Thursday, February 11, 2021

You Got a Puppy Over the Holidays? Now What?

Photo by Hannah Grace on Unsplash
"New Puppy!"

Did you get a new puppy over the holidays? If the answer is yes, congratulations! Puppies can bring a great deal of joy and happiness to you and your family, but they also require a lot of training and responsibility. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what you need to do now that the puppy is home, worry not. We’re here to break down some of the things you need in your home and some of the things you should do in order to keep your new furry friend happy and healthy. 

What Items Do You Need?
With any new puppy, there are several items and products you’re going to want to get as soon as possible. These products will help keep your puppy healthy, safe, and aid in training them to behave properly in your home.

  • A properly sized crate (not too small but a crate that is too large can also cause issues)

  • Pet food appropriate for a puppy’s nutritional needs (talk to your veterinarian to get an expert opinion)

  • Food and water bowls (stainless steel is preferable)

  • Collar and leash

  • Grooming supplies appropriate for your puppies specific breed (brushes, shampoo, toothbrush, nail clippers, etc.)

  • Treats
  • Chew toys

  • ID Tags

Health and Well-Being
One of the most important things you need to do with a new puppy is assess their health through a routine physical exam. There are also several standard procedures you should have done to ensure the puppies health and happiness.

  • Spay/Neuter - Assuming you want to avoid being responsible for a litter of puppies, spaying and neutering is a crucial procedure you should have done after your puppy is 4 months of age. Spaying and neutering has also been proven to drastically decrease breast cancer, prostate cancer, and uterine infections.

  • Immunizations - Immunizations should ideally be administered beginning at 6 to 8 weeks of age. These routine vaccinations protect dogs from many potentially fatal diseases.
  • Deworming - Intestinal parasites spring up pretty often in puppies and they can be infected with them before they are even born. There are many great deworming products that are safe and effective against some of the most common types of worms.

If you adopted from a shelter, sometimes these health considerations have already been taken care of. If so, lucky you! If not, it is crucial that you make these health and wellness considerations a priority.

Training & Socialization
We mentioned that one of the items you are going to need for your puppy is an appropriately sized crate and that is because crate training is one of the most effective techniques when house training a dog. To humans, a crate can have a negative connotation, but it is much different for dogs. An appropriately sized crate provides a space of comfort & security where they can relax, but it is important you don’t use the crate as punishment or negative reinforcement for behavior you don’t like. Dogs will also avoid going to the bathroom where they eat and sleep so crate training is helpful for potty training a puppy as well.

Dogs that are only a few months old can begin learning commands such as sit and stay, but when they are that young they have short attention spans so training sessions should be brief. Also dogs respond better and learn more when you reinforce positive behavior as opposed to using negative reinforcement. Treats are one of the best ways to reinforce positive behavior. If you want to be sure your dog is being trained right, consider reaching out to an experienced dog trainer in your area.

The early development period for a puppy is a critical period when it comes to socialization and ensuring a healthy relationship with people and other animals. The first few months are very important and you should introduce them to as many people and situations as possible in that time frame. Also, going on walks and getting them acquainted with a leash and collar should be done at an early age.

Enjoy Your Puppy!

Owning a dog can be a big responsibility, but there is a reason so many people choose to bring a four legged friend into their homes. Dogs are extremely loving animals and forming a close bond with them can be one of the most rewarding experiences in the world. Make the effort and you and your dog will enjoy many wonderful years together!

Author Bio: Michael’s Pack The professional dog trainers at Michael’s Pack, including owner and head trainer Michael Schaier, provide private in-home dog training in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Our training is based on positive reinforcement, behavior modification, and holistic methods. We strongly believe that “Communication is Key” and that the training process should strengthen the relationship between you and your pet by building mutual respect and trust.

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