Looking after your puppy

Puppy Guide

Bringing your puppy home for the first time can be daunting, but master some of the basics and it won't take long for both of you to settle down. A good pet insurance policy should be one of the items under your list of essentials.

Bed and bedding
Bowls
Run or crate
Toys
Food
Walkies

Beds and bedding
Create a nice warm draft free space that he can call his own. While there's a massive range of dog beds, a cardboard box with warm bedding will do. Try and include a piece of material with his mother's scent, it'll help him settle in the first few days.

Bowls
These come in variety of sizes and material. The choice is down to your personal taste. More important is that you keep the food and water bowls separate. Remember to wash them regularly and keep the water bowl constantly topped up. Put the bowls in a quiet corner to avoid knocking them over.

Run or crate
Being able to contain him occasionally is useful, particularly during your mealtimes. Outside runs or a puppy crate indoors can be very useful. It'll also teach him to be a little independent.

Toys
Go for puppy toys that are made to withstand constant chewing. They should of course be non-toxic and large enough not to be swallowed.

Food
He'll need three to four meals a day. Try the puppy-formulated brands that offer the right balance of nutrition a growing puppy needs. Don't change brands abruptly, but gradually add the new food into his diet.

Walkies
Introduce a collar early even before he can go out of the house. Make sure you can slip two fingers in between the collar and his neck. By law, your puppy must wear an identity tag with your name and address.