10 Tips to Be the Best Puppy Owner

Who doesn’t love a cute cuddly puppy?

They sure can bring joy to our lives! It’s great coming home to a wagging tail, a sloppy kiss, and unconditional love, am I right?

Your pup loves you no matter what you smell like, what you do or if you decide to stay in your pj’s all day.

You love your pup even if they sometimes frustrate you…hey nobody is perfect! If you want to be the best puppy owner on the block there are a few things that can really set you apart from the rest.

Here are the top 10 Tips to Be The Best Puppy Owner:

1. Prove a healthy diet: Provide healthy and nutritious food. Pick food that’s at least 3.5 stars on a dog food advisory site lower quality foods will lead to unhealthy coat, skin and bad temperament. After all, we are what we eat, so are our dogs!

2. Exercise your pup: Your pup needs daily exercise to release all the pent up energy they have. Your pup needs at least 2 walks a day. This will give them the chance to tire out that racing brain and body.

3. Be social: Make sure your pup gets enough positive exposure to people, places, sights, sounds, and smells early on as this helps them handle all sorts of situations as an adult dog.

4. Bond: The more time you spend with your dog, the better the bond will be between the two of you. Dogs are natural pack animals and thrive when they are close to other dogs and humans. 

5. Train: Dogs absolutely need training, they don’t know what the rules of your home are, they don’t know what words mean, they don’t understand what’s expected of them…until you teach them everything you want them to know. Start training as early as possible so your pup can learn manners and skills to keep them safe. For more information on training your pup, join our Facebook Group or check our online training courses.  

6. Play: The more your pup can play with you or with other dogs the more energy they will get rid of, this means they will be able to settle down and rest faster! Make sure to tire your pup out both mentally and physically. 

7. Be patient: Raising a puppy can be overwhelming and frustrating at times, but when you lower your expectations and raise your patience level with your puppy, just a bit, you’ll start to see vast improvements in your pup's behavior. Remember your puppy wasn't born speaking your language or understanding the rules of your home. You have to teach them what words mean and what rules they should follow.

7. Visit the Vet: Keep your pup up to date on vaccinations as well as take them to the vet for a yearly checkup appointment or when a health issue arises. You’ll be tempted to hop online and ask friends and family for advice but it’s best to get your pup checked by a professional instead of relying on the opinions of others.

8. Brush their teeth: If you don’t take good care of your pup's teeth this could lead to periodontal disease and can lead to a host of other health issues such as diabetes and even heart disease. Brush your pup's teeth daily to keep dental problems away.

9. Help them make friends: The more you bring your pup around other people and pets the more social they will be. Socialization needs to start early and be a positive experience for your pup otherwise it could lead to behavioral concerns down the road.

10. Take your pup to the groomer (even if they have short hair): The sooner you can get your pup in to see a groomer and experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the grooming salon, the far more comfortable they will be as they grow and mature. Professional groomers can help you keep your pup’s coat and skin happy and healthy. Even short-haired dogs can benefit from de-shed treatments a couple of times a year. 

In the comments below, tell me which one of these tips are you going to start today?