‘New Puppy’
Congratulations - you have a new puppy!
You've anticipated the new arrival by 'puppy proofing' your home and had lots of fun choosing everything from the bed, blanket, toys and all the other things they will need. The arrival of a new puppy is a really happy and emotional experience, one you will no doubt remember fondly in years to come. You can make a major contribution to your new pet's longevity, happiness and quality of life by providing amongst other things, good nutrition, loving attention in a safe, clean environment and regular checkups at your chosen vets.
Make your new puppy feel at home
Show your puppy the special places where he or she can eat, sleep and go to the toilet and, since they're probably quite overwhelmed, give them some quiet time to adjust to the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the their new home. If there are young children in the home, make sure that they are taught that a puppy is not a toy but a living creature that must be treated with gentleness and respect. As early as 8 weeks old, your puppy is capable of learning specific lessons - so start home training and teaching simple obedience commands from the day you bring them home. Your pup will find learning fun and easy and with the right positive reinforcement from you should remember lessons well! What you can do at home
Check your puppys' mouth, eyes and ears regularly. Watch for loose teeth, redness, swelling or discharge.
Keep your puppies sleeping area clean and warm.
Grooming your puppy often will ensure that that they get used to being handled, will give you the opportunity to detect any unusual sores or lumps and also keep his or her coat healthy.
Make fresh water available at all times.
Maintain a consistent structure with proper nutrition, exercise, discipline and loving attention.
Play takes training, too!
Puppies and dogs need to exercise and play and to have contact and interaction with both people and other dogs. They should be taught to play with toys only and should learn that human hands, feet or any other body part are not toys. If your pet grabs a hand or foot, either intentionally or accidentally, such behaviour should be interrupted either by withholding your attention (ignoring them) or by making a high-pitched "ouch" sound and turning away. They will soon learn that biting is not what you want and will stop.