Did you adopt a new dog or puppy? That’s great! We are sure they are going to love their new forever home. Dogs and Puppies are not humans and don’t eat regular human food. Some human food can be dangerous or deadly for dogs and puppies. Always check with your veterinarian to make sure they are getting the proper nutrition.
Here are some tips you will find helpful, and if you have questions, please call your veterinarian or the Waverly Animal Shelter to find out more. We want to help you ensure your pet has a long, healthy and fun life.
New puppies up to 8 weeks old
Wherever your new puppy was born, their original caretaker may or may not have done the following:
First puppy vaccinations
Toilet training
Socializing
If not, you want to make sure you bring your puppy to your local veterinarian soon to make sure your puppy is in good health.
Before you bring your new puppy home, it is recommended you:
- Have a quiet place for your puppy to stay, a place they can call their own. It should be secure, daft free, and can be a properly sized crate/cage.
- Have safe toys for them to chew and play
- If possible, bring a blanket or something from their birth place so they can be comfortable in their new forever home
- Check with your veterinarian about what dogs/puppies can be around – some plants can be poisonous and of course chemicals can cause death
- Having a reliable vet before you get your puppy would be much better than trying to find one after
- Puppy classes! What better way to learn and grow with your new puppy!
Pet insurance
Pet insurance is like human health insurance. If you keep up with regular vet visits and keep your puppy or dog healthy it can save you a lot of money over time.
8-12 weeks – they grow so fast!
Puppies, like children, grow fast and learn as they go. While your puppy is not fully vaccinated yet, it is still important to socialize your puppy with other animals who are fully vaccinated. Make sure any animals you introduce to your puppy has had their shots since your puppy has not completely built up their immune system yet.
Bring them outside, groom them, hold them, and having other safe life experiences are great for their future behavior. Show them the good life and they will be good to you.
As they get older you should also start:
- Leaving them alone for short periods of time to help reduce and remove separation anxiety
- Setup a consistent routine and rules. Reward good behavior and ignore bad behavior. Studies have found yelling and hitting when they do something wrong will cause future behavioral problems. It is better to emphasize the good.
- Keeping the same food, consistently, with small regular meals will be better for their future eating habits and health
- Toliet training – reward them when they “go” outside and not inside. Puppy training pads are helpful and puppy classes are very beneficial to both you and your puppy
12 weeks to 6 months
Your puppy is about ready for more vaccinations. While you are at the vet, ask about de-worming, flea treatment and spaying/neutering.
Continue to:
Socialize your puppy
Puppy classes – good puppy classes are a great way to boost their confidence and learn basic training
Understand your puppies likes and dislikes
Let them rest regularly – growing and learning is tiring, so let them rest on a regular basis. Keep the training sessions short and fun. If your puppy is crate trained, let them use it as their safe place.
6 months and up
Still a puppy, becoming an adult…we mean Dog! 🙂 Keep rewarding the positive, ignore the negative, play with him/her, enjoy their company and keep them active. A dog has been called “man’s” best friend, let him/her know it by treating them right!
Questions?
Don’t be afraid to ask your vet questions about your pet’s health. You can also call the Waverly Animal Shelter to talk with our staff for some ideas on how best to enjoy your new puppy.