Getting a new puppy is one of the happiest moments of your life. It will be difficult but rewarding to bring that little one home and to play, cuddle, and take care of them. You might be wondering what a puppy’s first year entails if you have never had one.
We examine in more detail what to anticipate in the first year of puppy ownership today.
Puppies: The First Year
The First Two Months
In the first two months of a puppy’s life, you probably won’t be doing much for them unless you actually had your own litter of puppies. A puppy is learning everything it can about their surroundings, the people and animals in them, and themselves during this period.
The eyes of a puppy do not open fully until approximately one month of age. They use smell, feel, and sound to navigate their surroundings until then. This enables them to get to know their mother and siblings. The best thing you can do at this point is to ensure the mother’s comfort. Additionally, assist with her puppies only with her permission.
Taking a puppy away from its mother at this time is not advised. Still, a conscientious breeder will give stimulation to a puppy during this critical stage of development. Playthings with multiple textures that are stimulating should be given to puppies. The puppy weans itself off of its mother’s milk towards the end of the first two months of life and begins to eat solid food. Give them enough time to practice safe tooth use.
Months Two Through Four
The puppy can be securely removed from the mother once they have begun eating solid food. It’s likely that a puppy you adopt will be older than sixteen weeks. It’s time for you to start training now.
First and foremost, you should focus on housetraining your puppy. It’s not that difficult, either. Take your puppy outside at least once every couple of hours. Take them outside before going to bed and first thing in the morning. When your puppy goes potty outside, always give them praise; never take away their privileges when they go inside. They may become afraid of you as a result.
It’s advisable to socialize your dog as well. To help them acclimate to their new surroundings and take in the sights, you can start taking them on walks around the block. Tell as many people as you can about them. Just make sure you wait for your veterinarian’s approval before introducing them to other dogs. Having said that,
Your puppy is now prepared for their initial visit to the veterinarian. It’s crucial to take your puppy to the veterinarian, start vaccinating them, and get them microchipped. At this point, you can also talk about a de-worming and flea prevention program.
Here are some things you can work on with your puppy during this time:
Crate training – Most canines consider their crate to be a secure haven. Your dog may feel more secure when you leave the house if they are trained in a crate. It’s also a fantastic method for teaching your dog how to be by themselves.
Basic commands – You can start teaching your dog commands like “come” or “sit” as soon as they learn their name. The fundamental first step in training is for them to learn their name, so make sure they master that first.
Teething/nipping –Your dog will naturally use their newly erected teeth to explore the world, but be careful—their teeth are sharp. Tell your dog to stop quietly if you catch them nipping at hands or chewing on furniture. Another option is to exchange the undesirable item for something acceptable, like a chew toy.
Leash training – This is the ideal age to start teaching your dog how to walk on a leash. Teaching a dog to walk on a loose leash can be done in a variety of ways.
Four Months On
It’s time to prepare your dog for the world after you’ve navigated the majority of the typical training obstacles. It’s now appropriate for your dog to spend more time outside. It goes without saying that you should never leave your dog outside alone. That is to say, you can begin taking your puppy on car rides. Just keep in mind that a dog is safest in its crate when traveling in an automobile.
This is also the time to consider neutering your dog, as they will be spending a lot more time outside with you. Neutered dogs, male or female, not only save you from having more unwanted puppies, but they also have many health advantages.
Your dog is prepared to face the world once they have had their shots updated and have undergone neutering. They can now go on family vacations, visit the dog park, or just curl up on the couch for a good cuddle. Just keep in mind that socialization is a lifelong process. Your dog will seek comfort from you and rely on you to judge situations.
A long and amazing relationship can be established for both of you by training a puppy during their first year of life. It is an immensely rewarding experience.