New Pups' Needs

A new puppy is time-consuming. It needs four meals a day and has to be taken to its toilet area each time it wakes, after each meal, and after each episode of activity and play.

Until it is housetrained there will be messes to clean up. Regardless of how careful you are, it will still find possessions to chew and destroy. It will need handling several times daily, plus routine grooming.

The more new and interesting experiences a pup has at an early age, the less fearful it will be as an adult. Set aside time for your pup to meet children as well as adults, and other animals, such as cats and horses.

Actively create situations for your pup to experience, from seeing an umbrella being opened or a bicycle going past to taking a short trip in the car.

On top of all of this activity, your pup needs "time out," frequent, deep, snoozes. This is when growth hormone is most active and pups need to grow quickly, especially compared to us.