Welcoming a puppy into your home is an exciting experience, and you are sure to cherish many moments during their first year and beyond. However, raising a puppy is a big responsibility that requires time, patience, and knowledge. The first year of your puppy’s life is a critical growth, learning, and adjustment period. The choices you make during their first year create the foundation of your puppy’s health, happiness, and well-being. Our Stanton Pet Hospital team wants to help you start your new pup on the right paw, so we’re sharing tips for a paws-itive first year with your new furry friend.  

Puppy-proof your home

Puppy-proofing is a crucial step before bringing home a new puppy. Puppies are curious and they love to explore their environment with their mouths, which can lead to potential health crises such as ingesting harmful substances or getting injured. Before bringing home your new pal, follow these puppy-proofing tips:

  • Store food out of your pet’s reach — Many foods people eat contain pet-toxic ingredients, including chocolate, grapes and raisins, xylitol (i.e., birch sugar), and garlic. For your puppy’s safety, keep food intended for people out of their reach and always clear the table immediately after eating. 
  • Secure trash cans — Prevent your curious puppy from stealing snacks from the garbage, by ensuring your trash can closes securely and locks. 
  • Install child-proof cabinet locks — Puppies are great at discovering how to open cabinet doors. To ensure your puppy cannot access dangerous medications, foods, or cleaning products, install child-proof cabinet locks. 
  • Hide electrical cords –  Puppies might chew on cords, which can cause electrocution. Use cord protectors or conceal them behind furniture to reduce your puppy’s injury risk.  
  • Close drawers and closets — Keep your drawers and closets closed so your puppy can’t access your clothes and shoes. 
  • Pick up toys — Put away toys, game pieces, and other small items to prevent your puppy from swallowing a foreign object.
  • Remove toxic plants — Many popular houseplants and flowers are toxic to pets. Check the American Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list to determine whether you have pet-toxic plants in your home, or simply keep all household plants out of your puppy’s reach.
  • Secure the perimeter — Prevent your puppy from running away and getting lost by ensuring your yard is secure. Repair fence gaps and missing or broken fence boards and ensure fence gates stay closed and latched.

Provide your puppy with preventive care 

Regular veterinary care is essential to help ensure your new puppy grows strong and healthy. Schedule your new puppy’s wellness visit right away, so our Stanton Pet Hospital team can perform a thorough physical exam and determine your puppy’s appropriate vaccine schedule. By keeping your puppy’s vaccines up-to-date, you help prevent them from contracting many dangerous diseases. To protect your puppy from external and internal parasites, we will prescribe safe, effective preventives that will keep your pup parasite-free and healthy through their first year and into adulthood.  

Praise and socialize your puppy 

The first three months of your puppy’s life are the optimal socialization period, when new experiences are crucial for their development. To socialize your puppy effectively, you must expose them to numerous situations and experiences, which help them become a well-behaved and confident dog. To help ensure each of your puppy’s new experiences is positive, follow these tips:

  • Keep socialization sessions short — New situations can overwhelm puppies. Keep your pup’s initial socialization sessions 10 to 15 minutes in length to help prevent them from becoming tired or upset.
  • Provide praise and treats — Encourage your puppy with frequent pets and praise. If you will be away from home for a socialization session, pack a healthy treat supply so you can make your puppy’s experience as positive as possible.
  • Read your puppy’s body language — In new situations watch your puppy’s body language for signs they are feeling stressed or fearful. Remove your puppy from the situation immediately if they exhibit any of these signs:
    • Cowering or attempting to hide
    • Hugging or holding onto you
    • Growling or snarling
    • Yawning
    • Excessive lip licking
    • Exhibiting whale eye (i.e., head turned away, but eyes remaining on the perceived threat)
    • Panting
    • Shaking
    • Drooling

Practice good manners with your puppy

Puppies need consistent training to learn good manners and become well-behaved adult dogs. From the moment your puppy comes home, set boundaries and ensure they know what behaviors earn rewards. Puppy classes are also a great way to help train your young pooch and strengthen your owner-pet bond.

We are eager to meet your puppy and welcome them to our Stanton Pet Hospital family. We can help you create your new furry friend’s healthy foundation when you schedule your puppy’s first wellness visit with our team.