The time has finally arrived; after much thought and consideration, you have decided to get your first puppy today. You mentally prepare yourself to go ‘shop’, or hopefully adopt one, from the rows of pet establishments at Singapore’s Sungei Tengah area.

Being a first-time pup owner is never going to be easy, but it will definitely be rewarding. This is what many experienced dog owners will tell you, and many of them will also be willing to share their experiences with you to help you on your journey to a more fulfilling life with dogs.

Here are some tips to help you in our Puppy 101 guide for first-time dog owners in Singapore.

Finding Your Ideal Puppy

Breed & Characteristics

Puppies and kittens are extremely cute and cuddly. Every time we come across a puppy, it makes us want to hold them and tickle them in their belly. Now, keeping that in mind, do not let the cuteness overload take over when you select your new puppy. It is wise to consider the breed and characteristics that you would like to have in your pup by listing them down beforehand. Some characteristics such as breed size and barking will need to be considered especially in Singapore’s apartment-styled living conditions.

Adoption

There are many dog and pet shelters available in singapore that take in hundreds of dogs and cats a year. These animals need their forever homes too. Every time you adopt a dog or a cat from an animal shelter, you are also helping to free up resources and space for another four-legged fur-kid in need. As the saying goes, ‘adopt, don’t shop’. However, we are advocates of finding a breed that suits you, and not every shelter is able to provide that. When it comes to adopting, it is an option and not a necessity.

You can use our puppy checklist to help you choose your new pup!

• Naming Your Puppy

• Health/Birth/Vaccine Certificates

• Breed (Petite, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large)

• Temperament

• Parents/Siblings

• Vet check

Preparing Your Home

Puppy-proofing Your Home

Puppy-proofing your home is important as it helps to ensure that your pup does not get hurt whilst exploring every corner of their new environment. To your new furkid, your home is a theme park strewn with exciting rides and playgrounds.

Stow away all chewable objects that can be swallowed, keep cables safe behind furniture or covered, and block access to rooms or areas where pee & poo will cause significant damage.

Lastly, get down to your puppy’s height level and see from their point of view what are some potentially dangerous activities that can be carried out in their little world. Just to make sure you didn’t miss anything.

Puppy Supplies

Similar to having a new baby, a new puppy comes with an extensive shopping list of items that your pup will need. These include food, water bottles or bowls, collars and leash.

Things you will require for your new puppy include:

• Playpen or dog bed

• Bowls

• Food & treats

• Cleaning & grooming supplies

• Collar and leash

• Crate

• Toys

• Brush and comb

Caring For Your Puppy

Health Check-ups & Vaccinations

On the day you get your puppy (also known as “gotcha day”), it is recommended to bring them to the vet for a basic health check-up and to keep up to date with their vaccinations. For more information on vaccinations, check out our post for more.

Feeding Your Puppy

Puppy food is important for growing doggos as they provide a well-balanced diet for their development. Puppy food comes in wet or dry forms, but dry forms tend to be more affordable and common. Use the feeding guide on the pack as a baseline for the amount to feed.

Split up the daily amount into three or even four servings spaced out through the day. Once your puppy reaches three to six months of age, you can cut down to two or three portions for daily feeding.

Socialising Your Puppy

Once your new furkid is up to date on their vaccinations and well-protected, you can bring them out to play with other dogs in a safe environment. Socialisation is important to dogs as it helps your pup to learn about appropriate behaviour with other dogs, and how to play respectfully with them.

Training Your Puppy

Great manners maketh a lovely pup, and these do not come naturally. You need to educate your dog on how to behave appropriately in most scenarios. This can generally be done by using reward-based, positive reinforcement. The fundamental idea is to give a treat or praise when your pup behaves well.

Crate Training

A crate can be set-up as a safe space for your pup. Pick one that is big enough for your dog to lie down with their legs outstretched. Place a dog bed or a piece of fabric from their previous home for a more welcoming environment.

Hide treats inside the crate to help associate it as a happy place for your dog. When your puppy manages to sniff out the treats, give them praise or cheer them on so that they feel encouraged. You can also feed meals to your pup inside the crate.

If your puppy whines or cries, do not open the crate to let them out. Instead, wait for them to calm down and stay quiet before you open the door. This will show them that calmness is good.

Potty Training

It is important to help your new dog understand the right areas to do their routine business.

Firstly, set-up an area with pee pads if you’d like, or pick an area like the toilet where your pup can pee without it getting too difficult to clean up.

Watch over your puppy closely during their first few days home. Once your puppy squats, whisk them straight to the toilet or potty area to let them eliminate. Staining some of the pee pads or potty area with their pee, or a pee spray, may also help to associate it as the area to do their business.

When your puppy squats near the potty area, repeat the word “potty” or “toilet”, and give them a treat when they successfully do so. They will immediately link peeing in the right place to getting a reward.

Basic Commands

Training your new pup with some basic commands will go a long way in creating a lovely environment for them whilst growing up and adventuring safely.

Sit

Teaching “sit” is simple and quick. Hold a treat in your hand in front of your puppy’s nose. Begin raising it over your pup’s head so that they follow the treat and their butt moves down and lands on the floor. At this moment, say “sit” and reward them by releasing the treat from your hand.

Repeating this will help your dog learn to sit, and can be used in scenarios where you need them to behave or be calm.

Stay

Teaching “stay” comes naturally after “sit”. Use the command “sit”, and make your dog wait a few seconds whilst you walk off a few steps. Once they have successfully stayed in their spot, reward them with a treat.

Increase the time and distance gradually to at least a minute eventually. Helping your pup learn “stay” will be useful for situations where you need to leave them for a period of time, and decrease the chance for separation anxiety in puppies.

Come

This is a natural command that is easy to pick up. Whenever you are a distance away from your puppy, use the word “come” in an excited voice and hold a treat in your hand. Your pup will come towards you, and once they do, reward them with a treat. Remember to give lots of praise too!

“Come” is a portion of recall training that you can gradually work towards when you need your dog to steer away from dangerous situations, or just come to you whenever you need them to.

Training helps to build structured relationships and a strong bond between you and your dog. Start training early!

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xo
Nellie