5 Helpful Tips on How To Take Care of a Puppy

You are getting a dog for the first time and you are excited. There's just one thing. You don't know how to take care of a puppy. What do you do with a puppy? What are its needs?

She will need some sort of protection since she is so small, but how do you do that?

And then there are health concerns. How do you make sure she stays healthy? What things do you have to worry about? Can you take precautions?

You probably never thought of these issues when you fell in love with that bundle of joy.

In order to take care of a puppy properly, you need to have some idea of what dangers await, what your puppy can withstand, and exactly how to make sure your puppy remains safe and healthy.

Here are 5 points to get you started.

1. Give her a comfy bed and a variety of toys. These will make her feel secure especially during her early days at your house. The toys will replace her siblings that she left behind. Be sure to include harder toys that she can use while she's teething.

2. Watch out for potentially hazardous situations throughout your home where she is allowed to go. Puppies are adventurous. They want to check things out. They instinctively test things they don't understand.

Put all wiring, chemicals, cleaning fluids and the like out of her way. Thoroughly inspect the yard to make sure there are no holes and broken fence parts where she can escape. Get rid of all plants in and around your home that present a danger to dogs. You'll have to ask your vet or dog expert for a list of what those plants are. One is poinsettias, but there are others that seem innocent but are not.

3. Get her to the vet regularly. During her young years she will require her initial vaccinations to protect her against rabies, distemper and other diseases. Your vet will be able to advise you when she will need what shots. Be sure to keep her indoors and isolated from other pets until her shots are completed. As she goes through the various stages of development, the vet will be able to make sure she is growing properly.

4. Choose a dog food that is specifically formulated for puppies. These contain higher levels of certain nutrients that she needs at this time to enhance her growing needs such as bone development and joint health. You can ask your vet for recommendations on food choice and quantity, or talk to your local pet store owner for advice on which products are the best quality for your puppy.

5. You can never take enough precautions to protect your puppy. Keep her safe by getting the proper products. Do not use a piece of rope for a collar and leash as this is a very dangerous practice. Get help from your pet store owner in sizing a proper collar for her. Make sure that her bed is not in a drafty location because prolonged exposure to cold and leave her with arthritis later on.

These 5 tips are just the tip of the iceburg. There is a lot more to know about how to take care of a puppy. Some you will learn as you go, but there are some things that require the advise of experts. Remember that how you proceed now will have a huge impact on your puppy's future.