Do not look at a new puppy as getting just a pet, but a member of the family. Puppies each have a personality and mind all of their own. In order for your puppy to grow into a fine dog, you need to know how to take care of a puppy properly.
Many times people who profess to love animals do not train the animals and simply let them run amok. This is not doing the puppy any favors. Your puppy depends on you to train him to become a good dog. If something should happen to you, it is unlikely that anyone will want to take on an out of control, untrained and disobedient dog. By taking proper care of your puppy from the start, you can teach him how to become a well trained pet.
Feeding Your Puppy
If you have never before had a dog, you should know how to feed the pet. You will need a food and water dish and dog food. You should always leave fresh water out for your dog, otherwise he or she will be tempted to drink out of the toilet, which can be unhealthy. However, you should only feed your dog a few times a day. Puppies are generally fed three times a day and dogs are fed twice a day.
A dog will keep eating until he bursts, so it is important to feed the puppy the proper portions. Your puppy depends upon you to give him the right food and allow him to grow into a healthy dog. Just as humans can be obese, so can dogs. And it shortens their life span. You want to make sure you feed your dog enough but not too much. The size and breed will determine the amount of food you should feed your dog at each sitting. This can be determined by your vet.
You should have a veterinarian who you can trust and bring the puppy in for a well puppy visit as soon as you get the puppy. He should have shots for distemper and be checked out by the vet for fleas or any other problems. Once a year, your dog should have a rabies vaccination. You will receive a tag that you should keep. If your dog ever bites an individual, you will have to produce proof that your dog has been vaccinated against rabies or the animal will be put to sleep.
In addition to vet care and feeding, you will also have to have a crate that will be home for your puppy. This should be large enough for the puppy to move around but small enough that he will not find a place in the crate where he can go to the bathroom. Puppies do not like to go to the bathroom anywhere near where they sleep or eat. This is the basic concept that you will use when training your puppy to go to the bathroom outside. Keeping your puppy in a crate may seem cruel to some people, but puppies are dogs and dogs are wolves and wolves love dens. A puppy will feel secure in his little crate and will probably go in there on his own when he wants to go to sleep.
Learning how to take care of a puppy can be fun and enlightening. You need a lot of patience and genuine love for animals. If you have both, you can easily raise your puppy into fine dog.