Ways to Ensure Proper Growth of Your Puppy at Every Stage of Development
Puppies are bundles of joy. They are friendly and adorable. However, raising a pet can be a challenging experience. If this is your first pet, raising it could feel overwhelming. However, looking at those innocent big puppy eyes, you would not think twice about taking up the challenge. According to WebMD, it is a fulfilling and rewarding experience to raise a puppy right from the stage when it is born to adulthood. Many of you may agree that raising a puppy is as fulfilling as raising a human child. Puppies are full of energy and enthusiasm. They are inquisitive about everything around them. Raising a puppy does not seem different from bringing up a human toddler. You may devote tremendous time to teaching your puppy things to do and things to avoid as he grows up. You may focus on being patient. Always focus on keeping your four-legged friend safe. You may gradually teach your pup apt behavior for him. Here are some tried and tested ways of raising a pup to attain perfect growth at every stage of development.
Focus on Knowing about Perfect Puppy Nutrition
Remember that food requirements of a puppy are different from those of adult dogs. You may choose a top-quality premium puppy food formulated to boost puppy growth and support proper development. The perfect quantity of food for your pup depends on crucial parameters like breed, size, and age. Your veterinarian can guide you about the quantity, and the frequency at which to serve meals to your puppy. For many small breeds, veterinarians recommend free feeding to make sure that they get sufficient nourishment. It pays to remember that small breeds attain physical maturity at a much faster rate than larger breeds of dogs. Small breed puppies may start having adult dog food when they are 9 to 12 months old. You can pamper them with adult-sized food portions. On the contrary, larger breeds of dogs will attain physical maturity only when they are two years old. You may feed larger breeds’ top-quality puppy food formulated specifically for them.
Ensure Proper Training and Socialization
House training should start right from the beginning. Remember that dogs, by nature, do not soil their bed or even the space around them. It is a good idea to keep them restricted to a crate or a small space during potty training sessions outside. You should be firm about establishing a somewhat strict potty routine. You may consider that you will have to take out your pup every couple of hours. When your puppy learns to relieve himself outdoors, give him a treat as a reward and shower him with praises abundantly. Potty training is a crucial aspect of puppy development.
You will need tremendous patience while reinforcing positive behavior and setting rules for the perfect conduct. Try to be calm and patient. Try to focus on building happy and joyous associations with positive conduct. Do not pay much attention to negative behavior. Avoid yelling or hitting. Your pup will be perplexed and not learn positive behavior when you shout at him. When your puppy engages in undesirable behavior, persuade him back to positive behavior.
When your puppy is old enough, take him to an obedience class. These sessions can be immensely beneficial in teaching your dog to behave. Moreover, they are excellent for providing perfect training skills and promoting socialization. Perfect socialization is an integral part of raising a pup. Your puppy needs interaction with other puppies and new people. He needs to grow up as a very well-adjusted pet. You may give him ample exposure to new experiences, textures, smells, sounds, and sights. However, get your puppy fully vaccinated before socializing with other dogs. This will ensure that your pup is safe, health-wise.
Remember to Brush His Teeth Daily
As your puppy grows up, you may focus your attention on maintaining good oral and dental health and hygiene. Help your pup brush his teeth daily. You may use a top-quality toothbrush and premium toothpaste without any harmful chemicals. Nowadays, special pet toothpaste is available in flavors loved by dogs, like poultry or peanut. Do not use the kinds of toothpaste used by humans. By keeping your puppy’s teeth sparkling clean, you can help keep gum disease or periodontal disease at bay. Professional dental care and treatment should be integral part of your pet care routine. Remember to schedule dental cleanings regularly by professionals.
Your Pup’s Health Should Be Top Priority
Your dog should be taken to a salon for perfect grooming. Regular grooming is essential for a healthy dog. However, you may schedule an appointment with a veterinarian for a routine wellness check. Ask for recommendations from friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances while looking for an experienced vet for your puppy. Go for annual checkups. Your vet will examine and detect any hidden health issues. You may ask the relevant questions to the vet about maintaining proper growth and perfect health. When your puppy is one year old, make sure he gets all the booster doses of vaccines to safeguard your pup against canine adenovirus, distemper, rabies, and canine parvovirus. Make sure that your dog is treated regularly to keep him free from fleas, heartworms, or ticks.
Let Your Puppy Indulge in Canine Sports
Once your puppy is about a year old, you may consider taking him for canine sports. While choosing a canine sport, consider his inherent skills. You may choose a sport according to your pet’s breed. If your pet is a passionate fetcher, you may enroll him in fetching events. Moreover, if your pet loves to play in the water, you may consider encouraging him to participate in dock diving.
Conclusion
As your dog grows older, you need to pay more attention and take more care of him. That is chiefly because dogs may develop health issues with age like arthritis. You may get routine blood tests done to detect kidney issues. You can ensure a healthy and extended life for your pet by taking him regularly for grooming by professionals and checkups by qualified veterinarians.
