FAQS on Puppy Care and Training in Their First Year of Life
If you have added or are thinking about adding a new puppy to your family in 2022, The Perfect Pup is a great place to go for puppy training and advice. Our most popular classes have always been our puppy classes. During these classes, we often get asked many questions on what an owner should expect in their puppy’s first year of life. With the new year in full swing, check our answers below on FAQS on puppy care and training in their first year of life.
FAQS on Puppy Care and Training in Their First Year of Life
When should I bring my puppy to the veterinarian for the first time?
Ideally, you should bring your puppy to the veterinarian at eight weeks of age. Your puppy should receive its first vaccinations as well as a thorough health check. Your vet will also go over flea and tick prevention and deworm your puppy. Your vet will also schedule the rest of your puppy’s vaccinations and advise you on spaying or neutering.
When should I start house training with my puppy?
Puppies do not know that it is unacceptable to relieve themselves on your floor. One of the first things a puppy needs to learn in their first year is housetraining. Teaching a puppy to go the bathroom outside is easy. Take your puppy outside right after they have been fed, the first thing in the morning and before you put them in the crate at night. If your puppy goes to the bathroom outside successfully, always praise them and they are likely to begin to “ask” to go out whenever they need to.
When should I start to socialize my new puppy?
At this stage in life, your new puppy is likely to have only interacted with its littermates. You should start socializing your puppy as soon as possible with dogs and other humans. It is also important to introduce them to new sights, sounds, and places. Just remember that your puppy should have their vaccinations before meeting other dogs because there are certain diseases that are transmissible and can make your puppy very sick.
When should I start teaching my puppy basic commands?
One of the easiest commands for your puppy to learn is to sit. Learning to sit when a puppy is told will help them calm down in stressful situations and will assist in preventing them from jumping on people. The Perfect Pup has a great class called Perfect Puppy 1 that will help you teach your puppy all the basic commands. Puppy training should always be fun. Like a human toddler, puppies have a very short attention span.
When should I begin with leash training?
An early lesson that all puppies should learn is how to walk on a loose leash. If a puppy learns that pulling on a leash doesn’t result in moving forward, you will always have a dog that will walk alongside you. You’ll have to purchase a good-quality leash, harness, and collar. Never use a retractable leash. They make it impossible to control the situation if it turns dangerous. Retractable leashes are also prone to breaking.