Are you ready for a puppy?

As you search for your future puppy, you should begin thinking about any preparations you'll need to carry out in order to keep your puppy healthy and safe.

Making sure you select the right puppy

A dog's childhood is the most crucial period of its lifetime in forming habits and developing a healthy body and temperament. As your dog grows, learns, and ages, decisions made early on will have a magnified impact later in your. You will need to take special care of your new puppy which will help ensure they are a happy friend and companion for many years to come. Here are some guidelines for keeping your puppy happy, energetic, healthy, and safe.

Most of us never see a mother dog give birth to puppies, and so you'll most probably be buying a puppy from another source. Since a puppy's health and habits are formed even from the earliest moments, you'll need to choose carefully a puppy that's been cared for and well-fed since birth. Puppies bought from individuals, pet stores or from breeding farms can be improperly weened, or poorly trained, which could lead to behavioural problems later in life.

Puppy Diet and Dog Nutrition

Puppies are highly active and grow quickly, and require more daily feedings, calories, and nutrients than adult dogs. The specific amount of food your puppy needs should be discussed with your vet; the amount will vary by breed. Most puppies require two to three feedings a day from weening to six months, and one to two feedings per day from six months to a year. Once a puppy reaches adulthood you'll want to reduce the number of feedings per day and watch your dog's weight to prevent obesity. Most puppy food products made by major dog food companies will contain the right combination of proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins your puppy needs to stay healthy and happy. Hard foods are more healthy than soft foods in that they will keep the dog's teeth clean and provide jaw exercise. Avoid feeding your dog scraps from the table. This can cause behavioural problems and feeding your dog human food won't supply the right balance of nutrients they need. Some fruits and vegetables, however, such as apples, bananas, broccoli, and carrots, can be healthy treats for your puppy. Do not feed your dog chocolate under any circumstances; it contains theo bromine, a chemical toxic to their immune system. Also avoid bones with sharp edges or bones that may splinter. The most important thing to remember about your dog's diet is consistency. Feed your puppy the same brand of dog food at the same time every day, with their food and water bowls in the same location from day to day. Unlike humans, dogs do not require variety in their diet. If you need to change your puppy's feeding times try to prepare your dog by adjusting the feeding time gradually over several weeks. Similarly, if you plan to change your brand of dog food, switch gradually, mixing in an increasing amount of the new brand with the old until the switch is complete. Make sure your puppy always has plenty of clean drinking water available. If you have several dogs, each dog should have its own food and water dishes.

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