Puppies are vibrant creatures who are often curious about their environment. There is very little difference between getting a puppy and a human toddler. You’ll need to be patient as you keep an eye on your furry friend to ensure that he doesn’t get into trouble. 

You’ll need to instruct and teach him about his world so that he can conduct himself appropriately. The best part about getting pups is they sleep a lot. You won’t have to spend most of your time looking after your pup.

Puppies also enjoy playing with their mouths. They’ll chew your shoes, clothes, furniture and even bite your hands. If you start getting frustrated and overwhelmed with your new task, keep in mind that this stage is temporary. 

After his first birthday, you won’t have to look after him like a toddler as he’ll settle into adulthood. If you are going to get your puppy, congratulations on the new responsibility. You need to free up your schedule to have quality time with your pup. In this article, we are going to discuss the five underestimated tactics to raise a puppy.

1.    Prepare your home

It’s going to be difficult to provide constant supervision for your furry friend if you don’t prepare your home in advance. Secure or eliminate electrical cords. Put toxic substances such as insecticides and cleaning supplies and plants out of reach. 

You need to crawl around your home to get a view of your pup’s world. Remove anything that he might chew or swallow. Close vents that may allow him to get stuck or lost. Doing this will help him stay safe and also relieve your anxiety.

You’ll need to be ready to start training your furry friend as soon as you bring him to his new home. If you are thinking of crate training him, ensure that the crate is ready. Make it comfy by lining it with mats or blankets. Ensure that he has enough space to turn around, stand, or sleep. 

Introduce him to his crate slowly and give him the chance to explore it. If he doesn’t want to go in, throw in a few pieces of food or a toy. The more comfortable he feels in the crate, the easier it will be for you to train him. If you’ll forego a crate, prepare a small area when you can confine and keep him away from children and pets. 

According to Bestessay.com, ensure that you provide some training pads to prevent accidents. Also, include a water dish, a dog bed, food, and toys. This area will serve as a safe space when he needs some time alone or becomes overwhelmed.

2.    Nutrition

Puppies have varying energy and nutrient requirements. You need to look for high-quality food that is formulated to support his growth and development. The quantity of food depends on a wide range of factors such as size, age, and breed. It’s always a good idea to consult your vet about the quantity and how often you should feed your furry friend. If you have a small breed, you might consider free feeding him. Small breed dogs mature faster than large breeds. 

You can switch to adult food in nine to twelve months. On the other hand, large breeds take up an average of 24 months to mature. Therefore, you should stick with puppy food until your dog matures. You should also feed him multiple times a day to prevent complications such as a buildup of excess calcium or protein and stomach bloat. You should consider creating a feeding schedule for your pup to minimize mistakes.

3.    Training

As we said earlier, you should start training your furry friend as soon as you get him home. Dogs try to avoid dirtying their space and the area around it. Therefore, keeping him confined as he gets used to the new environment is key. 

Create a potty routine and keep in mind that pups will need to go out once every two to three hours. Until he has been vaccinated, take him to a section where he won’t interact with other animals. When he relieves himself outside, praise and reward him with treats.

When it comes to house training, you need to establish rules of conduct. Take baby steps and use positive reinforcement to build pleasant associations with the ideal behavior. Ignore bad behavior or correct him with a firm no. 

Never yell or hit your pup as this will confuse him and make him feel fearful and anxious. When he behaves inappropriately, direct him back to positive behavior. For instance, if he starts chewing your shoes, direct him back to his toys. As he gets older, enroll him in an obedience class so that he learns how to behave and socialize.

As best essay writing service reports, socialization is key when if you want to raise a happy pup. For him to grow properly, he needs to be exposed to different places, people, and situations regularly. Once he has been vaccinated, you can start socializing him to new smells, people, and sights.

4.    Furry friend’s health

One of the critical steps that you should take after getting a furry friend is to schedule a visit to the vet. If you don’t have a vet, consider asking your relatives, friends, and coworkers with pets. Your vet is going to check for parasites such as fleas, heartworms and ticks, and any health problems. 

He/she will also create a vaccination routine and tell you when you should visit next. If you have any pressing questions, don’t hesitate to ask your vet. Your vet will show you how to groom and brush your furry friend properly. Talking to your vet will help you figure out what you should expect as your furry friend grows.

5.    Play

Apart from training and visiting the vet, pups need exercise. You don’t have to jog or walk around the block with your pup for him to exercise. According the recent researches, playing with your pup at home is enough to keep him fit while building a strong bond with him. Simple games like tug of war or fetch can be played at home to help him utilize his energy. All you need is fifteen to thirty minutes of play every day.

Bonus tip: Groom your pup

You need to start grooming your dog while he is young if you want to have an easy time in the future. Grooming includes brushing his coat, trimming his nails, cleaning him with dog shampoo. You can also hire a professional groomer to help you if you are too busy.

Conclusion

As you have seen, raising a pup is not the easiest thing to do. However, it is an exciting adventure that will reward you as time goes by. Be patient with your furry friend and reward him whenever he behaves appropriately.    

Author Bio:

Emma Coffinet is a content creator for websites, blogs, articles, white papers, social media platforms, and also works for essay writing service UK. She is keen on capturing the attention of a target audience. She keeps herself well-read with the changing trends of the web world. Emma loves to pen down her knowledge in an engaging and simplified way. She also enjoys leading, motivating and being part of a productive team, equally comfortable working on her own initiative.