Tips for New Puppy Owners

Pre-Puppy

• Before you bring your puppy home, you will need to puppy-proof your house. Put away electrical cords your puppy is likely to chew. Put away expensive furniture, rugs and other items. For the first few weeks the puppy will investigate most everything with his/her teeth. You may want to consider restricting your puppy from certain areas of the house until he/she is trained. This can be done using baby gates or by closing doors.

Veterinary Care

• Your puppy will need to be seen by a veterinarian right away. The veterinarian will give the puppy his next set of vaccinations and schedule additional sets until he is fully vaccinated. It is important that you not take your puppy to pet stores, dog parks or other areas frequented by lots of dogs until he/she has received all of his/her vaccinations. To do otherwise risks your pet becoming infected with a disease.

  During your puppy's checkup, your veterinarian will likely test a fecal sample to determine if your dog has parasites. If he/she does, the veterinarian will send you home with deworming medication. The veterinarian will also discuss tick and flea control with you as well as heartworm prevention.

  This is also the time to schedule your pet's spay/neuter surgery. These surgeries are being performed on much younger pets. Younger pets recover more quickly and you don't risk your pet becoming pregnant or developing behavioral issues by waiting to long to have the procedure done.

House Training

• House training works best if you keep your puppy on a schedule. His/her meals, exercise, rest and play should be at the same time each day. You should take your puppy outside a few minutes after he/she eats, when he/shewakes from a nap and every two to three hours, as your schedule permits, in the beginning. Don't punish him/her if he/she has an accident indoors. However, do praise him/her when he/she does his/her business outside.

  Many dog guardians find that training puppies to ring a bell when they need to go out works wells. Hang a jingle bell in an area where the puppy can reach it to shake it. Each time the puppy goes out, ring the bell. It won't be long before he'll/she'll be ringing it to let you know it's time.

Socialization

• Puppies have a period of time during which they can be socialized; this generally lasts until they are about three months of age. Dogs can be socialized after that age but it is more difficult. Ensure that your puppy meets men, women, children, other dogs (who are properly vaccinated) and cats during these critical weeks. Make sure the puppy meets new people and animals in his own home and in other locations.

  Take the puppy for rides in your car. Get him/her accustomed to grooming activities, such as having his/her teeth brushed, getting a bath, having his/her nails clipped, having his/her ears cleaned and being brushed. Begin introducing him/her to wearing a collar and walking on a leash.

Obedience Training

• You should begin immediately upon adopting your puppy to teach him/her skills such as sitting for a treat, walking on a leash and coming when called.

  Formal obedience classes for puppies don't usually begin until the dog is three to four months old. Part of this is due to waiting until the puppy has completed his/her course of vaccinations and is protected against parvovirus, distemper and other diseases. Part of the reason is that puppies are babies and have short attention spans. It is not until they become juveniles that they are ready to start concentrating on learning additional skills.

  However, when your puppy is ready, do enroll him/her in obedience training. Such courses teach your dog (and you) needed skills, build your dog's (and your) confidence and help you and your new pet to cement your bond.