New Puppy Guide

Your new puppy will bring you lots of joy for years to come. They will be a close companion, a playmate, and a reliable friend. However, this does not happen without some effort. You should begin to train your puppy even in these early days, so that they become a welcome addition to your family. Not unlike a baby, your puppy requires regular feeding, sleeping, playing, and training.

Please note that with this guide, we have only scratched the surface. For more complete details, there are plenty of good books available, and obedience schools have a wealth of knowledge. For further information on anything concerning your puppy, please feel free to contact us.

Regular Checkups

Your dog should have regular checkups to make sure all is well. Get your puppy used to being handled. They should accept stroking, grooming, and a thorough once-over as part of the daily routine. Once every few days, give your puppy a gentle examination. This will get them used to being handled and will also help you spot any potential problems early.

Eyes

Check your puppy's eyes for:

Redness or inflammation
A half-closed lid
Excessive watering
A yellow-green discharge or discoloration

A pup with an infected eye will rub it, so if you notice a lot of rubbing going on, have a closer look. You can prevent problems by keeping your puppy's eyes clean. Wipe around each eye gently with a piece of damp cotton wool to remove any dirt or dried discharge.

Ears

Check ears for:

Discharge
Excessive wax build-up
An unpleasant odor

Your pup will scratch their ears or shake their head violently if their ears are bothering them.

Take a look. Healthy ears are pale pink, clean looking, and odor free. If your puppy's ears are not, please consult with your local vet. Help keep your puppy's ears healthy by gently cleaning easy-to-reach areas with a damp cotton ball.

Frequent cleaning is especially important with floppy-eared dogs, which are prone to ear infections. Even if your puppy's ears seem very healthy, you should handle them frequently. That way your puppy won't object when you have to clean or medicate them later.

Teeth & Gums

Since puppies explore their environment by putting everything in their mouths, you should check the mouth frequently. At 4 to 6 months, your pet will lose their baby teeth and adult ones will come in.

Pets, like people, need regular dental care. Dental disease is one of the most common health problems in pets, yet it can be easily prevented. You should begin brushing your puppy's teeth two or three times a week to get them accustomed to the procedure.

All pets require regular dental cleaning with an ultrasonic scaler done by your veterinarian. Untreated dental disease can cause bad breath, bleeding gums, loose or rotting teeth, and tooth loss. If periodontal disease is left untreated, it can lead to secondary infections in other parts of the body.

Paws

You will know something is wrong with one of your pup's paws if they lick constantly or favor it when they walk. Examine the paw gently and make sure nothing is sticking between the pads or in the fur around the paws.

Keep your pup's paws clean. Remove grass seeds, thorns, burrs, or any foreign object you find sticking to the paws. If something has to be cut out from the fur between or around the paws, use blunt tipped scissors and be very careful not to cut the skin.

Nails

Clip your pup's nails frequently. If you can hear them clicking on the floor when they walk, it is time for a trim. If you let your pup's nails get too long, they will break and cause soreness.

Dog nail clippers are better than scissors for trimming. Hold the paw firmly and clip a little at a time.

Be careful not to cut into the quick, the sensitive flesh underneath the back of the nail. Should you accidentally cut too far and bleeding occurs, use baby powder or flour to help stop the bleeding.

Don't try and trim all the nails at one sitting. Pick a time when your puppy is tired and quiet, and trim a couple of nails only. Be sure to reward your puppy if they accept their nails being trimmed quietly.

If you have never trimmed a puppy's nails, have your local vet show you how. If you would rather leave the nail trimming to the groomer or the veterinarian, it is still important to handle your pup's feet frequently so they will allow it to be done.

House Training

Begin house training your puppy right away. If you follow crate recommendations and establish a warm cozy environment for your puppy, house training will be much easier because a dog's instinct is not to soil their bed.

Start by putting your pup on a regular feeding schedule and by making frequent trips outside. If you are feeding a good quality puppy food, you will find that the training period will be shorter because there is less waste produced with good food.

There are certain signs that you should watch for to alert you that it is time to take your puppy outside. Your puppy may walk around in circles, sit or whine at the door.

When to Take Your Puppy Out

First thing in the morning
Right after naps
After play sessions
Upon returning home to a puppy who has been left alone
Right after meals
Last thing in the evening before bed

Always stay outside with your puppy to watch and encourage them. When your puppy has finished eliminating, quietly praise and bring them back inside. They will soon connect elimination outdoors with praise and a return to the warmth of their home.

Coprophagia (stool eating) can be a normal behavior in puppies. To avoid this undesirable behavior, be sure to clean up after your puppy's bowel movements. If you also have a cat, be sure the cat's litter box is not accessible to your puppy.

Accidents will happen. Should you discover a mess, do NOT raise your voice, spank your pup, or rub their nose in it. While they will certainly cower in fear, they are too young to connect your reprimand with the accident. Simply clean up the mess and resolve to be more alert to the signs next time.