Puppy Love: Navigating the First Weeks with Your New Canine Companion
Puppies bring joy, laughter, and companionship, and they can quickly become beloved members of the family. If you have the time, resources, and dedication to care for a puppy, it could be a wonderful decision to consider adding one to your home!
However, it's worth noting that the first few weeks are integral in making a smooth transition. The early stages are all about ensuring your puppy thrives and you become a happy new pet owner.
Pangel™ has some tips on how to help you establish the best environment and care for your new puppy companion.
Create a Warm and Welcoming Environment
Start by prepping your home to create a pet-friendly space. Welcome your new puppy into a safe and secure home by eliminating:
Potentially toxic plants
Loose electrical cords
Sharp objects
Small items that could be ingested
Access to harmful chemicals and cleaning agents
Another dog-proofing tip is to check egresses in your home. Ensure that doors, windows, balconies, and fences are secure.
Create a designated spot for your puppy with a comfortable bed, water and food bowls, and plenty of toys to keep them occupied. Invest in some puppy training pads or a designated potty area if your puppy is not yet fully house-trained.
Now for the best part: make sure to give your puppy plenty of love, attention, and positive reinforcement to help them feel safe and secure in their new environment!
Establish Routines
Your puppy needs structure and stability, so work to establish eating, walking, and playtime routines from the start. Here are our suggestions.
Start with a regular feeding schedule to help regulate their bathroom habits. Establish a regular walking schedule to help burn off energy and prevent accidents. Take them outside first thing in the morning, after meals, and before bedtime.
Set aside daily playtime. We suggest investing in some interactive toys such as chew toys, rope toys, or puzzle toys. These toys can provide mental and physical stimulation for your puppy while also promoting good dental health. Be sure to choose toys that are the appropriate size for your puppy's size and breed.
Finally, maintain a consistent bedtime routine to help them settle down for the night. Try establishing a bedtime signal. This could be a short walk followed by some quiet playtime or a relaxing activity. It's important to avoid stimulating activities right before bedtime and to encourage your puppy to use the bathroom before settling down for the night.
Add a comforting toy or piece of fabric with your scent to help ease anxiety and allow them to feel comforted in bed.
With patience and consistency, your puppy will quickly adapt to their new routines!
Nutrition Needs of Your New Pup
The American Kennel Club cites the top question new puppy owners ask. It seems most want to know how long they should feed puppy food before moving on to adult dog food. They provide a fantastic guide for addressing the unique needs of your puppy throughout its first year of life.
The American Kennel Club's first-year timeline (1):
6–12 weeks: Feed puppy food that is specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs of puppies. Four feedings a day may be necessary to meet nutritional demands and normal development. Large breed puppies should be fed unmoistened dry puppy food by 9 or 10 weeks; small dogs by 12 or 13 weeks.
3–6 months: During these months, feedings can decrease from four to three a day. A puppy should be losing their potbelly and puppy pudginess by 12 weeks. Continue to feed puppy-size portions until their body type leans and matures during this stage.
6–12 months: Phase into feeding your puppy twice daily. Small breed puppies can make the switch to adult food at 7 to 9 months; larger breeds at 12, 13, or even 14 months. The AKC notes that it's better to remain on puppy food longer rather than not long enough, so additional weeks at this stage may make sense.
After age 1: Most owners will choose to feed adult dogs their daily amount of food split between two meals.
Always ensure that your puppy has access to fresh water and monitor their weight and overall health to make necessary adjustments to their diet.
It's best to work closely with your veterinarian as you're adjusting your puppy's diet. They can provide guidance on the specific dietary requirements based on your puppy's breed, age, and size, and address any health considerations.
Training, Bonding, and Housebreaking
Pet behavior training should include positive reinforcement techniques such as treats, praise, and toys to reward good behavior and teach basic commands like sit, stay, and come. Establish clear rules and boundaries, and be patient and consistent with your training.
Bond with your puppy by spending quality time together, such as cuddling, grooming, and engaging in interactive play. Building a strong bond will require time, patience, and lots of love and attention.
To house-train your new puppy, you'll need to establish a routine for feeding, taking them outside, and offering praise or treats for going to the bathroom outdoors. You'll also need to supervise them closely indoors and take them outside frequently.
It's important to be patient and consistent with the training process. If accidents happen, it's best to clean them up without scolding the puppy, as they may not understand why they're being scolded.
Safety Steps
Make safety a priority and prepare for emergencies when it comes to your new puppy! In addition to providing a safe and secure environment inside your home, consider those times when you have to leave it.
There can certainly be a level of anxiety when any pet owner has to leave their beloved companion for any length of time; that's where Pangel™ comes in!
Our pet safety app is the perfect companion for your new puppy pal. With Pangel™, you'll experience the ultimate comfort of knowing that should an unforeseen circumstance keep you from caring for your pet, a guardian is just a notification away.
Here's how the Pangel™ app for pets works:
Download our pet safety app. (Right now, you can enjoy a free 14-day trial!)
Set up your pet's profile and add any other pertinent information.
Choose your pet's preferred guardians.
Allow notifications from the Pangel™ app.
After that, you can relax and let Pangel™ take control of getting care to your new puppy if you can't
Your New Puppy Needs Pangel™
The first weeks with a new pup are exciting, special times for pet owners. By adhering to a few smart suggestions, your new furry family member can assimilate to their new surroundings in no time.
At Pangel™, we always stress safety for pets, and that's why our app should be at the top of your to-do list in the first weeks of owning a new puppy.
Take advantage of our innovative technology to protect your pet by downloading Pangel™ today and trying it for 14 days. We know you'll see how Pangel™ fits as an important part of your puppy preparation!
"Puppy Feeding Fundamentals." American Kennel Club, 28 May 2024, www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/puppy-feeding-fundamentals/.
