Puppy Essentials

Welcoming a new puppy into the family can be exciting, joyful and sometimes a bit overwhelming. Some people are surprised by how intense it can be. If it’s your first experience raising a puppy, it’s likely that you have lots of questions. Here’s some guidance for the rookies and those who need to brush up on the basics.

Training

Positive reinforcement

Ringwood Vet Clinic supports positive reinforcement training, which means rewarding desired behaviour rather than punishing unwanted behaviour. Rewards can come in the form of healthy treats, praise, pats or other positive interaction such as a game or playing with a favourite toy. 

Puppy school

You’ll learn how to grow a social, fun-loving dog that can obey basic rules and live well alongside people and other animals. 

Puppies are at their most impressionable between 8 and 16 weeks old. Any positive or negative influences introduced to your pup are imprinted in their brains, much like a young child. 

Puppy school is like kinder for kids. It sets them up with a solid foundation for learning and behaviour for the rest of their lives.

If you can’t make it to school or you have ongoing behavioural concerns, look for a highly regarded trainer or community dog club in your area.

Find out more about Ringwood Vet Clinic’s puppy school run by Sonya, our experienced vet nurse and trainer.

Toilet training

Most puppies are reasonably well trained by 6 months of age.

The best time-tested method of training is to take them outside to a regular spot (on a lead if they are easily distracted!) and make an obvious, repeatable noise or phrase that your pup will associate with toileting. Eventually, your pup will use it as a cue to go to the toilet and you can reward them with a treat or praise after they’ve done their business. 

Make sure your puppy’s toilet area is well away from their bedding, food and water.

Crate training

Puppies need a cosy, safe, designated place to rest, a bit like a den for wild dogs. A crate gives them a sense of security and routine. It might be made of wire, plastic or fabric, or be an enclosed play pen. Put them there to eat, sleep and chill out.

Dogs don’t like to go to the toilet where they sleep, so crate training is a very effective toilet training tool. You’ll have less messes to clean up. Keep in mind that young puppies need to be taken outside for a wee during the night, as their bladders aren’t strong enough to hold on until morning.

There are many online resources to guide you in the art of crate training. Try a few different methods and work out what’s best for you and your pup. 

Diet

Puppies, like human babies, need regular meals often to fuel growth. Feed your pup 3 or more small meals a day until they are 4 to 6 months old. Then move onto two meals a day. 

A balanced diet of fresh, raw and home-cooked meat and vegetables plus one or two raw bones a week is ideal for a dog. Low-processed food is best for the optimal health and wellbeing of your pet.

Get more tips on diet, bones and treats. 

Exercise

Puppies need to be gradually introduced to exercise. Start with small walks and work towards strenuous outings or lengthy runs to avoid overloading your pup’s developing body. This is important for larger breeds that take longer to reach adult size and strength.

Socialising

It’s best to keep your pup away from other dogs until 7 to 10 days after their final vaccination, just to be safe. Protection is important and vaccinations can take a week or so to kick in.

Off the lead and fancy free

Your puppy will be stoked about running free with canine friends in wide open spaces, but keep in mind that not all dogs mix well and not all owners are across this. Excitable puppies running free in a space where you have limited control can end up in accidents and injury. 

Ease your pup gently into the off-lead world and remember that you are required by law to stay on a lead in all public spaces unless it’s a designated off-lead zone. You are obliged to be in control of your dog when it is off-lead in designated spaces.

Harnesses, leads and collars

Quality and a good fit are important. You should only just be able to fit two fingers under your dog’s collar. Inspect leads and collars regularly to make sure stitching and fastenings are still secure. 

In most cases, there’s no need to fuss with special equipment. Standard collars and harnesses will do the job. But if you are blessed with a difficult walker, you might want to look into a special harness that reduces behaviour like straining on the lead.

If your dog breed has a small head or back or neck problems, consider a special harness to cater for this. Ask your vet for guidance.

Ringwood Vet Clinic does not support the use of choker chains or retractable leads, as they can cause injury to dogs and even owners.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations stimulate your puppy’s immune system to produce antibodies that protect them against selected deadly or dangerous diseases.

In Australia, puppies get shots at 6 to 8 weeks old, then again at 10 to 12 weeks and 14 to 16 weeks (3 shots in total). This is usually enough to protect them for 12 months.

Titre testing

This is a blood test that checks for certain antibodies in the blood stream. Ideally, titre tests are first performed on puppies 4 weeks after their final vaccination.

The test will show if your pet is immune to a particular disease or needs re-vaccinating. If they have strong immunity, further shots are not necessary as they already have protection.

This knowledge can save your pet’s system from being overloaded with chemicals.

Find out more about vaccinations and titre testing.

Parasite prevention

Overloading your pet’s system with unnecessary chemicals is always a danger. Ringwood Vet Clinic supports checking regularly for the presence of parasites rather than routinely giving your pet drugs they might not need.

Check regularly for worms (send a poo sample to the clinic for testing), fleas, ticks, mites and heart worm.

Ticks are usually not found in suburbia. Treat your dog for tick prevention if you are going to an area with long, dry grass, bushland, rural Victoria or interstate.

If you’ve found proof of parasites, avoid using cheap, harsh treatments sold at supermarkets. Ask your vet or pet store for guidance on suitable products. 

Protection from the elements

Most dogs don’t need extra protection on their bodies. Some breeds might need a winter jacket or protective boots depending on weather conditions and terrain.

Keep in mind that dogs with areas of exposed unpigmented skin are at risk of sunburn and related skin cancers.

There are plenty of gentle, pet-safe insect repellents and sunscreens available. Ask your vet or pet store. 

Adequate outdoor shelter is vital if your dog will be left outside for periods of time. It should provide protection from the sun, rain and wind. A kennel or access to a shed or garage are great solutions.

We forget about hot pavements in summer with our footwear. Hold the back of your hand against the pavement for 30 seconds. If it feels uncomfortable to you, then it’s too hot for your dog to walk on.

Chewing and biting

Puppies explore with their mouths, especially when they are teething.

Try to reward good behaviour and ignore unwanted chewing behaviour (if it’s safe) rather than punishment. Instead of telling your puppy off for biting your sleeve, reward them when they stop.

Redirect chewing behaviour to a toy or chewy treat.

Find out more about your pup’s dental health.

Toys

Choose good quality, well-made toys. Think about your dog’s size and strength and supervise when they are playing with a new toy to avoid choking incidents. Inspect toys regularly for damage and throw out anything falling apart.

Just like a child, your pup will get bored with the same toys week after week. Rotate toys to keep them stimulated.

Be careful what you leave lying around. Your puppy won’t know that your shoe, the tv remote or the kids’ Lego blocks aren’t toys intended for them.

Grooming

Some dogs find grooming stressful. Introduce your pup gently and let them get used to being handled in ways that will be required for ongoing grooming throughout their life.

Try brushing their coat, gently squeezing their nails and toes, and handling their ears and face to get them used to being touched in this way.

Call (03) 9870 6440 to book a grooming session with Sharon at Ringwood Vet Clinic.

Car travel

It’s illegal and dangerous to travel with your dog unrestrained in a car. You’ll need a doggy car seat, cage, crate or harness and seatbelt to secure them so they aren’t a distraction while driving and don’t become a projectile in an accident. 

Remember NEVER to leave your puppy unattended in a car on a warm or hot day. Temperatures can soar quickly causing distress and, eventually, heat stroke or even death.

Microchips

This tiny device is inserted under the skin on your puppy’s back, between the shoulder blades. Each chip has a scannable unique number that stores your contact information. This means vets, shelters, councils and breeders can identify animals and locate owners.

It’s illegal to purchase or adopt a dog in Victoria without a microchip number. If your new puppy doesn’t have a chip, speak to your vet about how to organise one.

You can update your details anytime with Central Animal Records.

Council registration

It’s a Victorian legal requirement that your puppy is registered with your local council, usually by 12 weeks of age. 

It can be more costly to register a non-desexed dog, but councils will offer some leeway on this if you provide a letter of recommendation for delayed desexing from your vet. 

Emergencies

You need a solid plan in an emergency. Where will you take your pup for urgent vet care? What if your regular vet is not available? 

Plan in advance for these scenarios as time will be critical. Know the location of your emergency vet clinic and have the phone number handy. 

Enjoy the ride

Owning your first puppy can be quite a trip. Raising a dog well takes commitment, patience and lots of nurturing. Enjoy the journey and know that guidance and support is never far away as you explore the remarkable joys and challenges of rearing a puppy.