Coming home with a new puppy is an exciting, and sometimes an overwhelming experience. Whether this is your first puppy or it’s been a while since you’ve had a new puppy, we are here to help by answering the most common questions and offering tips to ensure you give your new puppy the best care. 

What to feed my new puppy?

There are many choices out there in dog food, so it can be tough to feel confident you’ve found the right food to nourish your puppy. For starters, it’s important that you choose a high-quality puppy food that is specially formulated for growing puppies. This food will have higher protein and fat levels, all perfectly balanced to provide proper nutrition during growth.

Puppies’ nutritional needs change quickly as the puppy grows, so be sure to revisit the amount you’re feeding frequently to make sure your puppy is getting the proper amount for their growth stage. For golden retrievers, you’ll want to avoid overfeeding, as this can cause issues with bone development as your puppy grows.

Your puppies food will be completely balanced, providing all the nutrients he or she needs. While it might be tempting, you should avoid switching between foods or feeding table scraps because these can lead to a very picky eater in the future. Also, some human foods can cause upset stomach and can even be deadly. If you must switch your puppy’s food, be sure to gradually change the foods over two weeks to avoid an upset stomach.


Potty training success

Potty training can get a bit stressful but as long as you keep the experience positive it can be a great adventure. Encouraging your puppy when it succeeds rather than punishing when they have an accident. Puppies are still developing the muscles that hold their urine for the first 12 weeks, you’ll need to take them out frequently and praise them when they go outside. After they eat, the food will stimulate movement through their tummy, so take them out within 20 minutes after eating. It’s also a good idea to take your puppy out after playing, sleeping, and drinking.

 

Try to give a verbal cue such as “go potty” that the puppy can catch on to, along with plenty of praise. Always keep your puppy in your sight while potty training for faster success. This is easier said than done, we know. So if you find that your puppy has had an accident and urinated or pooped inside, do not punish them after the fact. The puppy will only understand why you are upset if you actually catch him or her in the act. If you do catch your puppy going in the house, immediately interrupt the behavior with a verbal “no,” and take him or her quickly outdoors to finish. Be sure to offer plenty of praise when he or she goes outside.

Any time you’re not able to supervise your puppy, he or she should be kept in a crate. Puppies become comfortable and consider the crate their safe place to rest. They are also less likely to go to the bathroom in their crate as long as it’s not too big. For optimal success, you should allow your puppy to go to the bathroom before putting him or her in and as soon as they come out of the crate. Short periods of time in the crate will help your puppy learn to hold off until potty time is offered. Another benefit of crating your puppy is that it prevents them from chewing on or eating things in the house while you’re not looking. 


Visits to the vet?

You should schedule a vet visit as soon as possible after getting a new puppy. Be sure to give plenty of praise to make each visit a positive experience. This will help your puppy see the vet as a normal outing rather than an unpleasant experience as they grow. 

The vet will give your puppy a physical exam to look for any problems he or she may have been born with. In addition, your vet will deworm your puppy and get you started on a proper vaccination schedule. You’ll also want to talk about having your puppy spayed or neutered at the appropriate age.  

Vaccinating your puppy is a way to protect and support your puppy’s immune system from exposure to new diseases. Your veterinarian will create a plan for your puppy based on your unique lifestyle and routines, but they will usually start vaccines at 8 weeks old and booster them every 3 weeks until they’re 16 weeks old. It’s important to follow your vet’s plan as getting all recommended boosters in with the correct intervals will ensure your puppy is fully protected. Because they are so little, puppies can get sick quickly. Watch for any diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, lethargy, sneezing, coughing, discharge from the eyes or nose, fever, decreased appetite, limping, or general changes in health or behavior. Contact your vet right away if you notice any of these.

Always remember that your vet is your ally, and you both want the best for your puppy. If you have questions about something or if you miss a vaccine booster or dose of preventative medication, be sure to check in with your vet, they will be more then happy to get you back on track. Keep in mind that it’s important to socialize your puppy with people and dogs, but be careful about who you introduce your puppy to until they’ve gotten all of their puppy vaccines at 16 weeks. Until then, it’s best to keep your puppy in a fenced yard and only let them interact with fully vaccinated dogs. You’ll want to avoid places that other dogs frequently visit like dog parks and pet stores. Also be sure to carry them in and out of vet clinics to help reduce their exposure to diseases.

Socializing your puppy! 

Puppy classes are strongly encouraged for training and socialization, and reputable classes will require that all puppies be up-to-date on vaccines. These classes are great for both you and your puppy, and they will foster a positive long-term relationship by teaching you how to communicate and interact with each other. Your puppy will lose its baby teeth and get adult teeth throughout its first eight months. Chewing and biting is a normal play behavior between puppies, and it provides relief to teething pain. You can teach your puppy that biting you is not ok by using a high-pitched sound to mimic the noises that puppies use with each other when playtime gets too rough. Immediately give your puppy a toy to play with and praise them for playing with the toy.  

Grooming tips

It’s the perfect time to get your puppy comfortable with things they will encounter in the future, such as nail trimming, ear cleaning, brushing their coat and teeth so they will not be afraid of these things as an adult dog. Trimming nails can be done at home, but ask your vet to show you how.  Cutting them too short can cause a bit of pain and bleeding, and will make them scared of nail trimming in the future. It’s also good to get your puppy used to daily tooth brushing. Dental disease can be detrimental to the body later in life, so keeping the teeth clean is a great way to keep them healthy. You can use a regular toothbrush or a finger brush, but be sure to use toothpaste made for dogs because human toothpaste is toxic to pets. Puppies can get messy, but we only recommend giving a full bath every two weeks if possible. More frequent baths can dry out the skin. Between baths, you can spot wash your puppy as needed. It’s important to use a shampoo that’s made for dogs because the pH of their skin is different than that of people, our soaps and shampoos can dry out and irritate their skin.


Exercising and toy playing

Exercise and playing are important to keep your puppy’s mind stimulated. Gradually introduce exercise but try not to overdo it and keep a close eye on your puppy when it’s playing with toys. Remove any strings or small parts that can come off the toy, as they can cause choking or blockages in the intestines if swallowed. Always supervise your puppy if he or she is playing with plush toys. Their sharp little teeth can cut through and get the stuffing and squeakers out easily, and these can be hazardous when swallowed.


But most important enjoy your puppy! Take lots of pictures to look back on later. They don’t stay little forever!

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