How Best To Raise a Puppy: The Most Important Tips

I have bred hundreds of puppies but I am are confident in saying that it is a challenging and different task each time, that nobody will ever fully master. So if you, like us, happen to ask yourself how to best raise a puppy, do not be ashamed. There is a lot to know about how best to raise a puppy, and in this post I try to give YOU our most important lessons and take-aways.

Before you buy your puppy, keep in mind you will need to provide a safe environment, provide proper activities, plenty of puppy toys, exercise and training. There will be various things to buy and a few mishaps are to be expected. In the long run, your puppy will be worth it!

Deciding to buy or adopt a new puppy is one of the best decisions you will ever make. There are, however, many things to consider before you bring home your new best friend. Your puppy will be entrusting his life to you and you have a duty to care for him and make sure he has a happy, healthy life, and we will discuss methods that will make raising your new puppy a joy!

A good puppy training and exercise program is necessary to have a healthy, disciplined dog. There are many good books and blogs available and it is worth investing your time to do some background reading. A well-trained puppy who gets plenty of exercise will be easy to take care of and a joy to be around.

When thinking about how to raise a puppy, we need to think out the puppies needs, how to ensure he has a happy life which will promote good puppy behavior and gets the proper nutrition and grows up to be a healthy well-trained dog. We should investigate the best bedding and crate or kennel available. A comfortable, disciplined dog will turn out to be the perfect pet.

I will examine how dogs and humans became so close and why they make such wonderful pets, which puppy food is appropriate and which puppy supplements are necessary to provide.

Three of the scoundrels from our latest puppy batch. Those teeth are always looking for those chewy fingers

The history of dogs and humans

The relationship between dogs and humans has developed over the last ten thousand years. The fearsome grey wolf has evolved into the modern dog that we know and love today. Time has proven that dogs were uniquely suited to become domesticated and to become man’s best friend.

The modern dog can serve many functions. He can be a companion and friend, be trained to protect your home or business or even be a loyal member of the police force. It is no wonder such a close bond has formed between us!

Important tips for raising your puppy

I think one of the most important steps is to register with a good veterinarian so that he can make sure your puppy has all of the required vaccinations and is in overall good health. Your vet will be your ally in keeping your puppy healthy and should be consulted if you are ever in doubt about the best course of action. Make use of your vet’s expertise to make sure your pet stays in top shape!

Crate training is a good idea as dogs are den dwellers by nature. There are some very good crates or kennels available online, so do a little research and you will able to find something suitable.

Puppy toys are always important. A bored puppy will be a mischievous puppy so make sure you provide plenty of toys to play with. Pet stores, department stores or online are all good choices to buy from.

The puppy food and puppy supplements you choose will play a vital part in keeping your furry pal healthy. There are many options to choose from, so do some research or consult with your vet to make an informed choice. I believe getting this right is essential!

Puppy training and exercise is a vital part of ensuring good puppy behavior. You can buy guides regarding this and a properly trained dog will mean an easy life for you! A regular exercise regimen will keep Fido in good shape and taking your puppy for a nice walk is one of life’s great pleasures.

When your puppy grows up

As your pet grows into adulthood, there will be many new challenges and some of the measures you will need to consider are:

● Sexual maturity. You need to decide if your dog will breed or you can discuss spaying /neutering with your vet.

● Adjust your dog’s food intake. Check the suitable amount of food to feed your adult dog.

● Ensure your pet has a proper balance between exercise and time to rest and relax.

The life expectancy of your puppy will depend on a few different factors. The breed you choose and, if he has suffered any health challenges are the main ones. In general, smaller breeds live longer than bigger ones.

Dogs have shorter lifespans than humans do and according to the American Kennel Club, a general guide for various sizes of dogs would be:

● Small breeds such as a Chihuahua or Yorkshire Terrier can be expected to live between 10 to 15 years on average.

● Medium breeds such as French Bulldogs or Border Collies have an average lifespan of between 10-13 years.

● Big or giant breeds such as a Doberman or Great Dane generally have a shorter life. 10-12 for a big breed and 8-10 years for giant breeds.

Of course, these are all approximations and your pet may end up living significantly longer. Always remember that owning a puppy is a long term commitment!

Location

Most dogs enjoy having a backyard to run around in and burn off excess energy. A house with a nice garden to play in is ideal. However, dogs are extremely adaptable animals, so other living arrangements are perfectly acceptable with the proper planning.

Dogs thrive when living on a farm and can be a useful addition to your team of workers! The wide open spaces means Fido will never get bored or lack exercise!

Modern-day realities mean many of us choose to live in an apartment building. This presents challenges in raising a puppy in a confined space, so in order to do this successfully; there are a few points to consider. A lot of exercise and trips to the dog park are necessary to burn off excess energy. Selecting the right breed is important, temperament rather than size is a big consideration, and a dog which is happy to laze around such as a greyhound is ideal!

There are few things in life as rewarding as getting a new puppy. Whether you buy from a reputable kennel or get yourself a rescue dog, take the decision to welcome a furry new friend into your family today!

How long until your pup is fully grown?

All dogs and puppies grow at different rates depending on individual and breed. One can also measure a dogs growth not only in terms of physical maturity, but also in sexual maturity and emotional maturity. For physical maturity, most small breeds that weigh less than 30 pounds when reaching adulthood grow fully physically mature in 10-12 months. Medium size dogs that weigh 30-80 pounds however usually take 12-16 months to reach full physical matureness. Finally, large dog breeds like rottweilers, golden retrievers and german shepherd that weigh over 80 pounds when reaching adulthood take somewhere between 18 and 24 months to grow fully physically mature.

How long until the puppy reaches sexual maturity depends on breed and whether the pup is female or male. It is most common for male dogs to become fertile after six months, however males usually reach full sexual maturity after being 12-16 months old. It is also common for female dogs to go into season after 6 months of age, but it can also take up to 24 months depending on dog breed.

Should I take my puppy to obedience school or training classes?

I always look to start training my pup as early as possible. Most breeders start to handle the dogs very early, however from about the 7-8 week mark the puppy should be capable of learning simple commands. It is a misconception that you must wait until 6 months until beginning training of your puppy. The puppy will learn from every social interaction from the moment it can walk, so the earlier the better!

Learning how to follow and listen to commands and instructions from the owner can be difficult for an untrained puppy. Taking your puppy to obedience school or training class can be a great experience both for you as owner and for your dog. Training classes serve many functions that benefit you and your dog. First, you will be socializing your dog in a group environment which serves as critical preparation for the real world. You will be learning from a trained professional with hands on experience with many puppies, able to answer questions and show how to act with your dog in real life situations. New challenging situations will always come if you take care and give your dog a healthy outdoor lifestyle, so it is always best to have trained yourself and your dog for these situations beforehand.

We took our puppy Umbra to a training class not long ago. Sometimes chaotic but always worth it!

What are the best outdoor training exercises for my puppy?

First of all, since you may want to release your puppy from the leash at some point, choosing a wide open and unpopulated area should be a primary concern. When you first start training your dog it could be a sufficient exercise to let the dog explore the surrounding area without the leash. A good exercise would be to regularly train on the ”return” command with the puppy.

At first it is also better if you are two or more owners helping out. This way you can start easy exercises such as calling your pup to run from one owner to the other. Remember to use command words such as ”come” or ”here” instead of the dogs name when calling for your dog. Using the dogs name might confuse the dog in the long run when its name is used in other circumstances, and you should make a habit of not using the name but instead command words for all exercises.

What to think about if having a puppy in the city

As kennel owners we have always stressed the importance of being able to give your puppy lots of outdoor room to play and train in, but that might not be so easy if having a puppy in the city. Now we are confident that one can successfully own and train your dog in the city, but there are some things to think about before inviting your new furry friend to your city apartment.

Firstly, it is good to locate nearby parks and common areas where it is less crowded and more space for your dog to walk around. Your dog will need regular exercise and getting out from the city blocks is critical to reduce the strain on the dogs joints and body from walking on tarmac. Walking your dog on the curb also initiates further social implications if the environment is stressed with lots of people, with other dogs in close vicinity and with car traffic.

Furthermore, it is good to avoid public transportation when possible. Rather walk your dog if possible since the dog will need to behave in a closed environment which can be stressful when the puppy is young.

Owning a dog in the city can be stressful and time consuming, but I have never met or talked to a dog owner living in the city that regretted it!

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