Getting a new puppy is exciting. Learning how to raise that puppy is the first step to making both his (or her) and your life enjoyable and harmonious. Raising a puppy takes dedication, patience and time. Many new puppy owners wonder especially how to raise a puppy while working. While this can be tricky, it isn’t impossible if you are willing to adjust your schedule a little bit based on your new pup’s needs. Remember, he or she is a new member of your household – so plan on giving as much time, love, and care as you can.
Use These Ten Tips for Raising a Puppy to Give it a Long and Healthy Life
1. Head to the vet’s
The very first thing you should do when getting a new puppy is take it to the veterinarian for a full check-up, immunizations, and de-worming. Your vet is also a great source of information about breed, special needs, spaying and neutering, nutrition, routine and training. Ask your vet tips on how to raise your puppy – your vet will likely give you tips specific to your circumstances and breed.
2. Establish (and stick to) a feeding and bathroom schedule
Puppies need to eat and relieve themselves more frequently than mature dogs. It is recommended that your new pup eat at least three times a day, and he or she will need a bathroom break every 2 to 4 hours – little bladders fill up more quickly than big ones, and your new puppy still needs to learn to control these urges. If you are working all day, there are feeders that dispense food automatically. For the other matter, consider taking your puppy out before heading to work and then again on your lunch break. If that isn’t an option, hire a dog sitter or walker until your puppy is old enough to wait. Remember, the early years of a puppy’s life, like a child’s, are quite formative. Don’t let work get in the way of providing all the care that a puppy needs to develop into a strong, mature, and healthy dog. Once your puppy matures, it will be more self-sufficient and require less involvement with regards to food, walks, etc.
3. Get the right food from the start
Nutrition has a big role to play in how to raise a puppy, and it will affect his or her growth. If your dog food doesn’t have the right nutrients (which can also vary depending on breed and size), it could have lasting negative effects on his or her health and lifespan down the line. Read about the best puppy food here. Consult with your vet as to which puppy food is best for your new pup, and again what to feed it as it gets to adulthood.
4. Get a crate and train your puppy to use it
Contrary to popular belief, a dog crate should never be used for punishing your pup. The crate should instead be a safe place in which your pup can relax and enjoy a little solitude. Once your pup is used to the crate and enjoys lying down in it, it becomes a valuable tool for caring for your puppy while you’re working. Your dog should feel comfortable in his or her crate for at least a few hours at a time, which means that your puppy won’t have an accident on the carpet or chew your couch out of boredom. We can’t over-emphasize that early crate training is key. Your adult dog will thank you for their very own space later. Read more here.
5. Introduce your puppy to other people and pets early on
It’s best to introduce your pup to other people and pets in its first 4 months of life, because that is the time in which it learns how to socialize. Socializing your dog at an early stage will help ensure that your new puppy, and later your adult dog, has a good disposition towards people and other dogs and cats. A dog that is non-aggressive towards other people and animals is generally a happier and safer dog to have around, particularly if you live in an environment where your dog constantly comes into contact with other animals and humans. This is the key to raising a gentle, well-mannered dog.
6. Make sure your puppy gets plenty of exercise
Puppies are like little children – they seem to have an endless amount of energy and they need an outlet to let it out. This is why a good exercise regimen is required – and also because exercise helps strengthen muscles, promote healthy growth and keeps your pup physically and mentally fit. This tip will follow through to your dog’s adulthood. Mature dogs also need daily exercise (actually twice a day is ideal, see our article here), so getting an exercise routine going while your pup is young is the best way to go.
7. Play to create a bond!
Playing with your pup is the best way to create a strong bond, and it will make the puppy happy. Dogs are naturally pack animals, and the play between you and your pup solidifies the relations and hierarchy that you have between each other. Cats are more solitary animals, and they can be left to be on their own. Dogs, however, require a feeling of “let’s do it together.” Dogs that play regularly tend to live longer, healthier lives, because play makes them fit, relieves stress, and solidifies that feeling of involvement. After all, isn’t that why you got a dog in the first place – to love it, play with it, and have a close friend?
8. Puppy-proof your home and yard
This might seem like an obvious thing to do, but there are so many dangers that most people don’t even think about that it’s worth mentioning. Electrical cords, poisonous plants and foods, choking hazards, sharp objects and holes in the fence are only a few of them. This is especially important for new puppy owners trying to raise a puppy while at work, because they won’t be home to supervise their pup. Get on all fours and examine from your puppy’s point of view – what are some things that it could get into that aren’t safe for it to chew on. You can also buy “puppy proofing” sprays to spray certain high valuable objects in your house to make sure that your pup won’t chew on them.
9. Train your puppy not to bite
Bites are the number one reason why dogs are left at shelters or put down. This is why it’s important to teach your puppy early on that it isn’t okay to bite. Get some durable and safe chew toys for them to chew on instead. It’s important to raise your puppy teaching him not to bite people if you want him to live a long life by your side. Gentle play biting is OK, but if you sense any aggression – make it clear that you don’t approve of this behavior.
10. Take care of your puppy’s teeth
Dental hygiene is extremely important while raising a puppy, and even more so once his or her adult teeth come in. Rot and decay can not only be extremely painful, but bad dental hygiene can lead to other, sometimes life-threatening conditions. If you hope to be raising a puppy that will live a good, long life, regular teeth brushing and occasional teeth cleaning by your vet are instrumental.
Summary
These tips should help you understand how to raise a puppy so it can live a healthy, happy life, even if you’re attempting to raise a puppy while working. It can be difficult and time consuming, but it’ll all be worth it when your pup develops into a well-mannered, healthy, playful dog.
