Things to Know Before Getting Your First Puppy

In the animal world, puppies are the most appreciated form of domestic pets. The fact they are adorable, tiny, joyful, playful, harmless and overall dog’s babies – is hard to resist. Many families adopt puppies to train them and make their house-keeper or kids watcher. Of course, some training mistakes can be present and your little pet will chew your homework and you’ll be forced to buy articles online. Puppies are adorable for sure – but they are as well time-consuming. So, make sure you are fully aware that you need to take good care when adopting one.

Getting Your First Puppy

You need to be ready when a puppy is entering your home. You should be fed them several times a day, have a walk outside for a few times and be cleaned regularly.

In case a puppy is home alone, it should be in a crate, but not for a long period of time due to their basic physiological needs. Another issue is if left alone in the house, they may make some damage to the furniture or other items. They are still young and hyperactive.

Puppies require a lot of attention. You need to start training them as early as possible and pay special attention to their development.

Prior any puppy engagement, it is recommended to make a list of pros and cons. Set you to wish to list. Do you need a small or big dog? What about the breed? In the case of bigger dogs, food and other healthcare gadgets are more expensive. Should it be an active dog or more of a calmer temperament? The dog’s hair is of extreme importance as well. For example, if their coat is shedding a lot, in some families it would not be acceptable due to the presence of the children, allergies or other medical conditions.

Inform about the local animal shelters and pet rescue groups. They may be able to help you to find the puppy you need. It is worth a try. Try to avoid flea market or other ads. In the case of their puppies, their background and health issues are not certain.

In the case of home maintenance, take care of electrical cords, lock cabinets, foods, medications, toxic chemicals, houseplants. Try to keep laundry, shoes, and other items outside their reach. The needed dog supplies are a basic four-to six-foot leash, adjustable collar with ID tags, metal or ceramic pet bowls for food and water, puppy food, simple dog bed with room to grow, dog crate with room to grow, dog toys, a brush, comb, grooming mitt.

On the first health check, make sure you take all the paperwork provided by the breeder or adoption group and discuss the vaccination schedule.

The diet should be healthy and made especially for puppies. Puppies need more protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. Homemade food needs to meet special calorie requirements.  The American College of Veterinary Nutrition recommends 990 calories daily for a 10-pound puppy expected to weigh 33 pounds at adulthood. At home, the appropriate food should contain proteins (chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef), carbohydrates (rice, pasta, potatoes), vegetables (peas, green beans, carrots), fat (vegetable oils) and vitamin and/or mineral supplement.  Incorporate the puppy into puppy training classes to aid his/her socialization process.

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