Getting a new puppy or kitten can be overwhelming for some. Where do you start?
If you haven’t decided on a puppy yet, it is vital to do your research on whatever breed you may be interested in. While a certain breed may be appealing, not every breed is suited for every family. It is important to take your lifestyle, home, family, etc. into consideration.
Different breeds have different personality traits and different health issues. Find the one that fits with you. It doesn’t make sense, for example, to get an active breed if you are a couch potato. Similarly, if you are athletic, certain breeds would not keep up with you. You also don’t want to choose a breed that has a mountain of health issues ahead of it.
We always encourage adoption as so many animals ae looking for homes. You can also find some really awesome crossbreeds that are so unique and often hardy. If you do want to get a specific breed from a breeder, it is important to get from a reputable breeder. Being KUSA registered does not mean reputable; it just means they are registered.
Here are some key points to look out for when supporting a breeder:
- Does the breeder know about the genetic flaws in the breed and do they invest in testing for and eradicating it from their breeding lines?
- Does the breeder ensure dogs are not overbred? Bitches should not be bred every cycle.
- Have they been vaccinated and dewormed more than once? Are the puppies’ first vaccinations done by a vet? This ensures your puppy has been checked by a vet and given the all clear for obvious health concerns. Vaccinations done by a breeder are not guaranteed to be done correctly; this is merely a money-saving scheme. It may seem easy to give an injection, but it needs to be stored correctly, bought from a proper supplier, and given at the correct age.
- A reputable breeder will allow you to see both parents and all their facilities.
- A reputable breeder won’t allow puppies to go to new homes before eight weeks.
- Puppies will be weaned and eating a veterinary puppy food, not milk or porridge, etc.
- Often, a reputable breeder will be actively involved in breed-specific rescue organisations.
Make sure your house is puppy proof as puppies and kittens are curious creatures. Make sure they can’t get access to pools and that there are no poisonous plants. Make sure there are no gaps a puppy can squeeze out. Secure windows, balconies, and stairs. Put away any small objects that your puppy could chew or swallow.
Stainless steel bowls work well as they can’t be chewed, are easy to clean, and don’t rust, chip, or break. Noise-sensitive puppies may prefer plastic bowls.
Puppies and kittens have very delicate digestive systems and sudden changes in their diet can cause digestive upsets. For this reason, it’s best to feed your puppy the same food as their previous owner for the first few days while they settle. Then you can slowly introduce your choice of puppy food that should support your puppy’s growth.
Having the right diet is crucial for a puppy or kitten’s health, growth, and development. At each stage, they need specific nutrients in precise quantities according to their breed size.
It is important to feed the advised quantities because overfeeding can also cause diarrhoea or cause the pet to grow too quickly, which can lead to poor joint formation. The amount on the bag is what they require in a 24-hour period. This is divided into three meals and, when they reach six months, it can go to two meals.
Puppies should receive their first vaccination and deworming at 6–8 weeks. Kittens are vaccinated from eight weeks of age. It is important to realise that one single vaccination is not sufficient. They need a series of initial vaccinations in order to get proper immunity. Your vet will advise the protocol for your puppy. Viruses such as distemper and parvo can be deadly but are preventable by proper vaccinations.
For kittens, it is advisable to screen them for feline aids and leukaemia viruses.
Potty train your puppy by frequently taking him to the desired area and allowing him to sniff around. Your puppy should go out shortly after he eats, plays, or wakes up from a nap, before confinement, and whenever he sniffs around like he has to eliminate. As your puppy eliminates, praise him and, when he finishes, give him a treat. A kitten would use a litter tray: Make sure you start off with the same litter they are used to.
The general principal with training a puppy is to reward the behaviour you don’t want, and to reward thereby reinforcing the behaviour you do want.
Crate training is advisable. It is important that the crate is seen as the dog’s bed and sanctuary. Its purpose is to provide confinement for reasons of safety, for the dog’s security, for house training, for prevention of destructive behaviour, and for travel or for the dog to be when no one is around to supervise him.
Read here for the benefits of crate training as well as how to do it.
Taking your dog to puppy training is very important. Like everything in life, prevention is always better. Don’t wait for undesired behaviours; prevent them by getting basic training in place.
Teach your puppy how to walk on a leash: the sooner the better as puppies learn easily when they are young. Begin with short walks, taking frequent breaks. Increase the length of the walk gradually. You don’t want to do excessive exercise in puppies as their growth plates are still open and hard impact exercise or extreme distances can impact these growth plates and lead to issues as an adult. Avoid walks during the hottest and coldest parts of the day. A general rule is five minutes of exercise for each month of age.
It is important that puppies are stimulated. Give them toys to play with and interactive games to stimulate them. Boredom results in destructive behaviours.
Proper tick and flea prevention is also vital. There are many products that can be used safely from eight weeks of age.
It is also becoming more and more important to get pet medical aid—even just a hospital plan for those bigger expenses. Veterinary care has evolved. There is so much we are able to do diagnostically, medically, and surgically. Don’t let cost impact the care your pet gets. Here are some options to consider for pet insurance:
Discuss any questions you have with your vet. Make sure you have a vet you trust and be aware of which clinics are open after hours for emergencies. Most importantly, enjoy the new member of your family. It is a 12–15-year commitment.