its own dog bed for sleeping rather than the sofa, chairs or beds.