Knowing how to take care of your dog is important. To help you, we’ve put together lots of information on everything from grooming and paw care to tips on looking after your dog's teeth.
Your puppy’s first day at home
Your puppy’sfirst few days away from their mother and siblings will be a big upheaval. Sowhen you bring them home, you’ll need to give them your undivided attention. Ifyou can spend time showing your puppy around, feeding them and playing withthem it’ll all help to get them nice and tired before bedtime.
Sniffing and exploring
Startby letting your puppy sniff around, and then introduce them to their bed. Put ablanket from their old sleeping place that smells of their mother in yourpuppy’s bed. Then let them explore their new surroundings at their own pace.
Let your puppy sleep
If you have young children, they can easily play with the puppy too much andovertire them. Make it a rule that they must never wake the puppy up. Unlikebabies, puppies know when they need to sleep, so once your puppy’s asleep,don’t disturb them.
Keep other pets happy
If you have other pets, make a fuss of them as well so they don’t get toojealous. Start by keeping them apart and feeding them separately. But once theyget to know each other, they should end up the best of friends. Even your catcan learn to get along eventually!
Start house training
Don’tget cross with your puppy if they mess on the floor – you could end up makingthem feel insecure. Try leaving out lots of newspaper or special puppy mats andtake them outside every half hour or so, as well as after each meal. Rewardthem with lots of praise every time he or she relieves himself outdoors.
Get them settled in
Try and get them used to being on their own. For the first few nights, yourpuppy will probably be restless and whimper when they’re left alone. A hotwater bottle and a ticking clock wrapped in a blanket can be very reassuring.But don’t worry too much - they’ll soon feel at home.
See our selection of Pedigree puppy foods
