Looking to adopt a puppy? It's not easy. Tips to help start you on the right track
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Feeling the puppy fever after watching the thrilling, adorable Puppy Bowl? There are some things novice and experienced dog owners should know to raise a successful pup to adulthood.
Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Associate Professor Dr. M. Leanne Lilly cautioned training a young dog requires intense work and special attention.
A key to a canine's growth is socialization and regular veterinary visits, she said.
"We want to make sure that our young puppies in their socialization period are basically flooded with good experiences," she said. "But we also need to remember that the dog or the puppy decides what's a good experience, and so we need to be really careful about watching their body language and not traumatizing them in hopes that what we get out is a well-socialized dog."
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Training, regular veterinary visits key to raising puppies
Before introducing a pup to other dogs, Lilly urged owners to wait until after the puppy's first parvovirus vaccine. She recommended people seek out socialization classes so their pet learns good behavior in a clean, controlled environment.
Socialization can begin at home before a puppy is fully vaccinated. The most basic ways are potty training and teaching a puppy commands, according to animal food manufacturer Hill's Pet Nutrition. They recommended establishing – and sticking to – a bathroom routine so the dog knows when to relieve itself.
"When they successfully relieve themself outdoors, be sure to lavish them with praise and reward them with a treat," the food manufacturer said.
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Lilly advised dog owners not to get discouraged if the puppy doesn't learn or retain training quickly. If a puppy exhibits unwanted behavior such as chewing on items, owners should redirect the dog's attention to a toy or say "no" firmly.
Lilly said good behavior can be reinforced by rewarding the puppy with a treat when it plays with a toy or calling the animal's name when it misbehaves.
"We can set up the environment to improve our success in that regard," she said.
Owners need to stay on top of vet visits before introducing their puppy to the outside world, Lilly said. The more questions asked, the better. The veterinarian will tailor care to the dog and the dog's needs. Many will also inform dog owners when it's time to switch the puppy's food, or determine if supplements are necessary.
"One of the things is that when in doubt, your first line of defense for good information should be your veterinarian," she said.
More:Which are the best veterinarian hospitals? USA TODAY wants to know what pet owners think
Breed-specific training starts after the basics
A Golden Retriever is naturally active. Bloodhounds excel in locating people. Great Pyrenees protect people and livestock. Border Collies herd. A Chihuahua is an affectionate and sociable toy dog. Despite breed classifications determined by the dog welfare organization the American Kennel Club, Lilly said owners should focus on standard training before tapping into a dog's instincts.
"We sometimes fall into the trap of getting really focused on, 'What are the typical behaviors and characteristics,' instead of looking at the dog in front of us," she said.
Certain dogs may always retain their breed's instincts, but Lilly said it's OK if a retriever is bad at retrieving or if an American Bully is a great play partner.
Like the rest of her recommendations, Lilly said owners should regularly communicate with their veterinarian about the puppy's growth, behaviors and habits so an underlying issue isn't ignored.
"We want to make sure that when you ask a question, you're getting the answer that's most intimately customized for the puppy that you have," she said. "Your veterinarian, who has met your puppy, is going to have that information plus the medical background."
Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at knurse@USATODAY.com. Follow her on X @KrystalRNurse, and on BlueSky @krystalrnuse.bsky.social.
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10 Foods to Eat When You Have the Flu and Foods to Avoid
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Should You Invest $1,000 in Eli Lilly today?
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USA Today
19 hours ago
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Emmy Award-winning actress on mission to show family caregivers they aren't alone
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More: Chronic illness can be hard on marriage. Studies show it's worse when the wife is sick. There are a lot of family caregivers out there who don't know where to get resources, or that help exists, or about the policies advocates are trying to enact to bring more relief to caregivers. Aduba said the film does a great job at shining a light on the history of caregiving and advocacy work happening now to make things better. Aduba and her sisters didn't have time to think about anything else while they were caring for their mother, Aduba told USA TODAY. When you care for someone, she said, "your needs are second" to the patient. Her own health needs took a back seat during that time, her sleep schedule turned upside down and her free time ceased to exist. 'I would do it again," she said. "But I also know that I'm speaking from a place of immense privilege and not everybody... there are other people who are carrying way more than I on their day to day while also having to navigate caregiving at the same time.' Madeline Mitchell's role covering women and the caregiving economy at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal Ventures and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. Reach Madeline at memitchell@ and @maddiemitch_ on X.
