Puppy Care Instructions

Health

• 1

  Keep your puppy parasite free. Parasites are a common problem; ticks, fleas, heart worms and intestinal worms are the main offenders, say Frontline Plus veterinarians. Your vet has medications to prevent and eliminate these parasites.

• 2

  Apply topical and oral medications to prevent and treat flea and tick infestations. Apply medicines weekly or daily as the vet recommends, advises Pet Place. There are some modern parasite prevention medications in pill form that you can give the puppy once a month.

• 3

  Remove ticks with tweezers or a tick removal instrument, advise staff at the Acarology Laboratory at Ohio State University. Do not touch the tick since it can transmit disease. Use a tissue or paper towel to protect your fingers. Wear gloves when removing a tick.

• 4

  Start heart worm prevention medication when the pup is about four months old. For dogs at risk of infection -- those living in warmer climates or spending a lot of time outside -- veterinarians strongly recommend a monthly oral preventative. Because mosquitoes transmit heartworms, the risk of heartworm infection is higher during summer, according to Pet Care.

• 5

  Prevent contagious disease by taking your puppy to the vet for vaccinations. Vaccines are available to help reduce your puppy's risk of acquiring diseases such as distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, kennel cough and rabies.

• 6

  Start with a puppy's vaccinations at six to eight weeks and then vaccinate every three to four weeks until the pup reaches 16-20 weeks of age. After that, the vet will give yearly boosters.

• 7

  Deworm your puppy. Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, coccidia and giardia are common intestinal parasites and puppies are often born with roundworms. After reaching adulthood, your dog should have an annual fecal exam. Monthly pill medications are available to prevent these parasites from developing.

Nutrition

• 8

  Feed high-quality puppy food to your pet to ensure it starts life on a healthy, nutritious diet. Food can be store-bought -- dry or wet -- or homemade. The food must include water, carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals. Commercial food lists the ingredients on the label.

• 9

  Stick to a food that your puppy likes. Unlike people, dogs are happy to eat the same thing every day. You just have to give them a nutritious meal. Puppies have small tummies, so those younger than three months need three to five small meals a day.

• 10

  Do not leave uneaten wet food in the bowl. If the dog doesn't finish the food within 10 minutes, remove it and throw it away. Give your puppy fresh, clean water every day and make sure it's available throughout the day.

• 11

  Don't overfeed your puppy. According to dog experts at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Ohio State University, you should feed your puppy the amount necessary to maintain a BCS (Body Condition Score) of 2 during the growth period. You can calculate the specific number of calories to feed your puppy compared to its BCS. The BCS is a 1-to-5 scale -- overly thin scores as 1 and obese scores as 5.

Training

• 12

  Keep your puppy's training sessions short and simple, particularly in the first few weeks.

• 13

  Give one command at a time and reward your puppy as soon as it complies with your request. You don't want to confuse your puppy by barking out too many orders at once.

• 14

  Be consistent and patient and don't get angry when your puppy doesn't do what you want straight away. Keep your commands clear.

• 15

  Always call your puppy to you to give affection. End each training session on a positive note so the puppy will learn to think of training as something pleasant.

Exercise

• 16

  Put an exercise routine in place early and get out with your puppy at least a few times a week, if only for a short walk. Some breeds, such as Jack Russell terriers, need more exercise than others.

• 17

  Get your puppy used to wearing a collar and leash early. Attach the leash to its collar and let it walk around the house wearing it for a while before going out for your first walk together.

• 18

  Play games indoors, especially if opportunities for outside exercise are limited. Hide your pet's favorite toy and have it find it somewhere in the house. Stimulate its mind by talking with it throughout the day.

• 19

  Train your puppy to walk on a treadmill. Health Guidance for Better Health reports that treadmill walking has become a popular form of indoor training for dogs. But start slowly and be careful. Never leave your puppy unattended on a treadmill.

Grooming

• 20

  Teach your puppy to sit, stand, or lie down so you can examine its body and comb its fur. Good grooming habits should be installed as soon after your puppy's arrival in its new home.

• 21

  Use a wire slicker brush and a comb that has fine and coarse teeth on long-haired dogs, says "Dog Owner's Guide: A Grooming Primer." Brushes for medium- or short-coated dogs should include a slicker brush or flexible-pin brush. Brush bony pups with a soft brush or one with blunt bristles.

• 22

  Groom your puppy's face with a nubby glove or coarse rag. The glove will stimulate the skin and condition the coat.

• 23

  Do not bathe your puppy too often as this can dry the natural oils in canine skin and lead to constant scratching, which in turn leads to bacterial infections and oozing hot spots. A monthly bath with a high-quality dog shampoo is adequate.

Potty Training

• 24

  Start training your puppy as soon as it arrives home and with patience, encouragement and consistency, you will be successful.

• 25

  Choose an area outside where you would your puppy to relieve itself and take it there every hour during the day, especially right after it wakes up or eats. Puppies, particularly those under 12 weeks, need to urinate often, according to "Complete Guide to Responsible Dog Ownership."

• 26

  Circle around the designated area while using a cue phrase, such as "go potty." Repeat, praise and reward the puppy with a treat immediately after it complies with your request.