When a person makes the decision to bring a dog into their life, more often than not, they choose a puppy, as it is much easier to train a young canine and they have more years in front of them. Taking on the responsibility of a pet means a commitment for life, and assuming you understand that and are looking at breeds, here are a few care tips to keep your four-legged family member fit and healthy.

• Balanced diet – We advise you to ask your local vet about the best diet for your growing puppy’ Google ‘ideal diet for (your breed) puppy’ and that will give you the info you need.
• Preparing your home for his arrival – It is important to see things from the pups’ perspective, he has just been removed from his litter and everything is strange to him. You will need his bedding, a few soft toys and his feed and water bowl. They should be placed in the kitchen and that spot should never change, regarding his bed, that depends on where you want his private space to be, it could be in a lounge corner or the kitchen.
• Regular grooming sessions – Regardless of breed, start with a puppy first grooming at a top dog grooming centre near to your home and the groomer will recommend a suitable frequency, which might be monthly, 3 monthly or 6 monthly (some short-hair breeds only require a couple of grooms per year). This would include nail clipping, washing and de-coating (when appropriate) and use of coat conditioner. A detailed examination is carried out by the groomer prior to grooming.
• Olive oil for a shiny coat – Invest in a bottle of pure virgin olive oil, buy a small syringe from a pharmacy (no needle) and use the syringe to shoot a teaspoonful of the oil into his mouth, which should be a daily thing. This keeps his coat shiny and in good condition, he won’t like the taste but will appreciate a treat right after! This is especially beneficial for long-hair breeds.
• Clipping nails – Just like humans, dogs need their nails clipping at regular intervals, be careful not to cut too much, as there is a vein that goes into each nail. Check out YouTube videos on how to clip a dog’s nails for a clear step-by-step demonstration. Invest in a decent pair of nail cutters that are specifically for dogs. Click here to find out when you should take your dog to the vet.
• Using a harness for large breeds – It is actually safer to have a large dog wear a harness than a leash, then when you pull hard, it will not impact the dog’s neck. As your dog grows, you will need to buy a bigger harness and the best harness deals can be found online.

There are free online resources to help you with puppy training and we are sure that you and your family will bond with your canine family addition. Check out the Australian government website regarding dog registration to make you aware of the requirements.