We get a lot of new puppies around this time of year, so this week’s blog post is about what to expect with a new puppy!  There’s nothing like a brand new family member – one that romps, kisses, wiggles, and, regrettably, likes to chew on your favorite pair of shoes!  As dog owners, we know the challenges ahead of us with a new puppy, and we know the rewarding experience of unwavering companionship and nonstop hijinks will be worth it.  Read on for a little guidance on what to expect with your brand new fluffy bundle of joy!

Healthcare

First and foremost, your new puppy needs to remain healthy.  Their first year they need a variety of vaccinations and should be checked for worms and other parasites.  Keeping up with these appointments can seem daunting, but we offer a Puppy Program to take the stress out of it.  We lay out everything your puppy needs their first year and, by bundling appointments, you receive a sizeable discount which means more cash in your wallet for puppy toys and treats!  Below we have the times and treatments your puppy will need.

From 6 to 8 weeks your puppy will receive a:

• Comprehensive Examination
• Intestinal Parasite Examination
• DHPP Vaccination
• Single-dose heartworm prevention
• Single-dose flea prevention
• Pet Pedicure
• Puppy Care Kit including a sample bag of puppy food

From 9 to 11 weeks your puppy will receive a:

• Comprehensive Examination
• Intestinal Parasite Examination (if needed)
• DHPP Vaccination
• Single-dose heartworm prevention
• Single-dose flea prevention
• Pet Pedicure

From 12-15 weeks your puppy will receive a:

• Comprehensive Examination
• Intestinal Parasite Examination (if needed)
• DHPP Vaccination
• Leptospirosis Vaccination
• Bordetella Vaccination
• Single-dose heartworm prevention
• Single-dose flea prevention
• Pet Pedicure

At 16 weeks your puppy will receive a:

• Comprehensive Examination
• Intestinal Parasite Examination (if needed)
• DHPP Vaccination
• Leptospirosis Vaccination
• Bordetella Vaccination
• Rabies Vaccination
• Canine Influenza Vaccination (if applicable)
• Single-dose heartworm prevention
• Single-dose flea prevention
• Pet Pedicure

Training

You and your puppy both will benefit from training.  It helps build your relationship, build your puppy’s confidence, sets a precedent for good manners, and most importantly - keeps your puppy safe.  You can find an awesome blog post on why training is important here.  Training is not only enjoyable, it’s easy with all of the online resources and videos available today.  Bonus points for joining a local dog training club – a fun way to both train and socialize your new pup.

Potty Training

Which brings us to potty training!  This can be one of the most stressful parts of training your new puppy, but it doesn’t have to be.  Pick a consistent area to potty outside, schedule mealtimes and take your puppy out soon afterward, provide plenty of positive reinforcement when they go, and keep in mind that for those first several months puppies won’t be able to hold it as long as an adult dog and will need to go out frequently.  Additionally, crate training is a great method as well since dogs instinctively want to keep their bed area clean.  This can be harnessed to teach your puppy that outside is where they’re supposed to go potty.  Crate training is also useful for keeping your puppy safe from chewing on power chords, etc. while you’re out of the house and can’t supervise them.

Teething

Puppies can’t seem to stop chewing on anything and everything.  This is instinctive while they’re teething.  Start training out right during this stage of growing up by supervising your puppy while they’re in the house.  If they learn right from the get-go that they aren’t supposed to chew on household objects that aren’t their toys, the process will be far easier.  Make sure you have an appropriate selection of toys for them to chew on (avoid objects with choking hazards like stuffed animals with button eyes) and, if necessary, these can be rotated to prevent boredom.  Positive reinforcement works with good chewing behaviors so make sure playing with toys is encouraged and fun!  It’s a good idea to not let your puppy chew or roughhouse with your hands, as they can quickly learn that biting on sensitive fingers is okay. 

As your puppy grows, all of this training and attention will pay off, resulting in a wonderful family companion.  Don’t give up, consistency is key, give them lots of “good boy!”s and “good girl!”s and most importantly, enjoy your new puppy!  Watching puppies grow up is one of our favorite parts of the job, and we can’t wait to meet them!