In our last blog, our veterinarian in Levittown went over a couple of things that you should do when you first bring your new puppy home. To recap, we’ve already talked bringing your puppy to the vet for the first time and watching out for early signs of illness. The following is a couple more steps that you should take when you get a new puppy:
- Look for high quality dog food – Puppies, just like babies, have to eat and sleep quite a bit, but it is important to feed your dog quality food. There is a lot of dog food out there that claims to be healthy, but isn’t. Look for puppy food that doesn’t have too many fillers in it. Your veterinarian may have some suggestions as to what you should feed your new puppy, so don’t be afraid to ask!
- Establish a routine to housebreak your puppy – Housebreaking a new puppy can be a challenge, and you should prepare for a lot of frustration, at least at first. The first step to housebreaking is establishing a consistent schedule. Take your puppy out when they first wake up, and then every couple of hours throughout the day. It is also important to note that positive reinforcement is more powerful than negative reinforcement, in other words, reward your puppy when they go outside rather than punishing them for having an accident inside.
Want to learn more about caring for your new puppy? If so, please stay tuned for our next blog!