35 things on what dog lovers should know about puppies

[meganc]

1. choose the right breed - consider your familys activity level as well as the puppys full grown weight and exercise needs before bringing them home.2. look for puppies who are eager to greet you - look for puppies who are friendly and show curiosity and enjoy being handled. 3 - choose a healthy puppy. a puppys ears eyes and nose should be free of discharge.their coat should be shiny, with no ticks or fleas.a potbellied puppy may need de-worming. 4. ask what happens if your puppy gets sick. 5. vaccinate your puppy. puppies require a series of vaccinations between 8 and 16 weeks old .6. start them on heartworm provention before they are 6 months old.7. spay or neuter your puppy before 6 months old unless breeding. 8. differences start at birth toy-breed puppys may weigh as little as 4 ounces at birth; giant-breed puppys can weigh up to 2 pounds. 9. most puppies double their birth weight up to 7-10 days. 10. puppies' eyes and ear canals open at about 2 weeks old. 11. puppies start walking at about 3 weeks old.12. growth weights differ greatly. 13. among animals dogs are the most diverse spiecies. 14.let sleeping puppies lie. 15. baby teeth emerge at around 4 weeks old. 16. puppies can start on solid food at about 3 and 4 weeks old. 17. feed your puppy a growth formula food several times a day. 18. help them devolop positive chewing habits early. 19. brush your puppys teeth at least every other day. 20. puppy proof your home. 21. learn pet first aid. 22. keep numbers for a poision control center in case of an emergency. 23. puppies should never have free run of the whole house. 24. give your puppy a ticket home. 25. introduce your puppy to different people and experiences. 26. play with your puppy every day. 27. train your puppy to accept handling. 28. keep early experiences fun. 29. teach your puppy the house rules. 30. start basic training around 8 weeks old. 31. praise your puppy for doing the right thing. 32. start crate training. 33. train your puppy to relieve theirself in designated areas. 34. get your puppy accustomed to being alone. 35. keep on training. those were some helpful tips

[Cassiepeia]

I'll also add....Make sure the parents of the pups have been tested for all breed specific genetic problems and discuss with the breeder the reasons the litter was bred so you can get a better feel for things. Never settle on the first breeder you find, always check several breeders and ask for references.
Be very aware of byb & puppymills, get names of breeders from National kennel club or breed club websites (but check and double check them).
If looking for a mix breed, avoid breeders and head to a shelter.

Meganc - good list. What does "give your puppy a ticket home" mean?

Cass.

[meganc]

give your puppy a ticket means you should provide them a collar and id tag and you can give them a microchip or tattoo in case they run away