Puppy Care

Getting a new puppy is incredibly exciting for all the family, but it can be quite scary for your new pup. Find out how to deal with your puppy’s first day home with Purina. Your puppy’s first day home is an exciting one for all the family! You are starting out your new life together with the canine best friend you have always dreamt of. Everything is ready to welcome the new puppy and help them settle in straight away. But there is something many new owners don’t realise. While everyone in the house may be bursting with excitement and desperate to have a play with the newest member of the family, your puppy’s first day home may look completely different to them. After all, they’re on their own in a strange place with people they don’t know. It can be overwhelming for your pup, and may be stressful or frightening for them. Here’s how to help your puppy make an easy transition to family life. Take things slowly on your puppy’s first day home No matter how excited everyone is about the puppy’s arrival, keep their homecoming low-key. It’s so easy to shower the new dog with affection, particularly for the younger members of the family. While the new pup is getting used to their surroundings, always supervise excited children and give your dog some much-needed time out from all the excitement. Start off by having them in one room and let them explore in their own time discovering the scents, sights and sounds of this new world. Allow your puppy to settle in gradually and in their own time. This is far better than overwhelming them with enthusiastic games, cuddles and play while they are still trying to find their paws.

Dogs bring a lot of joy into our lives, but when they fall ill it’s all too easy to worry about the cost of treatment. That’s where dog and puppy insurance comes in! We’re here to help you find the right policy for you and your pet. Veterinary care is improving all the time, but unfortunately, these treatments can be expensive. When your dogs under the weather, the last thing you want to worry about is having enough money to make them well again, which is why dog or puppy insurance is a great idea. Taking out a dog insurance policy can bring you real peace of mind by taking the worry out of many stressful situations. Even so, you’ll need to be careful when choosing the company and policy for your pup, as there can be a wide difference between them – it’s not fun, but this time you really need to read the small print! Have a chat with your vet about pet insurance for dogs and the different types of insurance cover you could benefit from. In the meantime, we’ve put together some things to consider when you’re looking for your new policy to help you on the way. What to look for in a dog or puppy insurance company When you’re thinking about how to choose dog insurance, it’s a good idea to look at the company, as well as the cover they offer. A good company means less stress for you should your dog need veterinary treatment. The first thing you should look out for is a good track record in terms of claims history, the types of claim made, and the frequency of claims. You can ask your veterinary practice for advice, or look for this kind of information on the company’s website. The dog or puppy insurance company should also be easy to contact and offer a straightforward service. Make sure you look at how you can contact them – whether this is by phone, email or live chat. The company you choose should always be open to queries, friendly and helpful, you may need to contact them at a difficult time, so it’s important for you to find them approachable.

A new puppy can be life-changing and at first, it may not always feel like it’s in the best way. We’ve asked dog owners what were their biggest puppy problems during the first few months so you can know what to expect. Without fail, almost every new puppy owner has hit a point when they despairingly wonder, ‘what on earth have I done?’ and may even think ‘this is all a huge mistake’. Do these puppy problems sound familiar? If it’s where you are right now, don’t worry. Virtually everyone feels like that – and it’s actually a very good sign. It means that you’re taking the responsibilities of puppy-ownership seriously, and are doing everything possible to ensure your dog gets the very best start in life; but the journey can be exhausting, and is certainly life-changing. Some psychologists think that new dog owners go through a similar period to new parents when it comes to the ‘baby blues.’ Whilst there isn’t the huge hormonal shift that having a baby brings, all new owners have a vision in their minds of what having a puppy will be like, and picture the joys of their new arrival with anticipation. Often when their puppy arrives, the reality isn’t anything like the dream; and suddenly they are 100% responsible for this unexpectedly demanding new family member, who needs them 24 hours a day, without a break. That’s when the puppy blues so often kick in. You’re not alone with this feeling, here at Purina, we understand these puppy problems and the stresses that come with it. We’ve asked members of our team what the biggest challenges were during puppyhood, from toilet training to separation anxiety. Keep reading to discover how they felt about raising a pup. Struggling to cope "After about a week, I just felt like a complete failure. I was so tired I couldn’t think straight and everything seemed to be going wrong. Monty was still peeing and pooing in the house, he’d chew anything that he could find, and any time I turned my back, he’d be doing something he shouldn’t. This was causing conflict in the family and I couldn’t even leave him to go to the shops to get away from it all. I hadn’t realised that having a puppy was so difficult and twenty times a day I nearly picked up the phone to his breeder to ask her to take him back because I couldn’t cope. I’m so glad I didn’t though as he’s now my best friend and I couldn’t ever imagine life without him." - Lindsey, owner of Monty, now a 14-month-old Golden Retriever.

If you find yourself working a lot or going on a trip where you can’t take your pup with you, you might be wondering about what dog sitting and daycare services are available. Maybe they can’t come on a short holiday with you, or perhaps your working arrangements mean you need regular dog or puppy daycare. Your dog is lucky (and probably very happy!) if you have the freedom to work from home, or if you’re allowed to take them into the workplace. However, it’s completely normal for people who work to need extra help to give their dogs a happy and sociable life. Most healthy, mentally active dogs will be able to amuse themselves for a short while on their own, and if you have two or more pets, they can usually keep each other occupied for longer. But pets need human interaction, and on the occasions when you need to leave your dog alone for longer than four hours at a time (unless they have access to a secure garden via a dog flap or outdoor kennelling to relieve themselves), you should look at puppy or dog sitting services and arrange for someone to take care of them. Some owners rely on the help of a family member or friend when it comes to dog sitting, but of course not everyone has this option! If you need extra help, there is a growing industry of professional carers, including dog and puppy daycare and sitting services. Keep reading to find out what is dog sitting and boarding exactly and the average boarding and dog sitting rates you can expect to pay. What is dog sitting? Dog sitting is where a professional dog carer will come to your home and look after your pet for you. This could either be in the form of drop in home visits or daycare where they’ll care for your dog and ensure all their needs or met or dog walking, where your canine carer will just come and take them for exercise.

Everything you need to know about setting up your puppy with healthy eating habits to last them well into the adulthood. Feeding your puppy Your puppy seems small now, but they have a lot of growing up to do in a short space of time! In just 12 months (up to 24 months for larger breeds) they'll become fully-fledged adults. In the meantime their bodies and brains have to develop incredibly quickly, and plenty of high quality puppy food helps them to get there. They definitely need it, as a healthy, energetic puppy can burn through up to twice as many calories as an adult dog! Feeding your puppy is also an important part of taking care of their health and happiness. Once they are old enough to eat solid food – usually when they are six to eight weeks old – it’s time to introduce a diet specially formulated to meet their needs. What to feed your puppy Specially-formulated puppy foods are the ideal diet for the newest member of your family. This is because they are complete and balanced, which means they contain everything your puppy needs to help them grow up healthily. There’s no need for extra supplements or pieces of human food – in fact, these might do more harm than good, no matter how insistently they show you their puppy-dog eyes! Here is what to look for in the best puppy food:

There’s nothing worse than a puppy that won’t stop pulling on the lead. It can be extremely tiring for both you and your pup and can turn a simple walk into a complete nightmare. If your dog is straining at the lead, or your puppy refuses to walk without pulling with all their strength, it means that you are only controlling them with physical restraint, rather than with the training that should keep them happily trotting at your side. Not only that but, as they get older, the physical effort involved in controlling your dog could be overwhelming, especially if your canine friend is one of the larger, stronger breeds. To make life easier for you and your dog, all it takes is a little training and they’ll be overjoyed at the sight of their lead in no time. Keep reading to find out how to leash train a puppy! Why lead training puppies is important Exercise Being able to walk your puppy on a lead provides an opportunity to exercise your dog and keep them healthy while they grow and mature. Mental stimulation Exposing your puppy to new environments is essential to their growth and development, and walking on a lead is essential to exploring many new places. The act of training itself is also great mental stimulation for your dog! Further training Lead training also improves responsiveness to overall obedience training, and it may become easier to teach other commands such as ‘sit’ or ‘stay’ once your puppy has learned to be walked on a lead. What you’ll need before you start puppy lead training A collar or harness Buy a collar or harness that fits your puppy appropriately, never too loose or too tight – you should be able to fit two fingers between the collar and your puppy’s neck. Treats Use treats to reward them for good behaviour on the lead.

Dogs usually make firm friends easily, and your pup will almost certainly love being around other canine companions. In fact, they’ll probably jump at the chance to play with any animal, including cats. Here is how to introduce your new dog to the other pets in the family. As with any new experience for your pup, it’s important to introduce them to other pets carefully, to give their friendship the best possible start. But oftentimes this is easier said than done. An older dog can get territorial when they’ve stopped being the only four-legged member of the family. And a cat will let you know in no uncertain terms when they’re not happy with the new roommate. So, how to introduce a dog to a cat or a puppy to an older dog without World War III breaking out right in your living room? We’ve broken down the process of introducing a new dog into easy steps. Here is what you can do to help make the experience a smooth transition to family life for the new arrival and keep fellow pet residents calm during those first interactions.

New puppies are exciting, but there’s lots you need to do to prepare! Get ready for the excitement (and hard work) of puppy ownership with our guide. Preparing for your new puppy is such an exciting time. Pretty soon you’re going to have a small ball of fur (and joy) running around the house and you’re thinking already about all the fun times ahead. But are you also prepared for the hard work and the time-consuming, sleep-depriving part of welcoming a puppy into the family? Very few puppy owners realise just how much their life is about to change. This might all sound a bit scary – but don’t panic! There are also plenty of amazing moments only a dog owner can experience. Here are some of the things no one tells you before preparing for a new puppy, plus a few things to look forward to.

When you get a new puppy figuring out their sleeping arrangements can be difficult. Find out what the best options for puppy beds are and if you really should let them sleep in your bed with you. With all that playing, your puppy will need lots of rest, so appropriate puppy sleeping arrangements should be made. Avoid giving into temptation and allowing your new pup to sleep on your bed, even on the first night with your new puppy. It will quickly become a habit that you later might regret when they won’t be able to sleep alone! It’s best to make them a comfy nest that they can call their own, where they can be snug at puppy bedtime. If you’re using a puppy crate then a cosy bed can be put inside, with layers of newspaper underneath to soak up any spilled water or wee accidents. The puppy crate, or bed (if you’re using a bed on its own), should be placed in a quiet corner, somewhere where you can keep an eye on your puppy when they are inside, and out of the way of kids playing and general noise, so they can have a good rest. A corner of the kitchen will allow easy mopping up of any spills. If you’re placing the puppy crate on the floor elsewhere on carpet, some newspaper or (chew-proof!) waterproof pads underneath is a good idea. If you already have other dogs in the house, then placing your puppy’s crate alongside their sleeping area will give your new pup some reassuring company. However, if your existing pets are wary or upset about their new housemate, then it’s better to keep puppy’s sleeping arrangements separate, until they’re used to each other and are happy snuggling up or playing. What to expect on the first night home with your puppy On arrival in their new home, your puppy may take a while to settle in. This is likely to have been the first time they have been away from mum and their siblings. During the day, the activities of playing and sleeping might mean your puppy has been distracted and has not noticed that his previous doggy family are no longer around. When it comes to night-time though, it's dark and long, and it’s normal that your pup may get upset when you spend your first night with your new puppy. As a general rule, puppy first nights can be tricky – but they’re easier to navigate if you have some idea of what to expect.