How Much Care Does a Puppy Require?

To have the best chance of a healthy life, your puppy should never be left alone for too long and needs general care and handling on a regular basis. Several other important points should be considered, too.

  1. Veterinary Care

    • Your puppy should have a physical examination by a veterinarian and start treatment against worms at a young age. Worming treatments become less frequent when the puppy reaches 6 months old. It also should receive vaccinations to protect against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus and parainfluenza. The veterinarian can offer advice on other illnesses to which your puppy's breed might be susceptible.

    Exercise and Socialization

    • Regular exercise keeps a puppy fit, healthy and entertained. An 8-week-old puppy that had its first vaccines is ready to go outside. Walks should take place several times per day. Training and socialization goes hand in hand with an exercise routine. A trained puppy responds to commands and behaves well, while socialization gets your puppy used to other dogs and everyday sights and sounds.

    Diet

    • Dogs' nutritional requirements depend on their age. Your puppy should eat good-quality dog food specifically designed for puppies; protein intake and calcium intake are particularly important. Treats should be a small part of your puppy's diet, though products to help healthy teeth are useful. A veterinarian can advise you about the human foods that might make your puppy ill, such as chocolate.