Welcome HomeYour Puppy with Preparation and Planning (NAPSA)—If you’re thinking about surprising that special someone with a huggable puppy this season, think twice before tying the bow on Rover’s collar. While your intentions are noble, selecting and caring for a puppyis a significant commitment that should not be madein the flurry of holiday spirit and excitement. “Puppies require constant care and attention. The holidays are a wonderful time of family gatherings and trips to see relatives but the hectic activity makes it a lessthan-ideal time of year to begin training a pup,” said Melissa Brookshire, DVM, director of veterinary technical services for Diamond Pet Foods. Dr. Brookshire recommends taking the elementof surprise out of the gift by discussing the idea with the recipient. Selecting a puppy should be a careful and personal process. Gift givers can give a collar and leash or other items that represent the intent to purchase a dog and allow the dog’s owner to select the timing and desired breed to best suit his or herlifestyle. Picking a puppy is only the beginning of a long process. Follow Dr. Brookshire’s top five tips for puppy preparation and care to keep your new pet healthy and your household happy. Do your homework.To choose the best dog for your family, consider personality and temperament, not beauty or popularity. Be aware of breed-specific health concerns and consider adopting a mixed-breed puppy. Ask questions such as “How often will the pet be alone?” and “How much time do you have to exercise your new Puppies as presents look adorable, but gift givers should realize selection is a personal choice and puppy care requires large amounts of time and a serious commitment. dog?” and work with your vet to determinethe best breed for you. “Puppy-proof” your home. Make sure the puppy will not have access to electric cables he can chew, patch any gapsor holes in outdoor fencing and enclose garden ponds and pools. When your puppyis alone, a crate or other safe enclosureiscritical. Begin housebreaking immediately. Be prepared for the time that proper housebreaking requires. Young puppies will need to go outside every two to three hours and immediately after eating or drinking. Be consistent with training. Training your puppy is a good learning experience for the whole family, but for training to be effec- proper training is one of the main method, commands and rewards. Letting a puppy grow up without health, behavior and nutrition is tive, everyone must use the same reasons that dogs are surrendered to animalshelters. Help your puppy eat right. Puppies grow quickly and require different nutrients than adult dogs, so they should consumea specially formulated diet for their age and size. That’s why Diamond Naturals provides puppy formulations specifically for large and small breeds. For large and giant breeds, excess energy or fat can lead to unhealthy rapid growth, which is linked to developmental orthopedic disease. Large-breed formulas, as a result, have less fat and calcium. All Diamond puppy formulas contain DHA, an essential fatty acid for optimal brain and eye development im young mammals. More information about puppy available at www.diamondpet.com.
