Introduction

When purchasing a puppy, do not forget what it means to share with him about ten to fourteen years of his life.
Puppies should only be removed from the mother when they can eat alone, ie between 5 and 8 weeks. Make sure that the breeder weaned properly, and check if the worming and vaccines, and what kind of food that is accustomed to eat.
A puppy is like a child, has to learn certain rules of cleanliness and sociability.

The Puppy in House

The puppies that had not yet completed the primary vaccination, should not walk on the street, since their immunity against certain diseases is still insufficient and therefore have to make their needs at home or, if any, in the garden home owners.

To avoid that the puppy mess around the house, we must impose some rules:

The area where he can move freely should be limited to a kitchen, balcony or terrace;
The chosen place for him to make their physiological necessities must be moved away from the bed and feeder;
Should be taught to do these needs in a newspaper, because this is very absorbent. To attract the dog by the smell, can arise, below, a few sheets of paper soiled with his own urine;
Puppies defecate and urinate especially after eating, waking or play. If he is whining and sniffing the soil, he must be placed on the paper and encouraged to relieve himself.

In the early days, the puppy will miss the newspaper a few times, but he should not be reprimanded, he can become fearful.
The dirty places should be cleaned with disinfectant to remove the odor, because if the smell remains, they tend to defecate and urinate in the same place.
Should be avoided cleaning products with ammonia because its smell, similar to urine, can confuse the dog.
If the owners have a garden, the puppy must be placed outside when finished their meals, and should only be allowed to come home after making their needs.

Puppy on the Outside of the House

When finishes the primary vaccination, the puppy must be taught to do the needs outside the house as soon as possible. To be controlled, he should always be kept on a leash. If the puppy was trained to make their needs in a newspaper at home, when he begins to come to the street, the owners should have some patience to teach him to defecate and urinate in specific places. At first, a dirty newspaper can help you get used to make their needs outside the home.
If he tries to relieve himself in a less appropriate place, should be given a quick tug on the leash, and lead him to a location away from the walks, preferably with sand or grass. If you associate a word with the act of defecation, the puppy will soon recognize it as an order.

Hygiene Care

Puppies should not take a shower before or during the vaccination period. He can be cleaned with baby wipes, talcum powder, and be brushed daily. If the puppy is very dirty, and have no other alternative, can be given him a bath with just a shampoo formulated for puppies, and soon of followed, using a dryer to dry all the hair.
Should early brush your dog with a brush adapted to your type of hair.
The eyes can be cleaned daily with cotton soaked in saline.
Never try to clean the inside of the ears with cotton buds. Use cotton dipped in ether or oil of sweet almonds, and clean just the inside of the ears.

Education

When the puppy is about 8 weeks of age, should begin to learn not only the habits of hygiene, as well as some rules of obedience.
When he's done well, praise him, pet him, and at the same time, reward him with a biscuit, so he understands that did something that pleased you.
If you get him doing some prank, say "no" in a deep voice, hold him firmly in the skin of the neck and then pretend you do not know. If the mess was made some time ago, not worth to reprehend him, since he does not associate the punishment before the blunder committed.
Get him used to use a leash, and then train him to walk with it.
Give him a short name, with no more than two syllables, and when playing with him, should call him by name.
When you think that he answered to the name, you can start teaching him new orders, such as sitting, lying, respond to his call, but keep in mind that should only start learning a new order, once you get respond to the above.

Nutrition Standards

The puppy's nutritional program is essential for their growth.
The needs of a puppy in calories, vitamins and minerals, are very different from an adult dog, so he must have a specific diet for his stage of growth.
Any change in the nutrition of a puppy, should always be done in a gradual way so as to avoid, among other consequences, the onset of diarrhea.
The best food for puppies is dry food, which also has the advantage of not deteriorate easily, and its cost is smaller and it’s more easy use relatively to the food prepared in home.
Puppies must have 4 to 5 meals per day, or alternatively, may be left ration (dry food) always available. A bowl of fresh water should always be available.

Never give food of the owners, especially directly from the table. The dog should be accustomed to eating only on his plate. If you prefer processed foods, you can give canned food formulated for puppies, but be sure that the canned food only be kept fresh a few hours, or you can leave also special dry food for puppies. As a reward you can give one or two dog biscuits, but don’t exaggerate in the amount, because they have many calories…