Dog Care 101: Vaccinations, Preschool, Training, Health

For a prospective fur parent, there is nothing more exciting than welcoming a new puppy or adopted dog into your home. Dogs are loveable bundles of joy that will hopefully bring years of fulfilment and joy to your life. As the owner of a dog though, there are some responsibilities that you agree to take on when you bring a new dog into your family. These responsibilities help to ensure that you have a well-rounded, happy, and healthy dog. Take a look at our top tips for caring for your dog.

Vaccinations

Vaccinating your new puppy is so important. There are some nasty bugs and diseases out there, such as parvovirus, which can end a puppy’s life prematurely. Fortunately, these diseases can be easily prevented with proper vaccinations. Book your new puppy in as soon as they are home and try to avoid any areas that other dogs may have been in contact with until your vet says it is safe.

If you have just brought home a new puppy, one of the first things you are going to want to do is to organise puppy preschool for your new pet. Puppy preschool is a great way to socialise your puppy in a controlled and safe environment. Your puppy’s critical socialisation age ends at approximately 18 weeks of age, so it’s important to get your puppy to experience as many new sights, smell and sounds as possible.

Early socialisation will go a long way to ensuring you have a well-rounded, well-socialised dog later in life. Puppy preschool is a great way to not only start learning some basic commands but to socialise your puppy with other similar aged pups. It is also a safe way to socialise your puppy in an area where they should be safe from parvovirus.

Training basic commands

Begin training basic commands early. Using positive reinforcement and lots of treats, begin training your new pup in basic commands such as ‘sit’, ‘stay’, ‘shake’, and ‘drop’. You will want to continue to reinforce these commands throughout your dog’s life with regular training. Regular training will not only help to ensure that your dog never forgets these commands, but it will also help to tire your dog out mentally and physically.

What to watch out for with health

When it comes to your dog’s health, it can be hard to tell if they are feeling unwell. There are a few things you can watch out for, however, that can indicate that your dog is feeling unwell, such as:

• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Sudden weight loss
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Patchy or dry coat
• Sudden excessive thirst
• Dragging rear-end

If your dog has suddenly started displaying any of these symptoms, the best thing you can do is to take them to the vet for a health checkup. If you notice anything that is out of the ordinary, always consult your vet.

Dogs are beautiful family pets that can bring so much joy into your life. They will care for you as much as you care for them. If you need a professional, caring vet in Coffs Harbour, be sure to give us a call. We can help with everything from puppy preschool and vaccinations to your dog’s health checkups.