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Bringing home a new puppy is fun and exciting, but also comes with responsibilities. Your new friend is depending on you to help grow in to a healthy, happy dog so learning how to care for a puppy from day 1 is key. Here are 5 things you can do to help ensure the health, safety, and comfort of your new family member.

1. Comfort

One of the many things that you must do for your puppy is to make him comfortable. You should definitely have a doggy bed and a set place for your puppy to sleep. Also, it is good to have plenty of toys, food, and water dishes.

First of all, you must spend as much time with your puppy as to fully acquaint you with him. You must make him feel safe and secure. This is necessary because he has just come to you leaving behind his mother and siblings and his known environment.

2. Proper Food

A proper diet is very important in your new puppy’s health. Start off with the food he was eating before he became your new pet, as their digestive system is a little touchy at this age. To change his diet, gradually substitute some new food into his regular food until you are eventualy feeding him the food of your choice.

Make sure that you do not start your puppy off by giving him scraps leftover from the table - he needs to be able to adjust before he can handle “people” food.

3. Veterinarian

Responsible ownership of a puppy includes seeking regular veterinary care. Necessary treatments include worming and vaccinations to protect the puppy. To ensure that your young dog receives the best possible care, schedule an appointment as soon as possible, and establish a regular vaccination and examination schedule as recommended by your veterinarian. Getting the proper vaccinations and checkups is an important part of learning how to care for a puppy.

4. Keep Him Sage

Puppies have a lot of energy and like to explore. You’ll need to take some steps to keep him safe. Look around and see what areas might be dangerous for him; you’ll want to keep him away from these places. If there are other pets in your home, you’ll want to supervise their interactions to make sure things don’t get too rough for your new puppy. If there are children in your home, make sure they understand the new puppy isn’t a toy and teach them how to treat him gently.

5. Obedience Training

Obedience training for your puppy is critical as it will help him turn into a well behaved dog. Not only will this insure that your dog is a pleasure to be around but it will also allow you to keep him safe. If your dog is obedient you can easily call him back if he is heading into danger. It’s never too early to start training your dog so you might want to have a plan for this before you bring your puppy home.

Learning how to care for a puppy isn’t hard, but it takes a bit of planning and commitment on your part. Don’t worry, if you plan it properly and give your puppy lots of love, you will be amply rewarded.

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Tags: Dogs