5 Tips for First Time Puppy Owners

There is a lot to think about when you get a new puppy. From feeding to training, working out how to keep them happy and healthy can feel daunting. Follow these five top tips to avoid making common mistakes.

Choose a Nutritious Diet

Regardless of breed or size of puppy, all dogs are carnivores (or omnivorous carnivores), so the ideal diet needs to contain a high level of meat.

Natural diets balanced with high-quality meat, supportive joint care and digestive aids such as prebiotics, will help build a pup’s strength.

Remember all ingredients are in descending order, so ideally, meat should come first in the composition. The best ingredients will also be clear and easy to understand, look for named meats e.g. Fresh Chicken or Dried Lamb rather than vaguer terms such as Poultry Meat Meal.

Get Socialising Early

For a puppy to grow up into an adjusted, relaxed, and all-round happy dog, socialisation is very important, so they don’t become easily stressed and anxious as adults.

Once vaccinated, get them out and about, meeting new people, puppies and dogs, and having new experiences. This helps puppies learn how to interact properly with other dogs and owners, plus it provides a fun and enriching experience for your furry friend.

Look for your local Pets Corner store and pop along to their Puppy Hour.

Beat Boredom with Puzzle Toys

Puppies can easily get bored, and boredom leads to destructive behaviour and bad habits such as chewing furniture. Keeping a puppy entertained can be easy. Puzzle and interactive feeding toys, stimulate your pup’s senses and encourage them to use their brains to problem solve.

Training also provides wonderful mental exercise for puppies – all you need to get started is a clicker and some tasty rewards.

Master Walking Etiquette

New owners sometimes don’t teach their puppies proper walking etiquette and use ill-fitting harnesses and collars.

Before your puppy is old enough for outdoor walks, get them used to wearing a collar or harness for short periods at home, and give them lots of praise and treats.

Sometimes it can be difficult to get the fit right. Pets Corner stores offer a free fitting service to ensure your furry friend is safe and comfortable.

Get Toilet Training Right!

When it comes to toilet training, it is natural for your pup to have accidents, but with the right training and attitude, they’ll quickly stop. Puppies should always be praised for toileting in the correct place and should be taken out to the toilet very regularly. Patience, positivity, and consistency are key.

High-quality Puppy Pads can be a handy way of avoiding mishaps when they’re still in the toilet training stage. For more advice on toilet training pups, read our Guide to Toilet Training Puppies.

Good luck with your new furry best friend!