Congratulations on your new puppy! This article provides general information on raising your new family member. As always, reach out to your veterinarian with any questions or serious symptoms.
Introducing a new puppy into the family can be a stressful and joyous occasion all at the same time. Puppies require patience, consistency and love. Apply these things and you will be living harmoniously before you know it.
Should I feed my new puppy table food?
Food that is intended for people is not usually for your new puppy. Once exposed to table food, your dog may not want to eat their healthy dog food since people food is so yummy! Purchased puppy food is formulated specifically for your dog. If you make the decision to feed your dog some table food, pay attention that you do not fill him up on it so that he can eat the fortified dog food.
Interestingly, humans prefer variety in what we eat but most of our furry friends like to eat the same dog food day after day. Do not feel like you are depriving your new loved one by feeding it the same dog food each day. Also, a potential problem can be switching up food often and could upset the tummy and cause issues.
What type of play is typical for a new puppy?
Common play characteristics for puppies are chasing, running and retrieving. At first, it is imperative that you provide lots of play time for your dog. Your puppy will need a few toys that allow it to chew and bite as this is a normal for puppies. Be sure the new toys are safe and do not have items that can be chewed off, swallowed and then could be a choking hazard.
What does discipline look like for my puppy?
Puppies are apt to need some form of discipline, but it is entirely possible to do this without cruel punishment. You can use loud noises to disrupt the unwanted behavior like clapping, a bottle with beans inside that is noisy or another loud item.
There is a technique called remote punishment that works very well with puppies. This happens when an undesirable behavior is happening, and the consequence is unrelated. This could be tossing an item close to the puppy to startle it, spraying water from a bottle, or making loud noises.
It is important for all the family members to follow the same puppy training techniques for consistency. With patience, love and firm training techniques, your new puppy will become part of the family before you know it!
