Keep your pup growing strong and healthy with proper nutrition and grooming care.
FOOD
Purchase the best quality food that you can afford. Dog foods vary widely. The most inexpensive foods tend to have far fewer calories per cup of food and therefore require larger servings—and produce much larger poops. There are several “dog food calculators” online that do a good job of comparing apples to apples; the classic mistake is to price shop by comparing costs for a bag of food. You’re better off comparing cost per serving or cost per calorie. Do this and you may be surprised to find that some of the more inexpensive foods are actually not less expensive in the long run. Different breeds of puppies have varying dietary needs with regard to the amount of specific nutrients required. Large-breed puppies require food that is explicitly labeled “Large Breed Puppy Formula” due to their rapid rate of growth. For all other puppies—small or medium breeds—you may opt either for food labeled “Puppy Formula” or “All Life Stages Formula.” Food labeled “All Life Stages Formula” has been verified to contain all the nutrition an adult dog needs, plus all the special nutrients a small- or medium-breed puppy requires. There is an enormous variety of dog and puppy food on the market now, including kibble, wet or canned, raw that is dehydrated (you add water), raw that is fresh or frozen, and raw that is freeze dried or air dried. All of these are perfectly fine for your puppy, so let your budget and cost per serving aid you in the decision. On the other hand, table scraps are not nutritionally appropriate for your puppy and are the gateway to terrible habits such as begging during meals and counter-surfing (when your dog jumps up on the counter and grabs any food they can).
FOOD AND WATER DISHES
Just about any dishes are fine—metal, ceramic, or enamel. Only plastic should be avoided, as over time it starts to splinter and can embed tiny bits of plastic in your dog’s tongue and mouth. Both bowls should be cleaned daily to avoid contamination from bacteria. If it’s easier for you, purchase dishwasher-safe bowls. Some puppies and dogs are messy eaters or drinkers. There’s not much you can do about this, but if you’re feeling frustrated, you can purchase a place mat or feeding mat to put underneath their dishes. If your puppy makes a mess with their water, be sure your chosen mat has raised edges to keep the water contained. There is one special option that we very often recommend to our clients: slow bowls. (For food only, not water.) A slow bowl can come in many designs, but it always turns mealtime into a bit of a puzzle. The kibble falls into grooves, nooks, or crannies so your puppy has to really work to get at their meal. As the name implies, slow bowls slow down the rate of eating, which aids in your puppy’s digestion. Many people misunderstand how wonderful slow bowls are. They might think: Hey, that’s mean. Why are you making your little puppy work so hard for their supper? But slow bowls actually appeal to the canine mind. By nature, dogs are scavengers. They love looking for food. Having to dig around and hunt for the pieces of kibble engages this hereditary impulse to scavenge and stimulates genuine pleasure. It is fun for them, not mean. You’re giving your dog dinner and entertainment that’s good for their brain. See more on this with regard to Puzzle Toys.
GROOMING SUPPLIES
You’ll want a brush, a nail trimmer (Dremel or clipper), styptic powder for dogs (in case of accidental cuts when trimming nails), ear cleaning solution or wipes, and pet shampoo. Accept no substitute for a dedicated pet shampoo that is pH balanced specifically for dogs. Human shampoo or dishwashing liquid will harm your puppy’s skin and coat. You’ll also want dental health products. There is now a wide variety of good options including toothbrush, toothpaste, special dental chews, tablets, and other items. Lastly, for breeds prone to leaky tear ducts, you should get eye wipes. Pekingese, Maltese, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, and Pugs are just some of the breeds for which this tends to be an issue.
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