There is something irresistible about a new puppy – from its cute appearance to that unmistakable puppy smell; the way it exudes excitement and is a bundle of wagging, licking joy in your presence. The idea of a new puppy may present itself as comprising idyllic, fun-filled days of playtime and puppy breath, but the reality of raising a puppy is very, very different.
Steering a puppy through the first year of their life; taking full responsibility for their health, shaping their behaviour, and ensuring they grow up to be a well-balanced, confident and fulfilled good dog takes a lot of time, money, patience, knowledge and grace. How prepared are you for raising a puppy? In this article, we’ll discuss the day-to-day realities of being a puppy parent, as well as what to expect on a month-by-month basis as your puppy grows up.
Before adopting a puppy into your family, consider this
Too many pet owners buy or adopt a puppy breed based on what they’ve seen in a movie or on viral videos on social media. Movies are fictitious or based on exceptional dog characters; while video clips on the internet only show a tiny window of a much bigger picture. While you may see the extraordinary obedience of a Belgian Malinois or a border collie in a one-minute video clip, what you don’t see are the hours and hours of daily training and exercise that go into the dog behind the scenes.
Adorable husky puppy? Not so cute any more when he grows up and destroys your garden or furniture because you didn’t know he needs to be run for at least 10km a day. And who can resist the large eyes and super cute domed head of a spaniel puppy? But now you can’t leave the house without subjecting him to separation anxiety. Unbelievably endearing beagle or dachshund puppy? How will your neighbours experience these vocal hunting breeds when you’re not at home?
Adopting a puppy based on its looks alone can have disastrous consequences. Potential puppy owners must have a very good understanding of the breed and not let their emotions get the better of them – if you are not prepared for the breed requirements, no amount of cuteness or aesthetic appeal is going to make up for a mal-adjusted dog. If your lifestyle, personality and home environment do not accommodate the needs of the dog, both you/your family and the dog are going to suffer.
Please do plenty of breed research before even fantasising about the dog you think you want. Speak to people who own the breed you’re interested in and ask for the positive and negative aspects of the breed. Research the following characteristics based on your lifestyle and home environment:
- What are the dog’s exercise needs?
- How intelligent is the breed? (Very intelligent breeds will require a lot of physical and mental stimulation – games, search activities, tricks and training, agility, etc. – which will be very demanding on your time.)
- How affectionate is the breed? (Some dogs are a lot more affectionate than others, which may be a positive or negative, depending on your personality.)
- Is the breed fond of children?
- Is the breed prone to health issues?
- How much grooming is required? (i.e. a super cute bulldog may have short fur that doesn’t need much brushing, but his skin folds need to be kept clean, dry and fungus-free to avoid skin infections.)
All of these characteristics must be considered from the outset, especially since adopting a puppy requires a lifetime commitment (that’s around 10 – 15 years). If your family enjoys a particularly active, outdoor lifestyle, a dog that thrives on plenty of exercise and exploring will be a great choice. If you work long hours from home, a dog that is calm and low-energy will be a better fit – requiring only one or two short daily walks to meet their exercise needs (and to make sure you get enough exercise too!).
And don’t think that a dog’s size will determine its exercise requirements: a Jack Russell terrier (small) needs a ton of physical and mental stimulation, while a greyhound (large) is happy to lie around and snooze on either side of one good romp per day. If dogs don’t get the stimulation they need, they can resort to destructive behaviour. This doesn’t make them ‘naughty’ – it just means they are bored; their needs aren’t being met.
Can you afford a puppy?
The price of a puppy (or their adoption fee) is just one introductory cost. Raising pets requires constant financial input – from high-quality pet food, bedding and blankets, to durable toys, a harness and leash, grooming supplies (like shampoo, toothpaste), food supplements, treats, training classes, pet medical insurance, and whatever else your puppy will require over their lifetime. Annual vaccinations, dental check-ups and cleaning, and emergency vet visits also need to be considered.
After buying a puppy from a breeder, you will need to be able to afford their vaccinations, sterilisation (please do the responsible thing), and microchipping. These expenses are included in your adoption fee if you adopt from a shelter.
It would be a good idea to calculate the cost of your desired puppy before you commit to buying/adopting them. Include all of the initial expenses, as well as the monthly expenses (dog food and treats, pet insurance, training classes) and annual expenses (vet check-up, vaccination and dental cleaning). Add these together, multiplied by the estimated life expectancy of the breed (plus 5–10% annual increases) and that should give you an idea of how much your puppy will really cost you.
If the reward of a loyal, fun, engaging furry companion is greater than the expense, and you can comfortably afford it, it’s time to get your puppy.
Adopt or shop?
Whether you purchase your puppy from a registered breeder or adopt them from your local shelter, there are some general rules of thumb that apply in both instances. Firstly, please do not support backyard breeders, who play their part in the overwhelming pet overpopulation problem in South Africa. More than a million pets are euthanised each year (that’s around 2800 animals per day) because there simply are not enough good homes for all the animals being exploitatively or accidentally bred, and not enough capacity in shelters to house them.
Secondly, never ever try to buy a puppy from the internet without physically viewing it and seeing the parents and their environment. A legitimate, registered breeder would want you to visit their premises and screen you to make sure their puppies are going to good homes. If a potential seller is cagey about their location, refuses to allow you to see the parents or has any kind of excuse as to why you cannot physically see the puppies, it is most likely a puppy scam. Do not let your emotions cloud your judgement.
Thirdly, make a rational, informed decision about the puppy you want. Whether purchasing from a legitimate breeder or adopting from a shelter, spend time observing the potential puppies (how they look, how they move, how they engage with other puppies, dogs and people) and don’t make any hasty decisions about the puppy you want to take home with you. Always ask the breeder or shelter manager for input if you need clarity.
Do you have the time and energy for a new puppy?
When you bring a puppy home, your home environment is brand-new to them and they will need time to adjust. When they are comfortable, your puppy will treat your whole house as belonging to them and will then need boundaries in place (firm instruction on what is appropriate to chew; conscientious house-training; and consistent rules about where your puppy will sleep, play, eat, walk and poop, etc.).
Your puppy at 2 – 3 months old (8 – 12 weeks)
If you adopt your puppy at eight weeks old, they will still be a baby and need lots of guidance to know what to do, where to eat, sleep and play. The obstacles that affect pet parents the most in this age range are house-training and sleeping through the night. Puppies’ bladder control is not yet developed at this age, so it’s normal for your puppy to wake up a few times a night to pee. Prepare yourself for the broken sleep.
House-training
Do not get upset or angry, and never punish your puppy for peeing in the house. Mitigate the ‘spills’ with puppy pads, or keep your mop and bucket close by if you have a tiled floor. This is what you signed up for, for the first few months. To speed up their house-training, take your puppy outside every 30 minutes to an hour to encourage them to empty their bladder and bowels outdoors. Always take them to the same spot and offer lots of excited praise when they ‘go’. If your puppy has an accident indoors, never rub their face in it. Just ignore them and quietly clean up.
Socialisation
From the moment you bring your 8-week-old puppy home, they can benefit from socialisation – with other pets as well as a range of different people. The objective of socialisation at this stage is to get them through their ‘fear’ period knowing they will be okay. They need lots of positive reinforcement from you.
Puppy’s first vet visit
Very soon after you bring your new puppy home, make an appointment with the vet for your puppy’s first examination and advice on when to complete their vaccination schedule. The vet will have the opportunity to establish a health baseline and to check that your puppy is healthy. They can also recommend the appropriate puppy food for your new adoptee.
Your puppy at 3 – 6 months old (12 – 24 weeks)
The infamous permanent-teething phase for puppies will progress from three months old until about six or seven months. Your puppy will also become a lot more exploratory during this stage, and along with their irritated gums and their need to bite things, your puppy may find inappropriate things to chew. Keep shoes, jackets, electronics cables and any other valuables you don’t want chewed up, out of your puppy’s reach.
How to handle your puppy’s biting
Your puppy may also exhibit a seemingly unprovoked need to bite your hands, legs, feet – anything that is within reach of their mouths. It may be an effort to initiate play; it may help to relieve their teething pain; and the way you respond to their biting helps to teach your puppy bite inhibition: how much force they can use when mouthing. Do not punish your puppy for biting you. If they do bite you, say something like “Ow!” or “No biting!” and walk away or act injured. It may take a few tries (and a few bites!), but soon your puppy will understand that biting you is inappropriate and refrain from doing it.
Establish a routine with your puppy
This is also the perfect time to start establishing a routine with your puppy that could potentially last their lifetime. A daily routine in which you toilet, walk, train, feed, groom, nap and play with your puppy at roughly the same time each day will help immensely with building their confidence and their bond with you. If they have an idea of what’s next on the daily timetable, they are more likely to be co-operative and relaxed because they know what to expect. Keeping your puppy busy will also keep them out of mischief – a tired puppy is an obedient puppy.
Training regression
It’s also during this phase that your puppy experiences a growth spurt. A lot will be happening at this age, so if you think your puppy is toilet trained, but they continue to have an accident in the house from time to time, just continue implementing the training until they start to ask to go outside (by whining or scratching at the door).
Obedience training
By four months old (16 weeks), you can start training your puppy – either at home or going to puppy classes. Teach basic commands, loose-leash walking and recall using positive reinforcement.
Try to not leave your puppy unattended at this age. Many puppies will explore the world whole-heartedly with their noses and mouths, scavenging things in the garden they shouldn’t be (like snails, insects and potentially poisonous plants). If they ingest something toxic, it could mean an emergency vet visit for something that is avoidable.
If you are unable to keep an eye on your puppy 24/7, confine them to a designated ‘puppy room’ or ‘puppy area’ in your home, but make sure they have enough stimulation, or coincide their nap times with the time during which you need to be busy. Never leave your puppy in a room with a range of toys that could potentially become choking hazards.
Your puppy at 6 – 12 months old
This will be your puppy’s adolescent phase during which they experience another growth spurt and are influenced by hormones and sexual maturation. They may really double down on pushing boundaries and challenging your authority. This is not ‘naughtiness’ – it’s your puppy’s way of learning to think independently and make decisions rather than act instinctively, as they have done up to this point. This stage will need patience and understanding from you, as well as consistency with their ongoing training.
Spay or neuter at this age
If you have a small to medium-size puppy, consider getting your puppy spayed or neutered (sterilisation). This will put a stop to any hormone-influenced behaviour, as well as eliminate the risk of an accidental pregnancy. Large breed puppies can be sterilised at a later stage – speak to the vet if you need to ascertain the correct age at which to spay or neuter your large-breed dog.
It’s during this phase that puppies will have an increase in energy, so make sure you exercise them appropriately (but not too excessively until they’ve reached adulthood – their bones and joints need time to fully develop).
From the ages of two to 12 months, your puppy will need a lot – A LOT – of your time and attention. It’s irresponsible to leave a puppy to their own devices; rather, structure your puppy’s day according to their nutritional, physical, mental, behavioural and emotional needs. Puppies also need a lot of sleep in order to grow healthy and strong, so if you can provide them with a comfortable place to sleep for a few hours at a time, they will grant you time in which to be productive and do the things you need to do that don’t include running after a puppy!
Raising a puppy to adulthood requires dedication, patience and commitment, but if you put the work in now, you will have a confident, healthy, well-trained and socialised dog when they reach adulthood; and the most rewarding pet relationship that will last for years to come.
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