The Vet’s Puppy Guide: Facts, Care, and Training Tips

Introducing a new puppy into your family is an exciting new adventure that will be sure to create lifelong memories. Whilst you may be overjoyed with the idea of four little paws running your halls, you must consider the work, challenges and responsibilities involved with a new puppy (and an adult dog). 

• Before jumping into adopting a puppy - know the right breed for you. If you have a more active lifestyle and have a lot of space, an Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever would enjoy sharing these with you. If you have a more relaxed lifestyle and live closer to the city, a Maltese or Pomeranian may be a good choice.

• Dogs in their puppy stage have a lot of growing to do, so ensure they are receiving the right amount of nutrients through their food. Be sure to get quality puppy food that is breed-size specific (small, medium or large) to ensure that your puppy develops into a happy and healthy dog.

• A puppy is much more than four little paws in your life, and you should be prepared to take on the time and financial commitment of a dog. You should be committed to loving your pup their whole life, as they will do the same for you. 

With all of these factors to think about, there are surely many questions you need answered before you bring your new puppy home. This guide will take you through all the steps you need to take before the adventure begins.

"Remember that puppies need plenty of love and attention from their owners. Spend time bonding with your puppy through playtime, walks, and cuddling to build a strong, lifelong relationship. By providing your puppy with proper care, attention, and love, you can help ensure they grow up to be healthy, happy, and well-adjusted adult dogs." 

- Dr Jane Miller BSc, BVSc (hons)

Do your research: Before you jump into the deep end and adopt a new puppy, you need to ensure that you do your research. You need to be prepared to care for your new puppy, long after they have passed this stage of life. With many adult dogs living upwards of 10 years, it is crucial that you are ready to care for them their whole lives. 

Part of this involves finding the right breed that suits your lifestyle and personality. If you live in a high-rise apartment, you likely shouldn’t be adopting high-energy breeds such as kelpies and border collies that require lots of exercise.

Pet insurance - don’t skip out: Before you bring your new puppy home, be sure to take out pet insurance that suits you and your lifestyle. Doing so will help you avoid missing out on cover for pre-existing conditions - issues diagnosed before the insurance policy was taken out.

Adoption: Researching breeding practices is important in supporting the ethical breeding and treatment of the puppy you’re looking to bring home. ‘Puppy mills’ and illegal breeders are illegal in Australia, so make sure your puppy is from a private seller before taking the leap.

A great alternative to seeking out a breeder is adopting! By giving a puppy a new home, you can help them start a new life with you, whilst still getting precious puppy time.

Supplies: To ensure that your new puppy has a smooth transition, and feels at home, be sure to accumulate all the supplies you need prior to their arrival. This will consist of well-balanced puppy food and treats, a water bowl, toys and a cosy place to sleep. These essentials will allow both you and your puppy to have a positive experience.

Along with new supplies, it is also wise to consult with your breeder or adoption agency on being able to bring old bedding home with you. Bedding or toys that smell of your puppy’s mother and littermates will help them acclimate to their new home with that familiar scent.

Laws and regulations: In Australia, there are several laws and regulations in place to ensure the safety and welfare of dogs. One of the most important is the requirement for all dogs to be registered and microchipped with their local council. This helps to ensure that lost or stray dogs can be quickly reunited with their owners. 

Visit the professionals: Within the first few days of having your new furry friend in your home, you should book your first vet appointment. Your puppy’s first vet appointment is very important, as it will familiarise them with the space and new people, as well as allow you to check on the health of your new family member. 

In these first vet appointments, you are also going to be able to get the appropriate vaccinations and worming medication for your new puppy to keep them safe.

Bringing your new puppy home can be one of the biggest hurdles to jump over, as it is a totally new experience for both you and your pup. Whilst this may be a challenge, you must remain calm and patient with your new furry family member and gradually introduce them to their new home. 

To ensure that this transition is smooth and comfortable, you don’t want to overwhelm your pup on its first day in its new home. Be sure to set up their sleeping area before they arrive, along with removing anything from puppy height that could be dangerous. The use of a calming pheromone spray such as Adaptil can help smooth the transition home for a new puppy.

Introduction to your home: When you arrive home with your new puppy, allowing them to explore safely is crucial. By introducing them to a small part of the home, or a playpen, your new pup can start to slowly familiarise themselves with their new home. In this smaller space, be sure to provide access to food, water, toys and their bed to make them more comfortable.

As your puppy becomes more confident in these smaller areas, you can introduce them to new parts of your home under supervision -  you don’t want them getting lost!

Introducing family members: If you have other pets or family members living in your home, you should gradually introduce them to your puppy in a safe manner. Ensure that you make this a calm experience, as being too loud or rowdy can lead to your new puppy becoming afraid and hesitant long term.

Introducing other pets: If introducing your puppy to an existing pet, you can get them used to each other’s scent by swapping bedding or toys. This will make meeting less of a shock to both pets. When your pet physically meets your new puppy, be sure to supervise and regulate the interaction, and avoid any accidents.

As puppies are very impressionable at this age, setting a routine early will make these processes easier in the long run. If your puppy struggles to adjust to its new environment, consider purchasing a heartbeat toy or a watch in its bed to mimic the heartbeats of its littermates and mother. The use of calming pheromones is helpful also.

As your new furry family member starts to gain confidence in their new home, you need to ensure they are receiving the right nutrients to fuel their growth. This age is a time of rapid development, so ensuring that your puppy is getting the nutrients they need through its food is very important.

Choose the right food: Choosing the right food that will give your puppy the nutrients they need for its growth and development is very important. The food they consume at this stage will have a direct effect on their health into adulthood, so puppy food specific to their breed size is always recommended. 

Many pet owners opt for dry food, as it is convenient and holds all the nutrients needed for your growing puppy. However, some puppy parents will occasionally offer some wet food to help with hydration. Whatever you choose, ensure that it is a puppy-specific food so that it is easily digestible for your new furry family member. It is important to slowly transition them onto the food you have chosen to feed your puppy if it is different from that supplied by the breeder.

When to transition to dog food: Your puppy will need to stay on puppy-specific food for a while, to ensure that they are able to grow and develop. Depending on the breed and size, your puppy will need to stay on this food anywhere from 10 to 24 months. Be sure to consult with your vet to guide you in this transition.

Feeding schedules: Until your puppy is around four to five months of age, it should be fed three times a day with its puppy food. This is because of their smaller stomachs, and they cannot digest as much food as adult dogs. After five months, feed your puppy twice a day.

Portion sizes: When it comes to the amount you should be feeding your puppy, it varies depending on your puppy’s breed and needs. 

Hydration: Providing your puppy with fresh and clean water is essential, as keeping hydrated is very important for your furry friend. Ensuring that there is always access to clean water at all times will allow your pup to stay hydrated. It is a good idea to have several bowls available as puppies can be clumsy and may tip their bowl over.

Supplements: Dogs can be low in many vitamins and minerals if they aren’t receiving them in their food. Given the balanced nutritional profile of most puppy-friendly foods and their bodies' natural stage of development, puppy deficiencies aren't common until they get older. 

However, if you can see symptoms of deficiency, such as lethargy, loss of appetite or skin, coat and teeth issues, your puppy may not be receiving the nutrients they need. Ensure that your puppy is eating at mealtimes, in the proper portions with nutrient-rich food. Be sure to take your pup to the vet if symptoms persist or worsen.  

Understanding proper puppy care is very important, especially before your puppy arrives at your home. Knowing their grooming needs, as well as health and socialisation practices will help in your transition as a puppy parent.

Vaccinations: The health of your puppy should always be at the forefront, especially when they are in this vulnerable stage of life. Illnesses such as Parvovirus and the Distemper virus can be prevented through vaccinations, so we recommend booking in your puppy for their core vaccines as soon as possible. The core vaccine for puppies is the C3 vaccine - preventing canine parvovirus, distemper and adenovirus. Here is the schedule you should follow with your vet:

Your pup may also possibly encounter parasites such as worms, ticks and fleas. These can likewise be prevented through medication such as dewormers along with flea and tick prevention. Appropriate parasite prevention is essential to prevent potentially fatal infections and infestations in your puppy. 

Socialisation: After bringing your new puppy home and getting settled in, it is time for your new furry friend to meet new puppies, environments and people. It is said that the first 14 to 16 weeks in a puppy’s life is its socialisation window, and should be navigated carefully. 

A safe way to socialise with your furry friend is with puppy preschool classes. In these classes, your pup will meet new puppies and people, and will hopefully pick up some new commands!

Playtime & exercise: As for playtime, you will surely experience short bursts of energy from your pup. With puppies needing a lot of rest to grow, it is not uncommon for them to sleep upwards of 15 hours a day! Be sure to play and bond with your pup when they are awake, and let them get their rest.

To provide further exercise for your puppy, it is ideal that you start to train them how to walk on a leash at an early age. Here are some of our top tips on training your dog on the leash, and your first walk:

• Introduce your pup to the collar or harness you’ll be using before their walk, and reward them when they get close to the items. Allow them to get comfortable wearing the harness in short periods of time.

• To get your pup to walk on a loose leash, practise a walk in a safe area with no leash, and have your pup follow you, rewarding them when they do. Once they are comfortable doing so, try with the leash.

• We recommend shorter walks, as your puppy could grow tired. Do not over-exercise your puppy, as this can affect growth and development, particularly in larger breeds. 

• Allow them to sniff their surroundings, as this is a time of enrichment for your pup - which they really enjoy!

Visiting the vet: Ensuring the health of your puppy is extremely important, especially with the heightened vulnerability during this life stage. Be sure to consult with your breeder or adoption agency about your puppy’s current vaccination status, along with any potential inherited diseases that could affect your puppy. 

Along with this, you may need to visit the vet throughout your puppy’s life if they get into any sort of trouble, or have infections/illnesses. Your puppy may encounter worms or parasites, or simply eat something they weren’t supposed to.  Budget for more frequent vet visits in the first year of life as many puppies seem to get themselves into trouble more frequently than adult dogs.

Likewise, it is important to establish a routine with your vet and get your puppy used to this practice. This will make both the vet and your life easier as your puppy matures.

Bathing: Whether it be from eating, playing or accidents, your puppy is bound to get messy within their first few months with you (and beyond). Introducing your puppy to baths will ensure that the experience isn’t anxiety-inducing for them, and calmer for you.

After your puppy has settled in, you should start a bath routine. The frequency of baths at this age will depend on your puppy’s breed and their tendency to get dirty! Try not to bathe too frequently as you can strip the natural oils from their coats. When you bathe your puppy be sure to use a puppy-specific shampoo to ensure their skin and coat don’t dry out after baths.

Grooming: Many breeds require regular visits to a professional groomer to clip the coat, particularly the many poodle breeds. Keeping your pet's long coat short helps to reduce matting (and grooming time). It is essential to get your puppy used to the groomer by starting with a short session. Choose a groomer that uses positive rewards and understands to stop if your puppy is showing signs of stress or anxiety. 

Brushing: The amount of brushing and coat maintenance you will have to undertake with your puppy will be dependent on the breed. Shorter-haired breeds such as boxers and greyhounds will need less frequent brushing, but longer-haired breeds such as Havanese and Maltese pups will need a lot more care.

No matter the breed, we recommend introducing the practice of brushing your puppy's coat at this stage to familiarise themselves with getting brushed.

Nail trimming: Nail management can be difficult for many dog owners, especially if they didn’t introduce nail cutting at an early age. By handling and trimming your puppy’s nails at a young age, it will make life easier for both you and dog groomers in the future. Here are our top tips on introducing nail trimming and maintenance to your pup:

• Be prepared - be sure to purchase a nail-cutting tool specific to puppies and dogs, as they are required to safely cut your puppy's nails.

• Get them comfortable - allow your puppy to sniff the nail clippers, and get familiar with them.

• Start small - begin by holding your puppy’s paw with one hand, and trim a small amount from their nail. This will get both you and your pup used to this process.

• Positive reinforcement - be sure to give your pup lots of treats in this process, and encourage them to stay still through this reinforcement.  We find "Licky Mats” really helpful here.

Dental care: Although puppies don’t get all their adult teeth in until around six months old, you should understand the teething process and how to take care of your pup’s pearly whites. After 12 weeks, your puppy should start teething - meaning that you should have those puppy chew toys prepared. 

Likewise, your puppy may feel the urge to chow down on your furniture during this time. To prevent this, we recommend redirection to puppy-specific chew toys or an anti-chew spray for your furniture or tables. 

Since their teeth are quite sensitive to breakage at this stage, we recommend holding off on bones and dental chews until they have all their adult teeth in.

When your puppy has stopped teething, it is recommended that you try to brush your dog’s teeth daily. Therefore, we recommend getting your puppy used to having their mouth examined from an early age to make dental care easier in the future.

Browse our collection of dental products for dogs here.

Getting stuck into training your puppy at this impressionable age will encourage a responsive and well-behaved dog. Whilst it might take a little extra patience, you’ll be grateful for a trained pup!

Obedience training: Luckily for new puppy owners, there is a multitude of resources available for basic obedience training for your furry friend. Puppy pre-schools and training programs are available to not only help in the training of your dog but also their socialisation at this age. Make sure you find a program that uses positive reward-based training.

Training at home: Introducing basic obedience training at home is also necessary for your pup to learn the ‘dos’ and ‘don'ts’ inside and outside the house. We recommend always using reward-based behavioural training, as it is the most effective method. Through this, you can train your puppy in desired behaviours by rewarding the action and ignoring undesired behaviour. Scolding, yelling or aggression is never recommended when training a puppy, as it leads to anxiety and long-term stress.

Crate training: crate training is highly recommended for all new puppies and owners.  It is a valuable tool for keeping your puppy safe. The crate should be a positive place for your puppy.  

Boundary training: In relation to teaching boundaries to your puppy, we continue to recommend a positive reinforcement model of training. If your dog starts barking when someone walks by, be sure to redirect their attention, and reward them when they stop. Starting this early will further solidify this behaviour in their later years.

Chewing: As for chewing, it is important to redirect your puppy instead of scolding them. During this stage of life, puppies need something to chew on whilst they’re teething and your shoes or furniture are often the closest thing. Be sure to redirect them to an appropriate chew toy, and switch these toys up often to prevent boredom.

Potty training: The process of potty training your new puppy can be a challenging one, but if you remain patient and consistent, it will surely pay off. We recommend taking your pup outside to the designated “potty” area frequently, especially after naps, meal times or play sessions. This can be difficult, so we will give you our best tips later on in this guide.

To help your puppy in their potty training, we recommend letting them outside to the designated potty area and resisting the urge to play with them. Here are some other tips we recommend:

As there will be accidents during this process, be sure to remain patient with your puppy. Do not scold or yell at your puppy, as it will lead to stress and anxiety with potty training. Instead, extensively clean the area of the accident to prevent your puppy from going to the bathroom in the same spot again. Be sure to continue positive reinforcement when they go to the designated area.

Taking your puppy into the world can sound scary at first, especially after learning about the potential hazards it may have. However, this time outside enriches your furry friend and allows for a good amount of daily exercise. 

Preparing for the outdoors: As mentioned previously, before letting your puppy roam at a dog park or taking them for a walk, they should be fully vaccinated to prevent high-risk illnesses. Likewise, having them microchipped to allow them to be retrieved if they are lost is recommended. 

Safety tips: Along with medical preparation for preparing for the outdoors, the right supplies are needed to ensure the safety of your new furry family member. A secure collar and lead are recommended, especially when exploring outside. However, we also recommend purchasing a good-quality adjustable harness for your puppy if you plan on taking them out. This is the safest option for your puppy, as they are less likely to slip out of it and get away from you.

Above all this, you should always supervise your puppy outside when you aren’t in your own backyard. This will help prevent any runaways or altercations with other dogs or people.

When bringing a new puppy into your home, you must be prepared for the challenges you will face. Your puppy is going to live a long life, so you must be committed to responsible pet ownership, and caring for your furry friend their whole lives. Your puppy will show you unconditional love, and you must do the same!

To make the transition to your home as smooth as possible, you must be educated and prepared for their arrival. Through supplies such as good quality puppy food, warm bedding, puppy toys, access to clean water and a whole lot of love, you’ll find that your puppy fits right in with your family.

It is likewise important to start routines and training with your puppy at an early age when they are the most impressionable. Be sure to enrol in a puppy school, visit your vet for those first appointments, along with setting feeding and grooming routines. 

Whilst this guide is a jumpstart to your puppy journey, it is not extensive on dog care. You should never stop seeking new information from reputable sources and learning more about your breed. Share your experiences with other puppy owners, and be sure to care for and love your puppy for their whole life.

This article was written by Dr. Jane Miller