Introduction

Has one ever pondered the idea of owning a uppy? It might not be all fun and games, however having a puppy can be enjoyable with a properly drawn-up puppy health plan. A puppy depends on their owner for all aspects of life: food, water, love and attention. This guide will include planning, essential materials and products needed, vaccinations and health, and proper training. With a puppy health plan, owning a puppy becomes a dream.

The first step to creating a puppy health
plan is doing research and planning. One should first narrow down which dog breeds will best fit the lifestyle. For example, smaller dogs such as Shih Tzu dogs are low energy dogs requiring little outside space to run. On the other spectrum, hunting dogs such as German Shorthair Pointer dogs require lots of space to run and exude their energy. After choosing a breed best fit, one must determine which gender would be best with the family. Female dogs tend to be more dependent and loving towards their humans, while male dogs are independent of their humans. There are other features that must be considered as well when picking which gender will work best. Male dogs mark their territory, for example. Once the research has been done and a decision has been made about breed and gender, the planning process for materials and products needed begins.

The next step in this plan includes which
products are needed for the puppy health plan to work. Some of the products needed include a collar/harness, leash, food and water dishes, dog bed, nail trimmer, brush, and plenty of time and patience. Most of these products are optional and can be any color, pattern, or design. One will also need a good brand of puppy food. The recommended puppy food at Lakeview Veterinary Clinic is iVet Puppy Food. This brand makes both small breed and large breed puppy food, which allows the food to fit various puppy needs. Getting the wrong brand of puppy food can be very dangerous to the puppy. One must be sure to research the brand being purchased. It is always a good idea to ask a veterinarian for advice on foods. Once this list is complete and the products are purchased, the owner is ready to move on to the next step.

After purchasing the products, one must
consult a veterinarian on what proper vaccinations are needed for the puppy. At six weeks puppies are given their first distemper vaccine, which will most likely be given by the breeder. The breeder normally deworms the puppies at that time as well. It is a good idea to double check with the breeder on which vaccines and intestinal parasite preventatives were given. At twelve weeks puppies are given their second distemper, first rabies, and kennel cough vaccines. Depending on the veterinarian administering these vaccines, the puppy will also get an ear cleaning and be dewormed a second time. A couple other items to consider include Heartgard and Nexgard. Heartgard is a heartworm preventative and Nexgard is a flea and tick preventative. This step is crucial to keeping the puppy healthy.

The final step to this puppy plan includes
forming a training schedule for the new puppy. Training a puppy can be frustrating and difficult. However, there are steps that can be taken to lessen this frustration. Many veterinary clinics offer obedience classes that can help train the puppy and owner to work together and listen accordingly. Many trainers also offer different methods such as clicker training and reward training. It is best to spend time with the puppy to get a grasp on which training method might work best for both puppy and owner.

All four steps of this puppy health plan
work wonders on first-time dog owners. Before another puppy is purchased, follow these steps to make the process easy and painless for both puppy and owner.