Health Hound: Covering Every Aspect Of Your Puppy’s Wellbeing
Dogs are the most popular pet in the world. Countless people keep these animals, and this makes sense, as they were one of the first creatures which humans were able to domesticate. When you decide to welcome an animal like this into your home, it makes sense to do some learning, making sure that you can cover all of the areas of their health which will be important as they develop and grow. A lot of people struggle to cover all of the bases, but this post is here to help you out, and should provide everything you need to get started with your furry family member.
Treats, Food, & Nutrition
A dog’s diet can be surprisingly complicated if you want to handle it correctly, as these animals should really be getting the same level of variety as a person would. Of course, while most people can’t give their dogs complex meals each day, you can still look for food brands which have worked to ensure that they have everything your dog needs to survive and be healthy. This will depend on their breed, size, and the amount of exercise they do, but your vet should be able to help you to choose a meal plan which will work well for your pooch.
Alongside their normal food, most dog owners will want to give their pooch a treat or two from time to time. This is especially useful if you can’t give them a very varied diet, as it will make it easier for you to give them interesting food from time to time. Low fat dog treats can be found across the web, and this is a great place to start. It can also be worth looking for treats which help to clean their teeth, make their gums healthy, and give them something to occupy their mind with. Some dogs will be much easier than others to look after when it comes to the treats they like.
Visiting The Vet
Most new parents will spend a lot of time talking to doctors when their child is first born. It can be a stressful time, and a lot of people don’t know what will be best for their little one. The same can be said for a puppy, though a lot of people ignore the concerns they have, and will simply look after their pooch how they think is best. This can be a mistake, and it’s always worth having regular visits to your local vet planned out before you get your pooch. A lot of these businesses will sell packages which will make it nice and easy to get your puppy the attention they need as they go through their formative years.
Alongside this, there could also be health issues you have to deal with down the line. Whether these are serious or minor, it will always help to have a vet to talk to about it, and knowing them from the start of your puppy’s life is a great way to make sure that they know your animal. Pet insurance can help to cover the costs of things like this, and most people find that they are much happier when they have this sort of service behind them. Some vets will offer their own subscription services, but it’s worth reading to make sure that you know what this covers before you buy into it.
Comfort & Environment
Next up, it’s time to think about your puppy’s comfort when they first get to your home. They might be scared when they enter your place for the first time, and this makes it worth giving them a space to themselves to let them settle in. A nice comfortable bed will be great for this, and some blankets which have been used by your family members can provide an excellent way to get the dog used to your scent. Some people will even give their dog an electric blanket to keep them warm, but you should make sure that they’re not going to chew through any wires before you go down this route.
Dogs are very sensitive to the environments they call home, and this means that their comfort can depend on a lot more than a warm bed. They will pick up on bad moods and anger, making them feel stressed and scared. You should work to avoid having arguments around your puppy, ensuring that they only ever see the happy side of your family. Of course, it’s not always easy to avoid heated debates at home, but you should never raise your voice when you’ve got a young animal around, as they won’t be able to understand that your anger isn’t directed at them, and this can be very frightening.
Exercise & Play
As the last area to think about, it’s time to consider exercise and play. Having a dog can be a great way to get fit, with puppies burning through huge amounts of energy when they get the chance to go out and about. Most dogs will require two or three walks each day, but some will need more than this to make sure that they can get to sleep at night. You can make this more fun for them by taking them to places which are filled with other dogs, giving them the chance to direct their own play while you relax.
It’s also worth thinking about the play you give to your pooch. You will probably have stocked up on a lot of different toys when you first adopted your animal, and now it will be time to start using them. They might bring their toys to you when they want to play, but you can also instigate this, and most puppies will be more than happy to play along. It’s always worth varying the play your dog gets when they are a puppy, as this will help them to learn as much as possible as they grow.
Raising a young puppy into a healthy and well behaved dog is trickier than a lot of people expect. These are complicated animals, and they certainly have a mind of their own, but this is something you can work to temper.