Practical, sourced guides for dog owners. Most of our guides cover the first year with a puppy, from the first week at home to training, feeding, and health care. Each guide lists its sources and says whether a veterinarian has reviewed it.
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Puppies: getting ready, the first week, routines, and growth
Training and behavior: crate, leash, biting, night crying, and socialization
Food and feeding: how much to feed, switching foods, and foods to avoid
Health and care: vet visits, vaccines, parasite prevention, teething, and exercise
Good places to start
New puppy checklist: what to buy before day one
First week with a new puppy: a calm, day-by-day plan
Foods dogs should never eat: toxic people foods and what to do
Heartworm prevention can start as early as the product label allows, and the American Heartworm Society says no later than 8 weeks of age. Flea and tick products usually come a little later, at 7 to 8 weeks or older, and every product sets its own minimum age and weight. For a puppy younger than…
How to leash train a puppy: get used to the collar and leash, teach loose leash walking, and fix pulling in short sessions.
How much exercise a puppy needs by age, the 5 minutes per month rule, safe play, and signs your puppy has had too much.
Most puppies move to adult food somewhere between 9 and 24 months, and the biggest factor is how large the dog will be. Small breeds switch first, large and giant breeds last. The usual test, from PetMD, is that your puppy has reached about 80 percent of its expected adult size. Then you change foods…
Book the first visit within the first few days of bringing your puppy home. The American Kennel Club notes that breeder contracts often call for an exam within about three days, and a puppy from a shelter or rescue should be seen even sooner, because its history is usually unknown. Call ahead, since good clinics…
Socialization means introducing your puppy to new people, places, sounds, surfaces, and friendly dogs in a calm, positive way. The key window is the first three months of life. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) says puppies should start before their vaccine series is finished, as long as you choose safe places and…
When puppies lose baby teeth, what teething looks like, safe chew options, and signs that need a vet visit.
Why puppies cry at night, what to check first, and a calm bedtime routine that helps your puppy settle.
Why puppies bite and mouth, how to teach a gentle mouth step by step, and what to avoid.
How to crate train a puppy, from choosing the right size to building up closed-door time, with time limits and fixes for whining.