Are you getting a new bundle of fluff in your life? Or perhaps you've had your first night at home with Fido and the reality is setting in? Vet Joanna Woodnutt shares everything you need to know about looking after the newest member of the family.
🕒 5 min read
From diet and nutrition to exercise and socialisation, there's a lot to consider when it comes to looking after a new puppy: but don't let it overwhelm you. This guide is here to help.
Puppy food
One of your first concerns is likely to be their diet. To start with, it's best to feed them whatever dog food they were eating at the breeder's house, as throwing a new diet at them (alongside all the other changes that are happening) is likely to set off diarrhoea.
After four or five days, you can start slowly switching to the diet of your choice. Do this over the course of a couple of weeks, gradually increasing the proportion of new food in each daily ration, and decreasing the amount of the old, so that after 14 days your puppy is completely on their new food.
As for the best puppy food, every dog is different, but the majority will thrive on most types available. Do, however, check that what you're feeding is suitable for puppies (they have a lot of growing to do!) and if your dog is expected to weigh over 35kg, a large breed puppy food is recommended to help their bones to grow properly. The pack should give you an indication of how much to feed your puppy, but if in doubt, consult your vet.
Other than that, it's your choice; although, like most vets, I encourage owners to read the WSAVA guidelines. Some companies have extremely good marketing departments, but their nutritional knowledge can leave a lot to be desired.
In addition, although technically a good diet shouldn't need anything added to it, there's growing evidence that omega fatty acids have a whole range of benefits. Some diets do include them, but if your pet's diet doesn't, you can add them in the form of a supplement like Glossy Coat Omega.
Glossy Coat Omega
Advanced omega fish oil formulation for pet health
- Combats dry, flaky skin
- Glossy mane and reduced moulting
- Supports joint, brain and heart health
Exercise: dos and don'ts
There's a lot of information out there about how much exercise a puppy should get, with some suggesting owners use the puppy's age as a guide. The important bit, however, is actually the type of exercise. There's evidence to suggest that high-impact exercise, like repeatedly jumping and landing, can damage joints, and as chasing after a ball similarly requires twisting and turning, I would avoid fetch while they're puppies.
That said, access to outdoor, off-leash exercise in moderately rough terrain is essential before they're 3 months old to reduce the risk of hip dysplasia. Puppies born in the autumn and winter are also more likely to get hip dysplasia, probably because they're less likely to spend time outdoors, so make an extra effort if your puppy was born during this timeframe. Alternatively, see if you can find an indoor riding school for off-lead but sheltered fun.
Puppy-proof your house
Setting up your home with some puppy-proofing measures is also likely to be quite high on your list of priorities; particularly with regards to keeping electrical wires and expensive furniture out of reach. If your house is hard to puppy-proof, a puppy playpen can work for the first couple of weeks.
They should also have a safe place to be shut in when you can't watch them, so I recommend crate training while they're young.
Restrict their access to stairs until they're at least 16 weeks too – there's some good evidence that dogs are more likely to get hip dysplasia if they use stairs at a young age. Similarly, if you have slippery floors, rubber-backed mats can help them grip and prevent injuries.
Puppy training and socialisation
Socialisation is essential. It's the window of time that a dog sees new things as interesting, not scary, and it closes at about 12-16 weeks of age. That means that after you get your new puppy home, you only have a month or so to introduce them to everything they need to be able to cope with in the future.
Until they have had their puppy vaccinations, don't let them mix with other dogs who aren't vaccinated, and carry them on walks (dog backpacks are good for this) so they can learn about the outdoors in a safe way.
Supervised puppy parties can be beneficial when run by experienced behaviourists and trainers, but they should not be a free-for-all, as they can cause more harm than good.
As a key part of their puppy training, ensure they are exposed to lots of different situations and people. Take them to cafés and to the vets, as well as on trains and in cars, and let them meet children, the elderly, and people in wheelchairs, as well as people of all nationalities.
I also recommend letting them meet the postie. Finally, play them sounds of fireworks, thunderstorms, and other scary noises to help make sure they can cope with normal life.
Ensure these experiences are positive (that means lots of praise and treats, and at a decent distance from new things at first) and repeat each several times if possible.
How to avoid separation anxiety
To avoid separation anxiety, you also need to get your dog used to being left on their own. Crate training helps, but as with all training the key is to start small.
Once they're in their crate, leave the room but return to your pup before they've had a chance to get too upset. Give them a distraction and leave again (just for a minute or two) before coming back again. Next time, try to leave for a little longer.
Remember to do all the 'going out things' (like getting your coat and keys) so they get used to the process.
Taking your puppy on walks will help them get used to the world – a backpack will help keep them safe until they've had their vaccinations.
What you need for a new puppy
People always want to make sure they have everything they need when their puppy arrives, but don't forget we live in a time of next-day delivery, as well as pet shops that are open from sunrise to sunset. It's better to start small and get things you find you need later, rather than have a whole pile of stuff that never gets used.
That said, here's a short list of what your new puppy needs:
- Water bowl or fountain
- Food bowl and feeding toys (snuffle mats, kongs, etc)
- Chew toys (not rawhide or bones – coffee wood works well for teething)
- A puppy collar (and possibly a puppy harness)
- A lead and dog poo bags
- Puppy food, plus low-calorie training treats (they'll be needing a lot!)
- A puppy bed, and a space they can call their own (I suggest a puppy crate or puppy playpen)
- A toothbrush and doggy toothpaste
Setting the foundations
Looking after a dog for 10 years (or more) is a big responsibility, and although the early days of having a puppy can seem overwhelming, everything you do now sets the foundations to give them a long, healthy and happy life.
By all means treat them to some puppy toys – but they don't need as much as you think. Instead, focus on their diet, exercise and training, and if in need of guidance, don't hesitate to take your puppy to the vet, who will be happy to give advice and help you navigate your new life with your bundle of fun.
