The first few months of your pup’s life with you will have a huge influence on how they grow and behave for the rest of their life – and though the rewards of dog ownership are plentiful, taking on a puppy is no easy feat. But if you can overcome those early challenges, you are sure to deepen your bond with your pet and set it up for a healthy and happy life. These tips will teach you everything you need to know to give your pup the best head start in life.
Eating and diet
Pet obesity is an issue that’s on the rise, with an estimated 65% of dogs overweight. If your puppy is struggling with their weight, it may become a much bigger problem in their later life. So remember that different breeds have different growth periods and their diet should be based on their size and age.
“Don’t change their food within the first week,” says Clare Hemmings, scientific communications manager at pet food manufacturer Royal Canin. “It’s too much of a change as their immune system and digestive system are too immature. But then start introducing the food you want it to eat gradually, and reduce the quantity of the original food over seven days. It’s really important during puppyhood to have a balanced diet that is specifically formulated for growth.
“Regarding treats, it’s important to think of them as rewards and use them during training. Give treats for a purpose, preferably from their daily kibble or using something lower in calories, avoiding human food, which might be very high in calories and even harmful to your puppy.”
Commands and training
It may sound glaringly obvious, but dogs are not born understanding English. However, they can learn many words and commands over time, if you are consistent. So, when training, it’s important to approach your calls and key phrases in the right way, says Hemmings. “For example, the number of people I’ve seen trying to call their puppy while it’s running away from them – that puppy will just learn that ‘come’ means ‘run in the opposite direction’. It’s when it is running towards you that you start giving it the ‘come’ command. Or if it happens to sit down, that is when you start adding in key words like ‘sit’. You would be amazed how many people assume that by shouting out a command to their puppy it will automatically know what they’re saying.”
Getting the correct information
Royal Canin has plenty of information and resources online for new dog owners, as do animal charities and organisations such as the PDSA. Qualified trainers and pet behaviourists will be able to guide you through your puppy’s first year, but beware of the false impression many well-intentioned Instagram accounts can create.
“If a blogger is detailing their puppy journey, it could really skew your sense of expectation versus reality,” says Hemmings. “You could feel like a failure immediately because you may not have been given the full, honest picture. You might be lucky and find somebody with some knowledge, but you are much safer talking to qualified experts.”
Exercise
Once your puppy is able to go out on walks after their vaccinations, Hemmings says it is important to recognise their limitations and not push beyond them while they are still growing. “If you head out on a 10-mile hike, your puppy would likely be tired after half a mile, and to push on could seriously damage their delicate joints, particularly in larger breeds. Choose your park or regular walking spot and see how it goes. If your dog needs to rest, realise that it is probably time to turn around and go back. An animal’s stamina will build up over time, so exercising little and often is key during puppyhood,” she says.
Setting a routine
“Dogs thrive on routine,” says Hemmings. “They like their meals at the same time so, as with exercise, they know what to expect. It’s more difficult to have a well-balanced dog if you don’t have a routine. If you like to lie in until 11am on a Sunday but you normally get up at 7am to feed your dog, it’s not going to be happy if you don’t feed it at the normal time.”
Interacting with other dogs
“When you are meeting other dogs you should look at your puppy’s body language,” says Hemmings. “Puppies that are not completely comfortable with a situation may yawn even though they are not tired, and lick their nose a lot. And if they have had an experience that made them uncomfortable, they do a full body shake as if they are wet. If your puppy does have a bad experience, it’s important to try to create as many opportunities as possible for them to have a really good meeting experience and, of course, be respectful of the needs of the dog they are meeting. Just as we humans don’t like everyone we meet, neither do dogs.”
Toilet training
While many new owners choose to use training pads around the house, Hemmings recommends taking your puppy into the garden every hour and immediately after eating and drinking, using words such as “make” or “quickly” when they relieve themselves. “When puppies wet in the house, it tends to be because owners haven’t been vigilant enough – they will give you every indication. Take them out the same door each time and say the same things. When they wake up, they probably want to pee. They circle and sometimes go to the area near the door. They soon learn. Never punish them when they get it wrong, but praise them when they get it right. Give them lots of opportunities to be praised,” says Hemmings.
Teaching solitude
One of the biggest behavioural problems in dogs is separation anxiety, particularly since the huge increase in owners working from home. At some point, you will have to leave your dog alone, even if it’s just to pick up your shopping, so it’s important to establish that with your puppy from the start. “Leave them alone for a minute, then two minutes and build it up,” says Hemmings. “You can even look through the window into your house to see their reaction. If you just leave them alone for a long period before they have learned that you will return, they can become really distressed. Eventually, you will be able to put them in their crate and leave them for longer periods. Solitude is one of the most important life skills they need to learn.”
Shop the Royal Canin range and find the perfect food for your dog at royalcanin.com
