The Best 7 Tips for Puppy Care

Everyone loves puppies! When dogs are that young, they are often incredibly playful and enjoy life in many cute and adorable ways. As someone with a puppy (or multiple puppies!), you'll invariably want to give them the best possible pet care. Here are seven tips that will make taking care of a puppy feel like a breeze!

Find Quality Food

The most basic puppy care 101 is to find the best quality food possible. Pets need better food for a longer life.

Puppies have unique dietary needs, so regular dog food won't usually suffice. In particular, puppy food should be more nutritious and dense than adult food. Unlike adult dogs trying to maintain their weight, puppies are trying to pack on the pounds to grow!

Furthermore, puppy stomachs can only handle so much dog food, so every single ounce and calorie needs to count. For example, general guidelines say that puppy food should contain 22% protein and 8% fat, whereas adult food should be 18% and 5%.

This is why it's also recommended that you give your pup healthy homemade dog food to ensure that they're getting the right amount of nutrients they need.

For the best puppy care, make sure you're picking healthy, nutritious food so they can grow! You can also check our dog feeding guide if you're unsure about how much to feed your new puppy.

Start House Training

Part of raising a puppy is providing sufficient training. You'll most definitely want to puppy-proof your home and get your new pup house trained as soon as possible to avoid messes in the home. The process of house training is reasonably well-defined.

The short version is to keep meals regular and take them outside afterward to get them used to using the bathroom outdoors instead of your living room floor. Also, train your dog by taking them out first thing in the morning and before they go to bed. Never punish your pup for accidents as it doesn't help them learn anything new.

Find a Vet for the Best Puppy Care

All puppies should have vaccinations (for example, the Rabies shot is vitally important!). As such, vets are essential to ensure that your new puppy has a high quality of life. Raising a puppy isn't easy, and the right vet can help answer any questions that you may have about your puppy's health, diet, and overall well-being.

Make Sure Your Home Is Friendly To Your Puppy

Puppies, like toddlers, are exciting bundles of energy. They want to get into everything they possibly can. As such, you'll need to ensure that your home is puppy-proof. Ensure all electrical cords, toxins, and other problematic things are out of your new puppy's reach. Lock anything breakable away. Also, lock any cabinet that a puppy can reach by climbing. You want your home to be as free from potential accidents as possible.

One way to prevent your dog from nipping on furniture and other household items is by giving them some puppy chew toys.

Pick Out a Name!

This tip is the fun one! You'll want to bond with your puppy and begin growing with them. As such, your new pet will need a name. Take your time to pick one out. Once you've found the perfect name, start using it with regularity, so your pet knows that's their unique identifier. 

Basic Training and Socialization

Even at an early age, you can encourage your puppy to socialize and start with some basic training (for example, teaching your pup to sit or stop on command). You'll want to establish both of these relatively early on as it can be harder to correct in the adult years of their lives.

One of the most common behavioral issues at this stage is wanting to chew on everything in sight. Puppies are teething, which is the cause of this behavior. Therefore, get them toys and other things to distract them and learn proper etiquette. If you're unsure what to get for your new pup, check out these innovative dog products!

Watch for Illness

Part of being a dog owner is looking for common signs of illness in your pet. Always check for signs of good health in your dog and if you see a lack of appetite, low weight gain, vomiting, swollen abdomen, lethargy, or any similar symptom, you should take your puppy to the vet immediately. These are all signs that your dog is in distress and needs vet-level puppy care.

Taking Care of a Puppy Isn't Easy, But It Is Rewarding

Taking care of a puppy requires much more attention than that of an adult dog. Puppies are little bundles of energy, and you won't see quite that enthusiasm in any future stages of their life. They're lovable, adorable, and providing the best puppy care means that you'll get to experience all that joy with a happy, healthy pup. It's one of the most rewarding experiences around!

How to take care of newborn puppies?

All the above tips are for puppies who are past the newborn stage. When they first enter the world, they need additional love and assistance. For starters, they cannot eat puppy food right away. They need dog's milk. If the mother is around, the dog should get all the milk they need from her. However, if you're caring for a newborn and the mother isn't around, then you'll need to take her place effectively. You'll need to give the infant pup a bottle or syringe feeding every few hours for the first several weeks. Another thing to keep in mind is that very young puppies need warmth. When they first enter the world, they can't regulate their body heat exceptionally well. As such, they need heating pads or other sources of warmth to keep them feeling happy and healthy.

What do puppies eat?

Newborn dogs should drink milk from their mom, or a commercial canine milk replacement (never feed a puppy cow's milk as the lactose can give them diarrhea). Puppies will eventually grow to the point where they can eat solid food. At that point, you'll want to provide them with puppy food. This food is higher in protein and fat, and packs more calories in a smaller size - perfect for the tiny stomachs that fast-growing and active puppies have!

How to prepare for a puppy?

Preparing for a puppy is relatively straightforward. Ensure that your house is free of potential risks for your new furry friend (hide the electrical cords!). Get lots of puppy food and water bowls for them. Also, prepare mentally. You'll have to house train your puppy and give them obedience training. It's a substantial undertaking and a gratifying one!

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