Before you start a dog, you need to weigh a lot. Do all family members agree to adopt a new pet, can you subordinate your regime to raising a puppy: get up early in the morning, leave the puppy alone for a long time, patiently wipe the puddles and glue the wallpaper. No less important are its dimensions, and for this you need to know for what purpose you are acquiring a dog.
Service dogs are on guard duty, well trained. They are reliable advocates and loyal friends. But you need to measure the size of the dog and your apartment, and think about the fact that without proper training, it is not easy to deal with a strong dog.
It is better to buy a hunting dog for a hunter, but dwarf decorative dogs will save many from loneliness. They are funny and sociable. An important point is the length of the coat. Can you skillfully care for the long hair of an Afghan or a poodle? Do model haircuts? And if your dog lives in the yard, will it not be cold if it is a smooth-haired dog or a Doberman?
The question arises: whom to take, male or female? Males are more vicious, stronger, but females are more affectionate, more obedient. But with a bitch more trouble at a time when she is in heat or when puppies.
When all issues are resolved and the breed is selected, you should contact the society of dog lovers or a service dog club, where they will give you the address of the breeder (owner of the bitch) and the direction for the acquisition of the puppy. In no case do not buy a puppy in the market or from random persons, as you can sell a non-pedigree or even a sick puppy.
When choosing a puppy, you need to pay attention to appetite, mobility, appearance of hair, bite, tail set, the presence of dewclaws.
But here is a puppy in your home. Define a permanent place for him where no one interferes with him, and where he will feel calm. The place should be bright and warm. Judge for yourselves where it is more convenient to place your dog, but do not have a place in the corridor, in the kitchen, in the aisle, near heating appliances. Select the puppy mattress on which he will sleep. The mattress should be sewn from natural fabrics and fit the size of the dog.
You should also consider purchasing dog equipment. Buy a soft collar, a leather leash 1.5 meters long, a long leash (5-6 meters) for training, a brush and a hairbrush for hair care. For exhibitions, you need a thin leash of the “noose” type, to which the puppy begins to be trained from 5-6 months. For large and strong dogs, there is the so-called strict collar (parfors), on the inside of which there are metal spikes that facilitate the management of the dog. But you can put on such a collar on a dog no earlier than in 10-12 months.
It is advisable not to leave the puppy at home alone in the first day or two, because he lost his mother, brothers, sisters, and it will take some time before he gets used to you and his new home.
Perhaps on the first night he will whimper a bit, left alone in the dark. But he can be understood, for him everything is so unusual, and the house is some kind of a stranger. Get up, talk to him, stroke, calm. As a “brother” he can be given a big plush toy. If this does not help, move his bedding closer to your bed, but in no case take the puppy to bed. He will quickly appreciate the benefits of your bed, and then put it in place will be very difficult.
When your dog grows up a little, he will study the apartment or yard and will give you many fun minutes, getting into funny situations. That's when you have to hide shoes, wires, books. But this is still ahead, and now you have in your hands a tiny creature that needs warmth, affection and, of course, good nutrition.
How to feed a puppy? First of all, you need to find out how the breeder fed the puppies and gradually introduce new products. How much food your puppy needs depends on the individual characteristics and needs of the body, the nature of the content. So, for example, a more active and mobile puppy needs more calories, as he spends a lot of strength and energy during a walk. Increased nutrition is required for a dog living on the street (especially in the cold season).
In the first month or two, divide the daily amount of food into 4–5 feedings. At one time, the puppy eats 1-1.5 glasses. Watch your puppy when he eats. If he eats the whole portion, after which he licks the bowl thoroughly for a long time, then he obviously does not have enough food. You should increase the amount of food or add another feeding.
If the food remains in the bowl, then the amount of feed you need to reduce. Never overfeed your puppy. It is often necessary to observe how a puppy, having eaten “from the heart”, departs from the bowl, swelling like a ball, with a tightly stuffed stomach, barely moving an exorbitantly heavy body. It touches many: “My puppy has an excellent appetite, let it eat healthy,” they say. However, many beginner breeders are unaware of what "health" does not add to health.