Caring for a new puppy

Firstly, congratulations on the new addition to your family!  Having a puppy in the house is a lot of fun but it can also be hard work, keeping an eye on them and cleaning up after them.  Making sure they have the best start is vital and will go a long way to ensuring you have a healthy, happy hound for the rest of their lives!

Vaccinations

Ensuring your pup is fully vaccinated is paramount, the diseases they protect against can be deadly and young animals are the most vulnerable.  Pups will need two vaccines, between two and four weeks apart.  They usually start at eight weeks old and finish between ten and twelve weeks old.  There are several different makes of vaccine available and although all will protect against the same diseases, it is important to start and finish the same kind to ensure the maximum protection.  This isn't usually a problem as most people will use the same vet for both injections but it can become an issue if the breeder vaccinates the pup before it is sold.  Once they have had the second vaccine, they will be able to go out seven to ten days later.  These checks are also a chance for your vet to ensure your new pet is healthy and for you to ask any questions you may have. 

Worming

All breeders should worm the pups regularly before they leave the litter, however, this doesn't always happen.  Which makes it all the more important that you, as their new owner, worm them properly.  Pups are vulnerable to worm infestations, a combination of their weaker immune systems and their habits of trying to eat anything which appears under their noses, and they can cause considerable damage to their delicate guts.  Puppies should be wormed every month between the ages of eight weeks and six months old with a product from a vet.  Products available from vets are 100% effective against all types of worms and guarantee your pet full protection, the same cannot be said of all 'over-the-counter' medications.  The only wormers which are effective and can be bought in places other than a veterinary surgery are Panacur and Drontal. 

Fleas

Fleas can be a significant problem in young pups; heavy infestations can make them weak through blood loss.  The best flea treatment for pups is a spray which is only available from your vet, it can be used from 2 days of age and is effective for 3 months. Again, similar to the wormers, flea products from shops are rarely 100% effective in controlling fleas.  The only one which is is Frontline but it cannot be used on pups younger than 8 weeks old. 

Feeding

Puppies have a lot of growing to do in a short space of time and so a good quality diet is vital.  Many breeders will add extras to an ordinary puppy diet such as scrambled eggs or mince meat.  However, once they are eight weeks old this is no longer necessary and a good quality puppy food will be more than sufficient.  The best people to ask about the right diet for your pup is your vet, they will be able to advise you on the best foods and the dog's individual needs.  For example, large breed pups grow so fast, they do best with specialised diets which provide the correct nutrition in the correct amounts and toy breeds often benefit from diets with smaller kibble for their little mouths.  The best places to buy puppy food, or any pet food, is in larger pet stores or vets, not supermarkets, which will only stock a limited range of the cheaper foods.  Vets and Pet shops have a much wider variety of diets and will stock the better quality brands.

Insurance

Pet insurance is vital and is something all responsible pet owners should have.  Veterinary medicine is capable of some amazing treatments but they come at a cost and having pet insurance could literally mean the difference between life and death for your pet.  When your dog is a pup is the best time to arrange insurance, while you are thinking about it and, hopefully, before they develop any problems or injuries which could mean higher premiums.  Again, the best source of advise on the best policies will be your vet. 

Socialising

One of the most important things in a pups life is their early experiences.  Making sure they are exposed to different people, sights and sounds while they are growing up will help them to develop into calm and well-balanced individuals.  Obviously until their vaccines are finished, they can't go out and meet the world, so you have to bring the world to meet them!  Usually this isn't a problem and there are plenty of volunteers to meet the new arrival, which is great but do make sure they aren't overwhelmed.  Pups should meet adults, children and older people, all of whom behave very differently.  Try also to introduce them to things such as people in hoodies, hats and bulky jackets, people wearing sunglasses and, if possible, bikes and wheelchairs.  They should also meet a few sensible, adult dogs as there is nobody better to teach a puppy some doggy manners!  This should be done in a secure environment after the second vaccine but do ensure the other dogs are fully vaccinated and healthy.  Also, many vets run 'puppy parties' where pups can meet each other in a controlled environment, learn to interact safely and you can ask the team any questions you may have. 

Training

It is never too early to start training your puppy and they should pick up simple things such as 'sit' and 'stay' very quickly. 

Pups can have full access to your garden, if you have one, provided it is secure and there are no foxes.  This is very helpful with both teaching them commands and also with toilet training.  Toilet training is one of the biggest issues with young pups and do expect it to take several weeks at least before they are reliable.  The best way to train them is to take them outside after every time they have eaten or after they have woken up from a nap.  Give them lots of praise when they do their business outside but if they have an accident in the house remain completely calm, clear up the mess and ignore them until you have finished.  Your attention will be very important to your puppy and they don't always care if it is positive or negative, so shouting at them when they make a mistake can be counter-productive.  Also, never rub a puppies nose in their poo, or punish them for accidents, this will only make them more secretive about where they do it.  Some pups will come from breeders 'paper trained' which can be very helpful, but ensure they don't become fixated on the paper and then suffer a 'blip' when you think they are ready and take it away.

Also, this is an ideal time to get your dog used to being handled and examined.  Make a point of lifting their lips and checking their teeth, looking in their ears and handling their paws.  This will pay dividends when they get older, especially when they are at the vets!

The early weeks of a puppies life are some of the most important, both in terms of veterinary care and in their social and behavioural development.  It can be a daunting period for a new owner, especially if you are a first time dog owner.  However, there are plenty of sources of advice out there and the best of these is your vet.  They and their team will always be happy to deal with any queries and offer any help they can.  Trust me, we never get bored of seeing cute little puppies in our surgeries, the more the merrier!

If you have any questions about your puppy's health, you should contact your vet.