The mood-boosting power of pets is proven, and dog owners are 23% less likely to die from heart disease than those who don’t have a pooch. It’s clear that bringing a dog into your home has numerous mental and physical health benefits, but your new arrival’s wellbeing is just as important; the care it receives in those first few months will influence their lifetime health and happiness.
Owning a puppy isn’t all snuggles and walkies, however. There’s the chewed-up trainers and the night-time wailing, too. But if you can support your puppy through the ups as well as the downs of early life, you’ll both reap the rewards down the line. Dr Karlien Heyrman, head of pets at Pets at Home, offers advice on what you can expect from your pooch in the first six months.
Getting home: eight to 12 weeks old
Crying
Puppies generally leave their mothers when they are fully weaned, at around eight weeks old. When a puppy leaves their mother, they will need time to feel safe in the new environment. Night-time can be lonely; everything is new and, not unlike small children, they will respond with crying that can sound like a howl of pain.
Handle this by putting your puppy in a travel crate near you all the time, says Huw Stacey, director of clinical services at Vets4Pets. “Keep the crate right next to your bed for the first few nights, then gradually move it a couple of feet towards the bedroom door each night, then down the hall, until you slowly wean your puppy to sleeping where you want them to.”
Food
Heyrman recommends initially keeping your puppy on the same food they ate before they came to you, as changing too quickly will upset their stomach. Gradually mix in a new food if you are changing to something else. Pets at Home offers free nutritional consultations to help with this.
Vaccinations
Ask the previous owner or breeder what vaccinations, worming and flea treatments your puppy has already had, and confirm with a vet. It’s important to ensure their health treatments are topped up as, just like babies, their immune systems aren’t at full strength. Puppies usually finish their vaccination course at approximately 12 weeks old.
Teeth, toilet and training: 12 to 16 weeks old
Teething
Between 12 and 16 weeks, puppies start teething. In this period, they start losing their milk teeth and begin growing their adult teeth by the six-month period. Heyrman suggests hiding your best shoes, lest you wake up to find them at a fraction of their former glory. Your puppy might bite people too – which is often just part of them playing and nothing to be afraid of, but giving them a toy can help direct this behaviour towards toys while they learn appropriate behaviour – so be aware of any young children around them. It’s not indicative of how they will act as an adult, but it’s a good opportunity to teach your pet what’s right and what’s wrong. When you stroke your puppy, provide an affirming “yes” if they keep their jaw at bay, and reward with a treat. Heyrman also advises that dogs should have their teeth brushed once a day. Toothbrushes designed especially for dogs are available to buy, and it is best to start them young.
Toilet training
Dogs need considerable guidance when it comes to toilet training. Do you want to wake up and see your little pup, as adorable as they are, weeing all over your new bed sheets? Luckily, it’s avoidable. Observe your puppy in order to understand how often they go to the toilet, move them to the appropriate spot, and lavish your pooch with praise when they go. Like babies, their bladders are small. And even more like babies, they don’t ask for permission.
Obedience training
At this point, you can begin to teach your pup simple commands such as “sit”, “lie down”, “come” and, of course, their name. Remember that puppies have short attention spans, so limit training to short, regular bursts. Keep your training positive, rewarding the correct behaviour and not lambasting your pooch when they get things wrong.
Continue socialisation and stimulation: 16 weeks
Stimulation
Play helps puppies develop the skills they’ll need in adulthood, so ensure they have plenty of puppy-friendly toys to keep them entertained. Heyrman notes that puppies can become overstimulated, and intense sounds such as vacuum cleaners can be extremely frightening. Make sure you get your pooch used to these new experiences in a gradual and controlled manner from the moment you acquire your new puppy.
Walkies
Walking is vital both for exercise and socialisation, but in these early weeks it’s best not to overexert your pup. They need to gradually be introduced to busy human environments, such as parks, so being vaccinated is essential before exploring the big wide world. It is also very important to not over exercise puppies. Heyrman suggests five minutes of exercise per month of age of the dog up to twice a day while it’s still a puppy, but it varies on the size and breed of the dog.
Socialisation
As soon as your puppy is vaccinated, it’s important to allow them to begin meeting other humans – especially ones they’re likely to come into contact with frequently – and other dogs. You can often find locally organised “puppy parties”, where puppies can meet and play with each other in a safe environment, and walks will give your pup the chance to meet adult dogs. Puppy training classes also help dogs learn how to be around other dogs. When socialising your pup around children, keep a close watch as negative interactions with kids can teach your puppy to be anxious around children in the future. Remember, dogs have their own personalities, just like humans – if your pooch seems shy, don’t force too much socialisation all at once.
Neutering: 20 to 24 weeks
It seems mean, but the big snip/scoop helps prevent long-term health problems for your dog, as well as any unexpected litters – though it’s best to discuss with your vet when you should do this, as the best age to neuter depends on the individual dog.
This is particularly important with female pups – spaying before her first estrous cycle cuts the risk of developing mammary cancer. Waiting just one cycle will increase the chances of the illness developing by 8%.
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