5 Things Your Puppy Needs for the Best Start in Life

If you are thinking of getting a puppy then you are certainly not alone. Dogs make excellent pets and they are certainly some of the most popular, with millions of people around the world who have a dog at home. But you know that your dog is going to become a key part of your family and when you bring a new puppy home, it’s important to make sure that they get the right start in life. Just like human children, the experiences that your puppy has during the early stages of their life will shape the adult dog that they become. Investing in your puppy now will certainly pay off dividends in the future. So, how do you make sure that your puppy gets off to the best start?

A Good Diet:

Making sure that your puppy eats well is crucial, but with so many different pet food brands and feeding types to choose from, how do you choose the right option for your puppy? There is growing evidence to suggest that raw feeding is an ideal diet for your dog, providing them with the type of food that they would naturally eat in the wild and ensuring that they get the range of nutrients that they need for optimum health and wellness. You can get started with raw dog food for puppies from Bella and Duke. Bella and Duke provide pre-prepared, packaged raw dog food meals designed for dogs of all ages, which are easy to buy in bulk, freeze, and feed without any mess or measuring.

Toilet Training:

Training your puppy should start the moment that they come home. Toilet training is likely to be one of the first things that you do with your puppy as the sooner they learn that they need to go outside to do their business, the better. Toilet training is something that should start as soon as you bring your puppy home and it’s important to be consistent with it. Never react to your puppy having an accident indoors as this may only lead to them hiding from you and furtively going to the toilet out of sight. Take them outdoors around every hour and be sure to give plenty of praise when they do go to the toilet outside – they will soon get the message.

Vaccinations:

You will ideally want to be a responsible pet parent and get your puppy vaccinated as soon as possible. Not only is this important to shield them from serious diseases such as canine parvovirus, but also because your puppy will only be able to go outdoors to walk and play with other dogs once they have been fully vaccinated. This is usually done over the course of a few weeks with two separate sets of injections before your puppy is safe to go outside for walks. In the meantime, keep your puppy away from other dogs and off public grassy areas, but do carry them outdoors to get used to being outside and socialise them as much as possible with visitors.

Obedience Training:

Puppies are intelligent little creatures and you might be able to get them started with some simple obedience commands like sit and stay when they are very young. Once your puppy has had their vaccinations and is settling in well, it’s time to think about taking obedience training more seriously. Puppy classes are a great way to get started as not only will you have the support of an experienced dog trainer to help your puppy learn, but it’s also a great way to help your puppy socialise with other dogs and can be a great opportunity for play afterward too.

Play and Fun:

Puppies need to play, and most of the time, there’s a lot that they can learn through playing as well. A bored puppy is never a happy puppy and the sad truth is that if your puppy doesn’t have much else to do, that’s when they are going to start chewing up your furniture, cables, and shoes. Provide your puppy with plenty of fun chew toys that they can get their teeth into. Chewing does come naturally to puppies, particularly when they are teething, so make sure that your puppy has rubber and rope toys that they can gnaw on. You can also keep your puppy mentally stimulated by providing them with fun games like treat dispensers that they need to learn how to get the treats out of; this is sure to keep them occupied for quite some time and prevent them from causing any damage in your home.

Getting a puppy can be a life-changing and rewarding experience for anybody. And investing in your puppy now means that you’re setting them up for a better future. Keep these tips in mind to ensure that your new four-legged friend has the best start in life.