A special place needs to be created for your pup.
Before bringing a puppy home, you must select a place where he is to be kept. Normally a small secluded room or place in a house or apartment is desirable. Young puppies need warmth and an even temperature in a draught-free area. Arrange a box which is not too big but large enough in size so that the puppy can turn around and stretch easily. See to it that the small area where the puppy’s box is kept is his own territory and is not disturbed by family members.
In the box, on one side, should be the puppy’s bed made of washable material, and, on the other, a few layers of spread-out newspapers. The box should have a door or lid on it with adequate ventilation holes. If the box is without a door or a lid, the puppy will keep trying to come out of the box and will keep crying if he cannot do so. The puppy will soon understand the purpose of the papers, because it will be natural for him to leave his bed when he requires to ease himself. You will have to use your own judgment, according to the weather and atmospheric temperature, to decide how thick the cloth or blanket across the top should be.
To decide whether to go in for a pure-bred dog or a mixed breed, we should be aware that a pure breed has a definite standard of perfection or description by which it is judged. Thus when you buy a pure breed, you know what you are getting; your pup will have a close likeness to his parents and will possess their general traits. As against that, getting a mixed breed puppy is more of a gamble, as it is not possible to determine his traits, and his size, coat, height or weight on maturity.
Another rudimentary decision to be made is whether to go in for a male or a female dog. Stories contending the superiority of a male or a female as a better pet have no scientific basis. It mainly depends upon the animal’s individual personality. Females generally have a sweeter disposition. However they are ready to be mated, while males do not experience any such thing. Females start coming into heat once they are between six months to one year of age, depending upon the animal’s size, development and other factors. Generally females come into heat every six months and the heat period lasts for about three weeks, though this may vary somewhat from dog to dog. Whilst in heat, the female may stain rugs, and so on, and should be carefully watched and kept inside to avoid the nuisance of hovering male dogs. To get a female spayed- that is- to remove its ovaries and uterus, is more expensive than getting a male neutered or castrated.
A quandary in mind of a first time dog owner is whether to bring home a puppy or a grown-up dog. The general rule is that the younger the dog, the more influence one will have on shaping his character. This does not mean that you should go in for a puppy who is only a couple of weeks old and still needs his mother’s milk and care. It is better to start the gradual weaning of pups at 3 weeks to avoid any strain on the mother, especially if the litter is large. In my opinion, the ideal time to acquire a pup is when he is at least about 6 weeks of age. If you want a dog with show potential, wait until the puppy is about 3 to 4 months old. A pup is like a small child and requires a great deal of attention for at least the first four months of its life, along with a regular routine.
It is desirable to serve fresh food at each feeding. Food should be served fresh at the room temperature-that is neither too hot nor too cold. The food should be kept for about 10 minutes for the dog to consume, following which any uneaten stuff should be removed. If the dog resists eating his food, the food should be removed and fresh food must be offered at the next regular meal time. Fresh water must always be available for the dog to drink. The next meal should be given only at the time scheduled for it. After careful observation for a few days, the owner will get a good idea of the approximate amount of food required at one time for his dog.