Important Tips for Puppy Ownership

Important Tips for Puppy Ownership

It’s an age-old question: what’s the best way to bring a new puppy into your home? In the very beginning when you first bring your puppy own, you will need to watch over them with scrutiny, making sure to intervene before any accidents happen, and help them adjust to the new set of rules you’ll be laying down.

First Vet Visit

You’ll also want to get your new pup to the veterinarian within 48 hours of bringing him to his new home. It’s important to make sure your pup is in good health, and in fact many contracts at pet stores actually stipulate that you need to take your new animal for an exam within those first 48 hours. This will prevent you from trying to bring back a sick puppy.

The first visit to the vet will likely be for a strict physical exam. This is a great opportunity for your pup to learn how to socialize with other people and other animals. Depending on when your new puppy’s last set of vaccinations took place, you can schedule the next round with your vet, ensuring that your puppy will have a long healthy life.

Define Boundaries

When you bring your new furry pal home, you’ll need to instill a sense of boundaries. You’ll need to keep them out of rooms where they’re not allowed, and off of furniture if that’s your prerogative.

You’ll need to let them know where they are allowed to make their business, and this is going to be a lot of work at the very start. You’ll need to learn how long your puppy can hold their bladder for, and how often they need to be let outside. 

Pee Pad Training

While you’re getting your puppy used to going outside, you can invest in pee pads to make the housebreaking process easier. The right pee pad will be all-natural, and your dog will see it as a little piece of outside on which to urinate. 

As you move the pad closer and closer to the door each week, your pup will quickly associate the door with doing his business. And then you can remove the pad entirely. Of course, during training, we don’t want to create undue waste which is why Canada’s prefered dog pee pads are 100% compostable. 

Winter Playtime

Another very important thing to consider when you first get a puppy is their temperature tolerance. Especially in colder Canadian climates, you need to know how much winter walking your pooch can handle. If you have a malamute, you won’t have to worry too much, but smaller dogs with thinner coats can’t withstand as much time in the snow. Of course, every breed is different, and you’ll need to do some research.

Also, consider any ailments your dog may be suffering from. If your dog has any injuries (including healing wounds from recent neutering), the affected areas can experience extra pain in the extreme cold. If you have concerns, check with your vet during your first appointment to get a sense of extra care you should be taking. 

So how can you tell if the conditions are too cold for your pup? If your dog is holding up its paws or if they are visibly shivering, it might mean it’s too cold and you should consider heading back inside.

Follow these above tips and you’ll be on your way to a well-heeled and happy puppy in no time.