socializing

Although it’s tempting to let your young puppy play with other dogs right away, resist until she’s had her first few rounds of vaccines. Her immune system is still developing, and those vaccines don’t have super powers. It actually takes a few weeks to build immunity following vaccination. Exposing her to other dogs could make her sick. Ask your veterinarian when the time is appropriate.

check-ups

Just like a baby, puppies need regular health maintenance their first year of life. Check with your vet, but normally your pup will be dewormed and get vaccines when she’s 8, 12, and 16 weeks old. She can be spayed (and male puppies neutered) around 6 months. A heartworm preventive can be given once a month. And don’t forget the flea and tick prevention!

feeding

It’s tempting to give your puppy lots of treats (especially when you’re training her), but try not to overdo it, especially if she’s a large breed. Dogs can get overweight very quickly, and large breeds can develop joint problems if they’re too heavy, especially at a young age.