So a small, soft, fluffy and long-awaited miracle appeared in your house. And immediately the question arises: what should be the care of a puppy? In fact, you had to take care of this before you brought the baby into the house.
First you need to find a place for him. This does not mean at all that you should put part of your bed at the disposal of the dog. In no case! So you spoil the puppy from a very young age. And it’s good if it turns out to be a small decorative dog, for example, the Yorkshire Terrier. And if you get a rottweiler or a Caucasian shepherd? Running a little ahead, I will say that the owners of large breeds, which allowed the puppy to sleep on their bed for the first months, subsequently can not always wean the dog from a warm place near the owner. Moreover, dogs, growing up, take up a lot of space and demand to release it at their first desire. This is often manifested in the form of an impudent collision of the owner from the bed, and sometimes in the form of a roar and a grin. Do not humanize the dog. Do not let her take first place in the hierarchical ladder of the “flock” family. Otherwise, be in trouble.
So, caring for a puppy begins with choosing a place. What should it be and where should it be located?
Firstly, it should be a mat suitable in size (not too small and not too large). It is desirable that the rug was made of natural, rather than artificial material, easily washed. You can use pillowcases or rug covers that will wear off as they become dirty.
Secondly, the place itself should be located in a cozy quiet corner, where no one will disturb the dog during the rest. In no case do not place the dog in the kitchen, in the corridor, in the bathroom, and even less in the toilet. Avoid heating appliances in the vicinity and drafts.
If you live in a private house, a spacious and covered aviary is a pre-equipped place. Ideally, it should be protected from the wind and have a wooden floor. Some owners prefer concrete floors. This is really very convenient when it comes to cleaning. But this is still not worth doing, because the dog can catch a cold on concrete even in the summer. Puppies, not limited in freedom, constantly staying in the fresh air, grow up more healthy and adapted to the whims of changeable weather.
But no matter where the puppy lives, do not refuse him (and yourself too) to spend many hours communicating. Walk him, comb out, feed, play and just talk. This is the key to successful training in the future. A dog that has good contact with the owner is very easy to learn, executes commands with pleasure and impeccably. The best praise for such a dog is the cheer of the owner and stroking the withers. Have you heard that the dog understands the owner at a glance? In a way, this is true. The reason lies again in good contact between the owner and the dog. It is with its establishment that the care of puppies begins.
The place is determined, the nickname is selected (or already given by the breeder). What's next? What should be the care of a puppy? Of course, in proper nutrition. The breeder, passing the puppy to you, must tell in detail what and how he fed the puppy, what was his regimen, what were the top dressings and vitamins. Ideally, you should be given a printout with a detailed description, including feeding time and a list of foods used in feeding. Be sure to get the phone number from the breeder. Most likely, you will have to contact him more than once for advice. The first few days, you must strictly adhere to the diet. Changes can negatively affect the baby's health. New products are introduced only after a few days and gradually. Be sure to watch how your puppy reacted to them: whether there was vomiting, upset, or allergies. Products that are not absorbed or cause allergies, exclude from the diet. It is very convenient to use dry balanced feed. But they should be only super-premium class, appropriate to the breed and age (and loads too) and introduced, of course, gradually. Veterinarians do not recommend administering dry feeds earlier than three months. If you opt for such food, leave the puppy water. It should always be clean, fresh and easily accessible.
Caring for a puppy consists in accustoming to the toilet. In fact, puppies are very quick-witted and quickly understand what is required of them. Some start asking for the street by two months. Take the puppy out as soon as he wakes up or eats. The fact is that immediately after sleep, he needs to empty his bladder and intestines. Little puppies hate by nature.
Do not hit the dog for the fact that she left a puddle on the floor: it is only your fault. If the baby has relieved during a walk, be sure to praise him.
Describing the care of a puppy, one cannot fail to mention preventive vaccinations. For more advice, contact your veterinarian. Any vaccination is indicated only to an absolutely healthy animal free of helminths. Otherwise, the dog may die.
But caring for a puppy does not end there. Ahead of you are some interesting stages of growing up, training, perhaps exhibitions and titles, and maybe raising new offspring. Puppies, caring for them is always painstaking work, sometimes very hard and exhausting, but always giving its results. But what the results will be is up to you. Good luck to you!