When you bring home a new puppy, there’s a lot that you’ll have to do. Puppies require a lot of attention and support to grow into the best dogs that they can be. Here are some things that you should know about how to care for your new pup.
Socialize Your Puppy As Soon as Possible
Your puppy needs to interact with a variety of people to know that there is no reason to be afraid of strangers or aggressive towards them. Also, they need to socialize with other dogs. Positive interactions with other dogs may help your puppy develop a healthy attitude towards playing with other animals.
You can enroll in a local puppy class so that your pup has the chance to interact with playmates who are close in age. Social activities can also be training activities. If you have just got the pick of the litter from a breeder of German Shepherd puppies Miami, ask about places nearby where your puppy can spend some time socializing with other dogs.
Get Into Good Grooming Habits Early
The earlier in life you get your puppy accustomed to certain activities, the easier they’ll be. Brushing your puppy’s coat and teeth are good examples. Puppies’ coats are usually not as thick as they are going to become later in life and won’t require as much brushing. However, starting to brush on a regular basis soon is a good way to help forge positive associations with grooming and get your puppy to tolerate it. This is particularly true of long haired breeds.
Brushing a dog’s teeth may not be well tolerated when their owners don’t start to do it until much later in life. Starting before your puppy has all of his or her adult teeth will make brushing seem like no big deal.
Be Consistent About Food
Any puppy who you take home should be eight weeks old at a minimum. Between eight weeks and approximately sixteen weeks, you should continue feeding your puppy the same food. Switching his or her regular food too often could cause stomach upset or other digestive issues. Of course, it’s okay to feed your puppy some treats as well. Ideally, you should get treats that are specially formulated for puppies.
Your puppy is counting on you for literally everything. Be an attentive caregiver so that your new young furry family member gets the best possible start in life.
