First of all, congratulations on welcoming a new member to your life. Owning a pet is a great responsibility, but the love you give will bring you a loyal companion for many years to come. The first six months with a new dog will be busy, but also the most fulfilling. During these six months, you may encounter some medical or behavioral/social issues:
DietaryPuppies should be fed age-appropriate food (puppy, adult, or senior). When a puppy is weaned, you can gradually transition it to puppy food. You can purchase dry or wet food from veterinary clinics, pet stores, or supermarkets, or even make your own. There are high-quality dog foods formulated for different age groups available on the market, providing puppies with comprehensive and balanced nutrition, as well as all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Dry food is nutritionally very similar to wet food but is generally more economical, cleaner, and more hygienic, and promotes better oral health. Food quality is very important; the quality of inexpensive food can differ significantly from that of high-quality dog food. As long as the dog's food is nutritionally balanced, owners do not need to add extra calcium.
Homemade food is a viable option for growing puppies, but owners should ensure that the chosen recipes provide comprehensive and balanced nutrition. Homemade food can be more challenging in terms of nutritional adjustment and cooking, and is usually more expensive than commercially available dog food. However, some puppy owners believe that homemade food provides puppies with more antioxidants, allowing them to maintain a natural lifestyle. During the cooking process, owners must ensure that the required amounts and proportions of minerals and vitamins are correct. It's important to note that even with added vitamin supplements, feeding only meat or meat and rice does not constitute a complete or balanced diet. If you decide to make homemade food for your dog, consult your veterinarian for nutritional advice and a customized meal plan for your pet. The following two websites, BalanceIt and PetDiets , offer sample meal plans that can be tailored to your pet, making the investment worthwhile.
Owners should also reward their puppies occasionally, such as with treats, raw bones, or raw chicken wings. Avoid feeding dogs cooked bones, as cooked bones are prone to splintering and can pose a health hazard.
Behavioral training and socialization
Training a dog is generally not too difficult if the owner has a little patience. Punishment (spitting or chasing the dog) is considered an outdated and cruel method, and it will also make the dog fear its owner. The best way to train is through positive reinforcement. The owner can use treats or praise for the correct behavior. Rewards must be given immediately – if the owner waits five minutes to reward the dog, it may have already forgotten why it received the reward.
Teaching a puppy to use the correct toilet area is the most basic training. First, the owner needs to decide on the materials for the dog's toilet training. Common materials include newspapers and pet pee pads. After deciding, place the newspapers or pee pads in the area where the dog will go to the toilet, such as the bathroom or rooftop. Dogs rarely go to the toilet in their crates, just as people don't relieve themselves where they sleep. When you see your dog sniffing around or preparing to go to the toilet, you can take it to the toilet area. If the dog goes to the wrong place, don't hit or scold it. Ideally, act as if nothing happened, take the dog to another place, and then clean the spot where it went to the toilet. Don't let the dog see you cleaning the wrong spot, as it will mistakenly think you are giving it attention, and it may try to get your attention by going to the same wrong spot in the future. You can also spray urea spray on the wrong spot to try to remove the urine smell and prevent the dog from going to the same place again.
Training at home
Training your puppy at home requires a lot of patience. Never punish your puppy if it goes to the toilet in a place you don't want it to. Doing so can make your dog afraid to go to the toilet in front of you. This is not good for it and means it will hide in hard-to-reach places, making cleaning even more difficult! Being able to see your dog's feces is also beneficial for owners, as it allows you to check for worms and other issues (such as diarrhea). Additionally, make sure to take your puppy to the place you want it to go to the toilet regularly. Also, be prepared with your cleaning products, a positive attitude, and up to six months of patience; some dogs may take a long time to learn.
Use praise instead of punishment. Give it a treat or plenty of verbal and physical affection whenever it follows your instructions and to the designated time and place to let it know it's doing well. You can even train it to obey commands, starting by introducing verbal commands like "go poop" when it's potty training time. Taking it to the toilet about 20-30 minutes after meals is also a good habit. Young puppies may need to go every few hours, while adult puppies may be able to hold it for about six hours. Once your dog is trained, don't let it hold it for too long, as it may develop urinary and kidney problems if it can't go when it needs to.
Teaching obedience
It's important to ensure you can stop your dog from doing things that could endanger itself or others, and training can be fun for both you and your dog. Teaching obedience takes time and patience, just like toilet training. In the long run, commands like "stop," "stay," "sit," and good leash training will make your life easier for both of you.
Positively reinforce correct behavior by showing your dog its favorite treats, verbal praise, and physical affection when it does something right. Be consistent with your commands and train gradually. You'll be surprised how quickly some dogs learn to sit when food is involved! If you encounter difficulties in any part of obedience training, consider working with a dog behavior trainer. They will help you with how to teach your dog. Make sure you find a reputable dog behavior trainer who will train your dog using kind and ethical methods.
Social life
Dogs, like humans, are social animals. They enjoy interacting, playing, and getting to know other dogs and people. However, without proper socialization opportunities, they may develop behavioral problems. It's best to let your puppy interact with other dogs and people from a young age so they learn how to greet and socialize appropriately. Similarly, just like people, some dogs are naturally more shy or more sociable than others, so it's important to understand what your dog needs for a healthy social life.
Living environment
Owners should provide their dogs with baskets, pet beds, or crates so they can rest well at night. They should not be locked in crates or tied up. Dog beds should be washed regularly, and their blankets should be washed weekly or whenever they become dirty. Dogs should not rest too far from the living room; they should be in a warm, comfortable, and secluded spot.
Beauty Cleansing
Dogs, especially energetic puppies, get dirty very easily, so it's important to bathe and brush them regularly. Puppies should be shampooed with a special formula for their delicate coat and should not be rinsed more than once a week. If your dog gets dirty quickly, you can temporarily bathe it with water or clean it with dog cleaning wipes.
Owners also need to brush their dogs regularly. Long-haired breeds need brushing more often than short-haired breeds, and if your dog's fur tangles easily, you'll need to brush it even more frequently. Some detangling sprays can make untangling easier. Most dogs will need a regular brush and a detangling brush.
It's not normal for a dog to have a "dog smell." If your dog still smells like a dog after a bath, it may have a skin problem and you should take it to a veterinarian for a checkup as soon as possible.
On the other hand, if a dog frequently walks on rough surfaces, its nails will naturally become shorter and smoother. However, if your dog cannot go outside often, you will need to trim its nails regularly. When its nails become too long, you can hear them clicking on the floor when it walks, or when its nails are longer than its paws and touch the ground when it stands, it's time to trim them.
Get your puppy used to nail trimming from a young age so they won't resist having their paws and nails touched as they grow up. Many dogs don't like having their paws touched, so we need to do it gradually. Don't rush to trim their nails at first; try to get them used to having their paws touched, giving them a few days to adjust before attempting to trim them. If your dog is prone to anxiety, you can trim one nail first, rewarding them with a treat, and then gradually trim the rest over the next few days. This will create a positive memory for your dog, which is better than a negative one. You can also consult a veterinarian or groomer for nail trimming tips.
A dog's nails contain blood vessels. If cut too short, the nail will bleed. If your dog's nails are light-colored, the blood vessels will usually be visible. If the nails are darker, you can shine a light on the nail while trimming to try and find the blood vessels.
Using suitable nail clippers is important. In addition, it is advisable to prepare styptic powder in case you accidentally cut a blood vessel and can stop the bleeding in time.
Learning to trim a dog's nails can be quite daunting at first, but it's an essential part of dog care. Irregular trimming can cause nails to grow too long and curl, making it difficult for dogs to walk.
preventive vaccines
Vaccination is a crucial part of preventative medicine. Puppies should be vaccinated at 6-8 weeks, 10-12 weeks, and 16 weeks of age. Vaccines prevent common and serious diseases such as canine distemper , parvovirus , parainfluenza , leptospirosis , and infectious hepatitis . In Hong Kong, these diseases are common in unvaccinated dogs; therefore, vaccination is even more important. After the first three doses of vaccination, adult dogs should receive annual booster vaccinations.
Bordatella is a bacterial respiratory infection in dogs, with common symptoms including coughing and runny nose. It is rarely life-threatening, but the infection rate is high. Vaccination against Bordatella is optional; some pet boarding facilities require dogs to be vaccinated against it beforehand. We also strongly recommend vaccinating dogs that will be boarding or regularly groomed with Bordatella. Puppies should receive a booster dose annually after receiving two doses of the Bordatella vaccine.
Furthermore, Hong Kong law mandates that all dogs be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies at six months of age, with booster doses every three years thereafter. Although Hong Kong has been rabies-free for over 10 years, rabies prevention remains essential. Pets planning to travel abroad must be vaccinated against rabies and microchipped, and your veterinarian will apply for a dog license for your pet.
Du intestinal parasites
Puppies should be given deworming medication monthly until they are six months old. Then, administer it every 3 to 6 months. Deworming is very important for a dog's health because, in some cases, intestinal parasites can be transmitted to other family members.
Heartworm
Heartworms are parasitic roundworms transmitted by mosquitoes. Once a dog is infected with heartworms, its heart, lungs, and blood vessels will be affected. When a mosquito bites a dog, it transmits the larvae (Dirofilaria immitis) into the dog's body. The heartworms enter the bloodstream and reside in the heart and lungs, damaging them and causing severe inflammation. Heartworm infection can lead to serious illness and even heart failure. Common symptoms of heartworm infection include coughing, weakness, and difficulty breathing.
In Hong Kong, dogs that haven't received heartworm prevention are frequently diagnosed with the disease, so all dogs should be protected. Many products are available that can effectively prevent heartworm, such as monthly oral medications or neck drops, or annual heartworm vaccinations. Preventative medications only kill larvae, not adult worms. Therefore, it is crucial for owners to provide long-term, regular heartworm prevention for their dogs. Puppies should begin heartworm prevention before six months of age. Heartworm medication is a veterinary prescription drug.
fleas and ticks
Fleas can cause allergic reactions, dermatitis, and itching in dogs, and they can also cause intestinal parasite infections. Not all dogs need flea protection, but if your dog lives in an area with many fleas, regular flea treatment is very important. We recommend that dogs begin flea protection at 12 weeks of age.
Ticks are eight-legged arthropods that look somewhat like large, slow-moving fleas. Ticks can irritate the skin and even cause anemia. They often carry the parasite Barbesia , a tiny parasite that can cause life-threatening tick fever in dogs. Tick fever in dogs is similar to malaria in humans and can be fatal. Common symptoms of tick fever in dogs include lethargy, weakness in the limbs, pale gums, and very dark urine. Ticks are common in grassy areas and are widespread in Hong Kong, with a high infection rate in dogs.
Generally speaking, flea and tick bath products, or products containing pyrethrin-based insecticides, are not very effective. This is because flea survival rates can still be as high as 75 % after using these types of products.
sterilization
Spaying/neutering prevents unwanted breeding in pets. Puppies six months or older are eligible for the procedure. Generally, the surgery can be completed within a day, usually without requiring an overnight stay in the hospital, and most puppies recover completely by the evening of the surgery.
Spaying/neutering plays a crucial role in a pet's health and social well-being. If you do not plan to breed your puppy, we strongly recommend spaying/neutering your pet.
Therefore, the first six months of owning a dog are crucial; you'll need to care for it and plan for its future. During this time, both owner and puppy will have much to learn and experience, but witnessing the puppy's growth will be an exciting and fun-filled period.
