Keeping your puppy fit
Diet and exercise: how to ensure your puppy grows into a
fit and healthy dog
There are so many things you will have learnt about your new
puppy when you first brought him home, not the least of which
was be his diet. What you choose to feed him will depend on
both of you, but bear in mind that a growing puppy needs more
calories, minerals, protein and vitamins than a grown up
dog.
There are so many commercial pet foods out there these days,
and the price and quality varies hugely. So that you can make
the best and right choice for your puppy, it will help if you
have an understanding of the composition of the foods
available.
What's on the menu for your puppy?
Chicken, liver, soy, rice, corn and oil. These are the raw
materials that go into your puppy's food. But it's the
quality of the ingredients that determines the
digestibility and nutritional value of the diet you choose.
These ingredients provide the essential nutrients for your
puppy: protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals. But
it's important that these nutrients are in the correct
proportions. Unsurprisingly, some pet foods have incorrect and
unsuitable proportions of these nutrients, and poor quality,
hard-to-digest ingredients. For more information on important
ingredients
click here.
There's such a vast number of different foods to choose from
today, you might have difficulty knowing what's best for your
puppy; it's almost certainly a good idea to ask your vet for
advice before you decide.
How do you feed your puppy?
Sounds like a silly question, doesn't it? Far from it. As a
matter of fact, there are several ways to feed dogs.
First, you need to decide whether you want to feed dried or
canned food, or a mixture of both. Dry foods are generally more
economical, especially for larger breeds of dogs. But both
canned and dried foods can be nutritionally complete and
balanced. Ask your vet for his advice or recommendation.
Complete? Or complementary?
The label on the food you choose will tell you whether it is
complete or complementary. A
complete food provides all the goodness your puppy
needs and can be fed on its own with water to drink.
Complementary food must be mixed with another type of food to
provide your puppy with a balanced diet. Just for the record,
most puppy foods are complete.
Exercise: essential for your puppy and good for you
When your puppy has had his course of vaccinations, you'll
be keen to get him out and about. Exercise is vital. Not only
does it help develop physical fitness, it is also mentally
stimulating, and provides social contact. Click here to find
out more about
socialisation.
Before setting out, decide on a suitable lead; maybe an
extendable one until you're sure your puppy won't run off, or a
harness if he pulls a lot.
Then you'll have to do a bit of homework to find out which
parks and gardens allow dogs off the lead. Large country parks
and fields can be great for dogs, but check they can let off
the lead, and watch out for livestock. And don't forget the
poop scoop.
Please don't overdo it
Daily exercise will develop your puppy's muscle strength and
stamina but don't overdo things. Short, frequent walks are the
order of the day. Although you may be tempted to roam the great
outdoors with your new companion, remember he's still only a
baby, and growing all the time. So try not to save all the
"walkies" for long treks and weekends; they will overtire your
puppy and can lead to bone and joint problems.
It cannot be overemphasised how important it is to control
the rate and frequency of exercise. If you're at all unsure how
much exercise is too much for your puppy, please ask your vet
for advice and guidance.