Guide To Being A First Time Dog Owner

If you have a dog for the first time then there will be a lot to take in. You will have plenty to keep you busy and even more so if it is a puppy.  Even more if you are moving home at the same time. There are several factors that affect your dog’s health and well-being needs, especially breed and age. Therefore, it is important to take into account everything from its nutritional requirements to exercise and hair care, based on its particular characteristics. However, there are many things that all dogs need to ensure that they are healthy and well-adjusted family members.

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Exercise

All dogs need exercise, but the amount and type vary depending on age, size and breed.

• Make sure there is room for exercise: Dog walks should not be seen as just a time to urinate quickly.

• Rarely and often: Remember that medium to large dogs have longer periods of development during which their bones and joints develop, so they should not walk long distances or engage in certain sports until they are older, but to practice a little and often.

• Take time to play: Play is a natural part of a dog’s exercise and helps with its psychological development. It is good for your dog in several ways: to spend time with him, to strengthen the binding, to control the weight, to maintain his vitality and to strengthen his cardiovascular and immune system.

Environment

Puppies are very receptive to their environment and negative experiences have a long lasting effect. The development of a puppy’s behavior has several stages, including the socialization period, which starts at four weeks and lasts up to 14 weeks.

• Give him his own bed: Make sure he has his own bed in which he can leave and feel safe.

• Familiarize yourself with the new environment gradually: If you live in a city, you should gradually familiarize yourself with things to deal with, such as cars, escalators, lifts, trains, trams or buses.

Hair care and health

Regular hair care is a good habit that you can adopt. It supports the health of the puppy’s skin and hair, as well as improving the relationship between you. It also ensures that you are more likely to detect any abnormalities, such as external parasites, skin disorders or areas of discomfort at an early stage. Most dogs rejoice when you take care of their hair if they are used to it from a young age, but it is never too late to start!

• Make an appointment for vaccinations: Vaccinations help prevent communicable and sometimes fatal diseases. Some are mandatory, while others are recommended. In puppies, the vaccination schedule usually begins at 6 to 8 weeks of age.

• Ask your veterinarian about worm treatments: Puppies often have worms and deworming should be done every month until the age of six months and then every six months. Your veterinarian will be able to recommend the best program for your puppy, so it is important to follow his instructions.

• Ask your veterinarian about flea protection: Remember to protect your puppy from fleas and ticks. To be effective, you need to take care of the dog and the environment as well. Ask your veterinarian for advice.     

• Consider Sterilizing Your Pet: The decision to neuter is an important option to consider carefully. It is important to weigh the benefits of neutering, taking into account the possibility of breeding your dog in the future.

• Take them to a dog groomer. This is important to have them looking and smelling great!