Things to Know Before (and After) Getting a New Puppy
Things to Know Before (and After) Getting a New Puppy
By Linnea Labs, PR Executive at Pearl Lemon
There’s a lot of things you should know before (and after) you get a new puppy! As someone who has owned 5 Old English Sheepdogs (not all at once), I have a lot of experience with dealing with new puppies, and I have a lot of insight to share with people who are either looking to get a puppy for the first time or looking to get a different breed of puppy than one they had previously or for those just curious about my insight when it comes to raising a puppy.
Here’s some quick advice:
- Research the Breed
Dogs are very different. Every breed has a different need. It is extremely important to know not only what breed your dog is, but also how to take care of them. Some dogs are self-maintained and don’t need much attention, other dogs are empathetic and need a lot of attention.
Some puppies need to be babysat closely by their moms and some don’t rely on their mothers as much.
There are several resources to learn all about your dog, and you should know about them before you get them so that you’re ready to give them the love and attention they deserve.
A lot of dogs get bad rep because owners don’t know how to take care of them: chihuahuas, rottweilers, mastiffs, bulldogs, pugs.
They are all frequently mistreated, which results in some stories you may have heard about them, but treat a dog with love and, no matter what breed they are, they will show you love back.
- Have patience
Remember that your dog is a baby. It’s going to pee and poo all over the house. It’s going to chew up shoes, jump on people, and do a million things they’re not supposed to do. It is up to you to have the patience to teach them and show them love no matter what they end up doing.
Each breed trains differently, but one method we use is a clicker and small treats. We begin with the treats and each time they do something right, we reward them with a treat and then click the button.
At some point, we take away the treat and only use the clicker. This reinforces good behavior, and eventually they will learn to stop. You do not need to hit, smack, or otherwise be aggressive to your dog. That goes with any breed.
There is somewhere you do need to reinforce who is alpha, but be sure to research the best ways to train your dog.
Or hire a professional. If you don’t have the time to train and teach your dog everything, there are probably services in your area who know the ins and outs of dog training.
- Get a vet
If you’re new to the pet world, then you might not be aware of the necessity of a veterinarian. Puppies especially need to go to the vet on a regular basis.
Some dogs might need to get shots or take medication as a lot of puppies have worms and other diseases they can get.
You can also discuss with your vet about neutering. There are different perspectives on whether a dog should be neutered or not, but here’s the deal.
If you have two dogs of the opposite sex, and you don’t want there to be a chance for new puppies (either because you can’t afford it, or you just don’t want to deal with them), then you may consider neutering your dog.
It isn’t harmful, especially when done at a young age, but some people don’t like the idea of neutering.
Do whatever is comfortable for you and make sure to talk to a vet about it so that if you want to do it, you know when the appropriate time to do it is.