The Responsibilities of Caring for a Puppy

Caring for puppies is not something that should be taken lightly. As a result of the owner not being fully prepared to care for another life, a large percentage of puppies are later abandoned. Typically, the owner later realizes that he doesn’t have enough time, energy, or money to make the commitment.

To comprehend this immense responsibility, think of it as adding a new baby to your family. Constant supervision, care, attention, and love will be required by him. It’s a lot of hard work at first, but the results are very rewarding.

To completely understand what is necessary to care for a puppy, there are several aspects that you will be responsible for and that you should understand before you make the commitment.

Health

Caring for a puppy means constantly monitoring his health. One of the first things you should do as a new puppy owner is to select a veterinarian and schedule an appointment. To prevent common diseases your new puppy will need certain vaccinations. Make sure to ask questions about worms and fleas with your vet as they can be a common problem for puppies. You will need to always be watching for signs indicating that your dog is sick. Ideally, a perfectly healthy puppy should have smooth skin, a clean coat, and bright eyes.

Sleep/Rest

Caring for a puppy also involves preparing a safe and cozy sleeping place. Make the choice in advance as to which room he will sleep in. If you choose to let him stay in your room, you should know that as the puppy deals with separation anxiety for the first few nights there could be howling, whimpering, and barking. A good way to ease this transition is to bring his bedding to the breeder or shelter (wherever you receive him) a few days before taking him home to give the puppy a familiar object in your house.

Feeding

You will also be responsible for feeding your puppy each and every meal. Be sure that if you have other pets, each has his own set of bowls for water and food. Sharing bowls leads towards each pet trying to assert their dominance over each other and can cause territorial conflicts and bullying.

Also, the quantity of the food that you give him varies over time. Puppies eat much more frequently than older dogs and also have extremely different nutritional requirements. Therefore, selecting the correct type of dog food for each stage in his life is important. Typically, puppies 6 to 8 weeks old eat four times a day, 12 to 20 weeks old eat three times a day, and 20 weeks and older eat only twice a day.

Play/Exercise

Another aspect of caring for puppies that is very important not to overlook is play time and exercise. Make sure to establish a safe place where your puppy will be allowed to be himself. This may be indoors or outside, but for the first few months of your puppy’s life this area should be a controlled environment. Play with your puppy regularly to promote socialization and healthy development.

Also, ensure appropriately sized toys are purchased for your puppy. If he is small, smaller toys should be provided. However, small toys can be a choking hazard for larger breeds. Most toys such as bones, ropes, stuffed animals, and balls come in all different shapes and sizes.

Potty Training

Potty training can be one of the most frustrating parts of owning a new puppy, but it’s very important to get right. When and where to potty are the things that your puppy has to learn, and it may take some time. You should seriously look into crate training if you’re going to be working during the day.

Grooming/Cleaning

Proper upkeep, such as grooming and cleaning, are an essential part of puppy care. Not only will it remove unpleasant odors, but it will also encourage healthy development. Most puppies love to be brushed so don’t be afraid to give it a try. It will remove dead hair and keep his coat beautiful. Also, don’t forget about brushing his teeth and gums regularly

Now that you understand what it takes to properly care for a puppy, you might be feeling slightly overwhelmed, but you shouldn’t. It’s only hard at first. The most difficult part is the adjustment. Once good habits and routines are established, the only thing left to do is make memories together and enjoy the company. The most important thing is to prepare your life for a puppy ahead of time to reduce the time it takes to adjust to your new family member.