How to care for a puppy

The right diet is essential

One of a puppy’s favorite things is food. But it is up to you to choose a balanced, high-quality food and to provide the right amount. Keeping a puppy’s bowl full all day is not a good idea. Many pups can't control themselves and will eat whenever food is available. Therefore, feed your puppy several times a day, following the recommended amounts to avoid overfeeding. Try to keep your puppy at the right weight to avoid overloading its musculoskeletal system with extra pounds, which can affect its health and quality of life.

 

Although sometimes it's hard to resist the puppy eyes, don’t give your dog food from your table. A puppy should not be begging for food, and exceptions to its diet should be healthy and controlled. Remember that various dog treats and human foods can interfere with its digestion and lead to unwanted habits.

 

Treats can be a useful tool in education and training. However, the key is to only use the good ones and treat your dog in moderation. If you’re enthusiastic about training but don’t want to use two packs of treats a day, you can easily use a portion of your puppy’s daily allowance of food as a reward. The puppy gets a treat and its health stays intact. 

Training and social development from day one

When you bring a puppy into your home, you begin the process of raising and socializing that puppy. So keep in mind that you are starting to set boundaries on your first day. There is a hierarchy in dog packs, and puppies are already accustomed to a certain set of rules from their parents, though they do not realize it. Therefore, you can teach the dog basic commands from the beginning. But beware – puppies are like little babies who do not immediately understand everything. Do not punish them for mistakes. Approach training lovingly and be patient. 

 

If your little companion is going to be raised by the whole family, everyone should communicate with the puppy consistently, using the same commands and enforcing the same boundaries. So, for example, a dog isn’t allowed to get up on the couch, whether it is dad or grandma who is at home. Consistency in commands and boundaries helps the puppy understand what is expected of it. 

As far as the training itself is concerned, there are various approaches that can be taught to you, for example, by dog trainers. However, each dog owner must find the method that best suits their puppy and lifestyle. It's up to you which way to go. 

 

When training your dog, remember to balance physical activity with rest. It is not a good idea to overwork a puppy. Its developing skeleton can be stressed, and a disruptive environment can overstimulate the puppy, leading to mental exhaustion as well. Pay attention to your puppy’s behavior. Give it a chance to relax when you can tell that it’s had enough.

 

Find a veterinarian

A veterinarian will monitor that your puppy is thriving as it should and has had all the necessary vaccinations. We recommend using a veterinarian with whom you’ve had positive experiences or who has good reviews, and whom you will visit regularly with your dog. During the first year of your dog's life you will visit the vet frequently; after that a yearly check-up is sufficient unless an acute need arises. You’ll receive your puppy from us when it is two months old. It will already be vaccinated and dewormed. You will take the puppy to your vet for a rabies booster and DHPPi vaccine. The date of the next vaccination can be found in the pet passport (this is the dog version of the vaccination certificate), which you will receive with your dog. 

In addition to mandatory vaccinations, your veterinarian will also offer other vaccines, such as for borreliosis, canine infectious respiratory disease complex (kennel cough) or tetanus. Don’t hesitate to consult with your veterinarian regarding further care. 

 

Life with a dog raises many other issues that we will cover in the following articles. However, your main goal should not be complete knowledge of all the information, but a harmonious life with your furry partner. So what you need most is love. And puppies have an unlimited supply of that.