Looking after your puppy - After care

The amount of care your puppy requires will vary significantly by breed.

Grooming and Upkeep

Coat grooming will depend on the breed, and can change depending on whether you intend to show your dog, nevertheless it is vitally important to keep the coat clean and tangle-free. For some breeds, this will hardly require any effort, while for others you'll need to invest a significant amount of time. Think about keeping a spray bottle of water handy, this can can make the job easier. Get in touch with your vet regarding the correct comb or brush to use, and proper grooming procedures for your breed.

Nail Care

If you decide to maintain your puppy's nails yourself, start by gently taking your dog's paw and extending the nail. Wait until your puppy is still, then cut away from the pink line coming from the base of the nail, this is called the 'quick'. It is better to cut off too little than too much. Consult your vet regarding the best clippers to use, or for special instructions if your pet has darker nails.

Bathing

For the majority of time most puppies don't require bathing, and should not be bathed unless necessary, as shampoos can remove the natural oils of a puppy's skin. When you do have to bathe your puppy make sure you use specially formulated dog shampoos which produce less lather and thus are easier and quicker to rinse off. Wet your puppy first with clean, warm water, then introduce the shampoo. Rinse the dog and squeeze the hair with your hands to remove excess water. Dry using towels or with a hairdryer, but don't put it to close to the skin.

Your Puppies Teeth

You can clean your puppy's teeth by buying special chews and toys which clean the teeth, but you may, occasionally, need to brush your puppy's teeth. When brushing, do make sure you use dog toothpaste and not human toothpaste. Let the dog taste the toothpaste first, it's specially formulated so that dogs love the taste, then either brush with your finger, or lightly with a dog toothbrush.

Vaccinations and Veterinary Care

It is very important to visit your vet regularly (once a year usually) for check-ups for your puppy and make sure your puppy has had all the necessary vaccinations. Vaccinations can protect your puppy from a variety of serious illnesses such as distemper, hepatitis, and other diseases. Arrange an immediate checkup if you see any unusual symptoms such as shivering, loss of balance, loss of appetite for 24 hours or more, or whining for no visible reason. If you are not planning on breeding or showing your dog, it is important to have them spayed or neutered, which offers social, physical, and behavioural benefits. Check your puppy's skin for fleas, ticks or lice by lightly brushing back the hair on the dog's stomach and looking closely at the skin for clinging ticks or scurrying black or white specks. Your dog's coat should be glossy, without dandruff or excessive oiliness. The puppy's eyes should not be inflamed or yellowish. The ears should not contain redness or an excessive amount of wax. Examine the puppy's mouth to make sure adult teeth are coming in normally, puppies have 23 teeth and adults have around 42. The adult teeth should gradually push out the baby teeth. Brush away any soft white matter or hard white, yellow, or brown matter, which is plaque and tartar.

Your puppy's safety

When going for a walk with your puppy, make sure you keep them in sight at all times and train your puppy to stay out of the street. Take extra precautions to keep all doors securely shut if you live near a major road or in a built up, urban area. Always keep your dog on a leash while going for a walk if you live in an urban area. In most cases, this is common sense, but it also prevents your dog from wandering off. Puppies should be monitored at all times while outside or kept indoors at night, remember - they're just babies really!

Puppy Love

The most important thing your puppy needs from you is your love and affection. Be sure to give your puppy plenty of face time and he'll give you back love, love, and more love in return. Treat your puppy well and you'll be sure to have a great friend around for years to come.

To request more information about after care for your puppy, to find out what pedigree puppies we have for sale or simply to ask us any questions you may have, use this page to contact us.