Puppy Care Mistakes

Have you recently adopted a puppy? Congratulations! You’re starting out on a long and beautiful journey of friendship, love, and adventures with your new pet. This is a crucial stage in little Fido’s life, so proper pet parenting is very important. Here, a Fort Collins, CO vet lists some don’ts to keep in mind as you start training your canine pal.

Letting Bad Habits Slide

Puppies are ridiculously cute, and they can usually melt our hearts in about two seconds flat. However, just because little Fido is adorable doesn’t mean he’s off the hook for bad manners. Don’t let the little guy chew your shoe now if you don’t want him doing this later.

Improper Nutrition

Your canine companion is going to go through a huge growth spurt in that first year. Proper nutrition is key at this stage! Any imbalances now could cause issues that can be very problematic down the road. Offer little Fido a high-quality puppy food.

Waiting For Training

Little Fido’s petucation should start the day you bring him home. Housebreaking and crate training are definitely in order. You’ll also need to start working on obedience training, and teaching your pooch some basic commands, like Sit, Stay, Come, and Don’t Eat That.

Inconsistency

Consistency is key when it comes to training dogs (or any other animals, for that matter.) Don’t let little Fido get on the couch one day, and then reprimand him for it the next. It’s also important to use the exact same words and phrases each time.

Improper Socialization

In order for your furry friend to grow up into a polite, well-behaved pup, he’ll need to be exposed to new places, faces, and experiences now, while he’s little. Socialization is key to this! Ask your vet for advice on this.

Not Puppyproofing

Little Fido is very curious, and will be extremely interested in sorting out what he can and can’t eat, chew, or play with. That can be just as dangerous as it is cute! You’ll want to address choking hazards, potential toxins, and other unsafe items. Ask your vet for tips on this.

Not Taking Enough Pictures

Your furry bff will be all grown up before you know it. Capture this super-cute phase of your new pet’s life!

As your local Fort Collins, CO veterinary clinic, we love watching puppies grow into happy, healthy adults. Please contact us anytime!