Puppies can leave their mother at about 7–8 weeks old. At this point, they can feed themselves. Puppies need a lot of care, including vet visits, feeding, socialization, and training.
Does My Puppy Need Vaccines?
Puppies get some protective immunity against infections from their mothers at birth and through her milk. Vaccines won’t work well until this immunity fades, so puppies need to be vaccinated frequently (every 2–3 weeks) until they are about 4 months old. Because puppies are susceptible to infections until they have all their shots, they should be kept away from unvaccinated dogs, or dogs whose vaccine status is unknown, until then.
Will My Puppy Get Worms?
Puppies often have intestinal worms, which can be passed to them by their mother. They usually get treated with deworming medicine as a precaution a few weeks after birth. Your vet will check your puppy's poop for worms every 2–4 weeks until it has two negative tests in a row.
What Should I Feed My Puppy?
Proper nutrition is crucial for puppies. They need special puppy food that provides enough calories, fat, protein, vitamins, and minerals for growth. Look for puppy foods that have the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) label, which means the food meets certain nutritional standards. Most dogs reach adulthood at 9–12 months, but large and giant breed dogs can take almost 2 years to become adults. Depending on their breed, once puppies become adults, they should be switched from puppy food to adult dog food.
Puppies must be fed several times a day when they are young to keep up with the demands of growing. The number of times a day they need to be fed decreases as they age. Adult dogs generally do well with feeding just once or twice a day.
Feeding Schedule for Puppies
Age | Number of Daily Meals | Type of Food |
|---|---|---|
6–12 weeks | 4 | Puppy diet |
3–6 months | 3 | Puppy diet |
6–12 months | 2 | Puppy diet |
Older than 12 months | 1 or 2 | Adult diet |
How Do I Train My Puppy?
The first thing to work on with your puppy is housetraining, so that your puppy doesn't poop or pee in the house. Start early, and show your puppy where to go to the bathroom. With patience and consistency, this usually takes just a few weeks. Take your puppy outside several times a day at first, and praise it when it goes. As puppies age, they can go longer without pooping or peeing and will not need to go out as often.
In addition to learning where to go to the bathroom, all dogs should learn basic commands like "sit," "stay," and "come." Socialization is also important, especially between the ages of 2 and 4 months. Interacting with people and other animals helps them get used to new people and experiences, and it can prevent fear or behavior problems in the future.
Many resources are available for training, including books and local puppy classes. Some training classes accept puppies as young as 8 weeks old, as long as they have been vaccinated. Training is a fun way to bond with your dog and teach it good behavior. Talk to your veterinarian about recommended training resources.
