Fun Ways To Celebrate National Puppy Day

Let’s hear it for puppies! We love puppies and dogs of all ages each day, but we want to celebrate National Puppy Day (March 23). Puppies are fun, cute, cuddly and that puppy breath… nothing like it!

As pet professionals we know that puppies are fun, but they are also a lot of work. Puppies need to be housetrained, trained to walk on a leash and even basic commands like: sit, stay, come, drop it and more. If it’s been a while since you’ve welcomed a puppy into your home you may have forgotten how much work they are, but you probably never forget how much unconditional love and reward they bring.

Puppies, and any pet you welcome to your home, are a lifetime commitment and that means you need to choose wisely. For example if you live in a small space and don’t have a lot of free time to work with a dog, you may not want to welcome a St. Bernard or a working breed pup. If you are active and love to run and jog and bike and want a companion to join you, a pug or French Bulldog may not be ideal.

Fun Ways To Celebrate National Puppy Day

Colleen Paige, who is credited with being the founder of National Puppy Day, has been quoted as saying, “Puppies are the most trusting and joyous creatures on the planet… oh to be more like a puppy.” We agree!

Know your lifestyle, understand your energy levels and invite a puppy into your home who fits the way you live.

What do we love about puppies?

• They are eager to please
• They are fun
• They like to cuddle
• They are curious
• They make wonderful companions who offer unconditional love

Here are some considerations for new puppy parenting.

• They need to be trained. Even the smallest puppy or breed of dog requires at least basic training because this will make them a wonderful companion. Positive reinforcement training is key to a happy puppy and to forming that human-animal bond between the two of you. Offer praise and treats for a job well done and keep training sessions to short timeframes – puppies don’t have very long attention spans!
• You will need to puppy-proof your home. If you don’t want to run the risk of chewed shoes, gnawed carpets and other potential damage a puppy can cause, you need to look at your home from a puppy-eye level and remove hazards.
• Housetraining requires patience, persistence and a set schedule.
• Puppies will require many veterinarian visits during the first year of their lives for vaccinations and spay and neuter.
• You may need to find someone to come in during the day to walk and play with your puppy while you’re at work.
• You will also want to feed your puppy well for a lifetime. Ask your trusted veterinarian for suggestions on healthy food and how much to feed to keep your puppy at a healthy weight.

In case you missed it, read our article on how to introduce a dog (or your new puppy) to your household. It can also take about three months for your new puppy or dog to get comfortable with your household and routines, be patient and enjoy the growing relationship!