How to care for puppies

There is so little love and friendship in the modern world. And the only creature that has never betrayed is a dog. This shaggy, four-legged creature is capable of love, asking for only one thing in return - care and care. In this article you will learn how to care for a puppy so that it grows up healthy and happy.

What to feed a puppy

At the beginning of its life, every puppy needs certain foods. Like an adult dog, he needs to consume meat, the percentage should be between 35% and 50% per day. Dairy products should also be included in the menu of your little friend; here the percentages do not vary much - 40-50%. Do not focus on vegetables and cereals, because a puppy, although small, is a hunter. When your friend has become a very big child, a three-month-old protector of the family, pamper him more with meat products, gradually reducing the amount of dairy food. Feel what your pet wants, do not force him to consume foods he doesn’t like.

Dairy products

Pamper your little friend with porridge cooked in milk. Some experienced dog breeders add grated apple, carrots or crushed nuts to such porridges. If you notice that your pet's stool becomes weaker as a result of this type of feeding, try giving less fatty foods without going as far as completely fat-free.

Meat

Before pampering your puppy with a tasty piece of meat, freeze it in the freezer for two or three days.   Make sure the meat is at room temperature before feeding. Don't buy pork for your friend, as it is too fatty for puppies and can cause unpleasant discomfort. It is better if you buy beef, veal, rabbit, turkey or chicken at the store. In order not to overfeed your baby, give him 20-30 g of meat per kilogram of weight.

Fish

Feed your puppy fish twice a week. If your pet does not like such food, then increase the dose of meat. Before you treat your puppy to sea fish, do the same thing with it as with meat. Two or three hours in the freezer and it is ready to eat.

How many times a day should you feed your puppy?

What to feed the puppy was discussed above, but the time and amount of feeding is also important. So for puppies under two months of age, the feeding process should be 5-6 times a day, with an interval of 3 hours. Gradually, as the puppy grows, the number of feedings decreases and the interval between them increases. From two to four months, the puppy should be fed 5-6 times, every four hours. A puppy, 4-6 months old, should eat 3-4 times a day, with pauses of 5 hours. And so on.

How often to bathe a puppy

There are several theories about how often you can bathe your four-legged pet. One of them says that this procedure can be carried out as often as possible if the animal does not have problems with the sebaceous glands. Another, on the contrary, says that the puppy should be bathed once every ten days, since frequent washing can hypertrophy the sebaceous glands, and this will make the coat look dirty and unkempt. 

What vaccinations do puppies get?

Vaccination of puppies is a common problem for novice dog breeders, because some vaccinations can harm your little friend.  The first vaccination of puppies takes place at the age of eight weeks, maybe earlier if the “mother” of the puppy was not vaccinated before mating. The procedure takes place in 2 stages:

• first injection;
• after one or two weeks - the second.

Subsequent vaccination occurs after the loss of baby teeth.  Protect your big-eared friend from terrible diseases with vaccinations against:

• plague;
• rabies.

Vaccination of puppies is carried out only in specialized veterinary clinics and only to clinically healthy puppies. A week before the procedure, you need to drive away worms and fleas.

When and how long should you walk your puppy?

The sooner you start walking your pet, the faster you will be able to toilet train him. Don't be afraid to take your puppy out into the fresh air if he hasn't been vaccinated.

If you live in a country house, then you will not have problems with walking. Don’t be afraid to leave the area with your puppy, because he, like any adult dog, likes to walk. Carefully examine the fence near your house; there should not be any cracks there, otherwise your pet will soon go in search of adventure. From a young age, accustom your puppy to a leash, collar and the “fu” command. 

It is better to walk your puppy in a place with a small crowd of people, then you can freely pay attention to training. As soon as you notice that your pet has dug up another “prey”, call him back with the command “fu”, because this “prey” can be any garbage that contains a lot of bacteria.

Help the dog find friends who will not exceed his weight and age category. Communication with their own kind has a positive effect on puppies. They play with each other, have fun and even learn. If your pet cannot get used to going outside “in a big way” and leaves you fragrant “gifts” in the apartment, then when interacting with other puppies, he can learn this.

When the puppy is very small, the walk time is 1-2 hours. Try to go outside more often, literally 5-6 times a day, for 10-15 minutes, then the puppy will get used to the process faster.