Clinton Parkway

Puppies

“Whoever said you can’t buy happiness forgot little puppies.” – Gene Hill

Puppies need mental and physical exercise to be happy, healthy members of a human household. Learn more about how to teach your puppy to be your best friend for life! CPAH provides free access to Animal Behavior Network, an excellent resource for puppies.

Getting ready for your puppy

The preparations you take before you bring your puppy home will help your pet adapt to the new environment. You should be ready with food, toys, grooming aids, a collar and leash, bedding, and some basic understanding of dog behavior.

During his first nights with you, your puppy may be lonesome for his littermates or afraid of the new environment. A radio turned on low, or a ticking clock can help soothe your puppy to sleep. Introduce your puppy to his collar and leash slowly. Let him get used to the collar for a day, then introduce the leash by connecting the leash to his collar and letting the leash trail on the ground. When your puppy is used to the leash, pick it up and hold it loosely. Gradually increase your control of the leash until you can persuade your puppy to walk with you.

Basic training

Puppy training can begin at an early age, even with puppies as young as 8 to 12 weeks. Early training can help with important areas of puppy learning, including establishing leadership, socializing, and preventing unruly behaviors.

“I can train any dog in five minutes. It’s training the owner that takes longer.” – Barbara Woodhouse

Routine exams

In most cases, you will be visiting us several times during your puppy’s first few months. Your puppy will receive a comprehensive health examination during each visit.

We will also start your puppy on a vaccination schedule and advise you when boosters are needed. A stool specimen will be examined for intestinal parasites. All puppies should be dewormed starting at 2 weeks of age, since studies have shown that almost 100% of all puppies are born with roundworms. Learn more about intestinal parasites in pets.

We will discuss heartworm disease, a deadly disease transmitted by mosquitoes that can easily be prevented with once-a-month medication. Flea control is very important in our area, and a variety of safe, 100% effective, products are available at our hospital.

Start brushing your puppy’s teeth at an early age, since periodontal disease is a common problem seen in older dogs. By three years of age, almost 80% of dogs will have some form of dental disease. Most puppies can easily be trained to accept tooth brushing.

We encourage you to learn more about elective surgeries, including informational videos on our Neuter and Spay web pages.

Microchip ID Pet Identification

Microchips have helped reunite thousands of pets with their families. We offer the most widely used microchip products to increase the chances of a safe recovery of lost pets. It’s safe, simple and effective. It’s a great feeling to know you’ve taken the extra step to help prevent the heartbreak of a lost pet.

Grooming

Bathe your pet with a mild shampoo such as Hylyt Shampoo. You can repeat the bath whenever your puppy is dirty or soiled. Always comb and brush your puppy’s coat free of matting and knots before wetting the coat. Our staff can show you how to clip your puppy’s nails and also recommend a good nail trimmer.

CPAH has a groomer who is always available to assist you in learning how to properly comb and brush your puppy. If you prefer, we can schedule an appointment to have your puppy groomed at our hospital.

Basic nutrition

Your puppy is going through its fastest growth period now until it’s about 12 months old. These early stages of your puppy’s development represent the most important time in your pet’s life. That’s why proper nutrition is essential. Feed a high-quality, life-stage pet food like Science Diet Canine Growth.

How much to feed and how often

You should feed your puppy enough of the proper food to meet its energy needs. Use a feeding guide, usually printed on the label, as a starting point only. Thereafter, the amount you feed should be adjusted to maintain optimum body weight.

What about treats?

Many owners enjoy giving their pets treats. It is important to use a quality, life stage treat. Most grocery store treats are very high in calories and may lead to obesity or improper nutrition if used in excess. We recommend using regular diet kibble as treats for most of the training sessions.

“Man is troubled by what might be called the Dog Wish, a strange and involved compulsion to be as happy and carefree as a dog.” – James Thurber

You will likely be visiting us several times during your puppy’s first few months so we would like you to feel comfortable about asking questions. Just remember – that’s why we’re here!

Additional Website Video Resources:

These videos are produced by the Cornell University Feline Health Center, but the principles are the same for puppies. If you can do these procedures with a cat, it will be easy to do with your new puppy!

Giving Your Cat a Pill or Capsule
Giving Your Cat Liquid Medications
Trimming Your Cat’s Claws
Brushing Your Cat’s Teeth.