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How to Take Care of Your Puppy – Complete Guide for New Pet Parents

🐶 How to Take Care of Your Puppy – Complete Guide for New Pet Parents

(By Bhavika Kennel)

A new puppy brings joy, love, and endless cuteness into your home — but with this happiness comes responsibility. Whether you have a Shih Tzu, Golden Retriever, Poodle, Maltipoo, or Maltese, taking proper care of your puppy in the first few months is extremely important.

This complete guide will help you understand everything from feeding and grooming to training and health care.

⭐ 1. Create a Safe & Comfortable Space

Your puppy needs a private and secure place to relax.

What to provide:

  • Soft bed or blanket
  • Clean water bowl
  • Puppy pee-pads
  • Toys to chew/play
  • A crate (optional but helpful for training)

Tip: Avoid loud places — puppies are sensitive to stress.

⭐ 2. Proper Nutrition (Feeding Guide)

A healthy diet = healthy growth.

✔ What to feed

  • High-quality puppy food (Royal Canin, Farmina, Pedigree Pro, Canine Creek)
  • Fresh clean water available always
  • Avoid human foods like chocolate, onion, spicy food, sweets

✔ Puppy feeding schedule

  • 2–3 months: 4 meals/day
  • 3–6 months: 3 meals/day
  • 6+ months: 2 meals/day

✔ Treats

Use soft treats only for training — not more than 10% of the diet.

⭐ 3. Vaccination & Deworming

Health care starts immediately.

✔ Mandatory Vaccines

  • 6–8 weeks: Puppy DP
  • 9–10 weeks: 1st DHPPi + Corona
  • 12 weeks: 2nd DHPPi + Lepto
  • 14 weeks: Rabies
  • Annual boosters every year

✔ Deworming

  • Every 15 days till 3 months
  • Then once a month till 6 months
  • Then once every 3 months

(Always follow your vet’s schedule.)

⭐ 4. Grooming According to Breed

Different breeds need different grooming.

🐶 Shih Tzu / Maltese / Maltipoo / Poodle

  • Brush daily (to prevent tangles)
  • Bath every 10–15 days
  • Professional grooming every 4–6 weeks
  • Face-cleaning daily (tear stains)

🐶 Golden Retriever

  • Heavy shedding — brush 3–4 times/week
  • Bath once a month
  • Ear cleaning, nail trimming regularly

⭐ 5. Potty Training

Consistency is the key.

✔ Steps:

  1. Use pee-pads or a fixed outdoor spot
  2. Take puppy every 2–3 hours
  3. Reward immediately when they pee in the right place
  4. Never scold — it slows learning

⏱ Puppy Toilet Times

  • After waking up
  • After meals
  • After play
  • Before bedtime

⭐ 6. Basic Training

Training should start from day 1.

Commands to teach:

  • Sit
  • Come
  • Stay
  • No
  • Potty

Use positive reinforcement: treats + praise.

⭐ 7. Socialization

Expose your puppy to:

  • Different people
  • Other vaccinated dogs
  • Car rides
  • Sounds (vacuum, doorbell)

This helps reduce fear & aggression later.

⭐ 8. Exercise Needs

Different breeds need different exercise levels.

  • Golden Retriever – High energy, 45–60 min walk/play daily
  • Poodle / Maltipoo / Maltese – Medium energy, 20–30 min daily
  • Shih Tzu – Low to medium, short walks + indoor play

⭐ 9. Chew Toys & Mental Stimulation

Puppies chew because they’re teething.

Give them:

  • Rubber chew toys
  • Rope toys
  • Puzzle toys
  • Treat-dispensing balls

Avoid:

  • Plastic, small toys, or anything that can break

⭐ 10. Regular Vet Checkups

Visit your vet for:

  • Vaccination
  • Weight check
  • Growth monitoring
  • Tick & flea prevention

Early detection keeps your puppy healthy for life.

❤️ Final Tips from Bhavika Kennel

  • Give lots of love & attention
  • Maintain a routine
  • Keep the environment clean
  • Avoid overfeeding
  • Start training early

A well-cared-for puppy grows into a confident, loving companion.

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