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Being Prepared
The first step to adding a new puppy to your home is purchasing basic supplies
– Collars
– Leads
– Bowls
– Brushes
– Combs
– Nail clippers
The collar and lead should both be lightweight and durable. Remember, your puppy will most likely chew on them at first, so they need to be able to withstand this abuse. The bowls you select also need to be heavy and have a wide base in order to prevent them from being knocked over and making a mess.
The brushes and combs you select should be appropriate for your puppy’s size and fur. Remember, you will most likely need to buy new brushes and combs are your puppy gets larger. You also might need different ones in the winter when its hair is thicker. Be sure to start a regular brushing routine right away in order to prevent problems with brushing in the future.
Your nail clippers also might need to change if you chose to purchase small ones to use on your puppy, particularly if it will grow into a large dog. It is, however, okay to use larger nail clippers on a puppy so you do not need to buy a new pair down the road.
Giving Your Puppy a Bed
You also want to make your puppy feel welcome by providing it with a bed and a place of its own. Remember, the puppy is probably used to sleeping with its brothers, sisters, and mom, it isn’t used to sleeping alone. Make sure the bed is warm and cozy and easy to access. You should also never allow your puppy to get used to sleeping with you because this habit is difficult to break. Choose a nice kennel, dog bed, or basket for your puppy.
Feeding Your Puppy
Proper nutrition is important to a growing puppy. Make sure the food is quality and give it plenty to eat. If the food is not quality, your puppy can have difficulty with its bones and overall growth. Here is a feeding schedule we recommend:
Less than 8 weeks old – 4 x per day
16 weeks old – 2 x per day
6 months old – 1 x per day
Nutritional Value of Food
Dry foods are better for your pet than moist foods. Some puppies, however, can have difficulty eating dry food. If this is the case, you can soak it in water first. This should no longer be necessary once the puppy gets to be 12 weeks old. You should never soak it in milk because this can cause diarrhea and it really does not add to the nutritional value of the food.
Raw bones, such as chicken necks and chicken wings, can also be fed to your puppy. These will help your puppy’s teeth stay healthy and will give it a good release for its natural inclination to chew. Chewing the bones also helps loosen your puppy’s teeth, which will help when the new teeth start growing in. Chew toys can also be helpful in this process.
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by Mark S Perry