Tips for Your Dog’s First 100 Days
April 23, 2009 by Paris and John
Filed under Adopting a dog, Puppies, Tips
As President Obama nears the end of his first 100 days in office, attention focuses on just what will the first 100 days be like for the newest member of the family: Bo, the Portuguese Water Dog.
“The family’s first 100 days with a new puppy or dog is full of exciting experiences, but the entire first year can be a challenge for pet parents who aren’t well prepared, even if they do live in the White House,” says celebrity pet expert Andrea Arden. (You probably know Arden from the Animal Planet show, “From Underdog to Wonderdog” but she’s also been a dog trainer for Norah Jones, Robert De Niro and Conan O’Brien.)
How to make the most of those first 100 days? Here are Arden’s tips for the First Family–and for all families with a new four-legged family member:
1. Eat Right
The most important thing pet parents can do for their new dogs is to feed them a high-quality food that meets their nutritional needs, whatever their lifestage or activity level. I feed Wellness Natural Pet Food to my own dogs, because Wellness carefully selects all-natural, human-grade ingredients for their dry kibble, canned food and snacks — all proven to deliver 100% of a dog’s lifetime nutritional needs.
2. Regular Visits to the Vet
Because our dogs can’t talk to us, (although some pet parents would beg to differ), it’s important to pay attention to subtle changes in their behavior and/or physical appearance as these could be the first indicator of a developing health issue. It’s essential to schedule newly adopted dogs for regular annual examinations by a trusted veterinarian. Vets are dedicated to providing pets with the very best care possible, and vet visits are absolutely necessary to maintain the highest level of care for your new dog.
3. Get Lots of Exercise
Just as with humans, exercise is essential for a dog’s happy and long life. Exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous in order to be beneficial to their wellbeing, but regular exercise is key. Set aside a brief period of time each day dedicated to physical activity for your dog. Doing this on a regular basis also gives your pup something to look forward to each day and strengthens their bond with you. And you can reward your puppy with a healthy snack such as Wellness Just for Puppy Treats.
4. Establish a Bond
The bonding process between a dog and owner is a critical one. Many new pet parents make the mistake of assuming this bond will form automatically, when in fact puppies, and older adopted dogs too, need you to take the lead in building a lasting, loving relationship. Spend regular one-on-one time together where your new dog has your complete focus and attention. Routine is an important part of the bonding process. Daily training sessions, reinforcement of good behavior, even brushing your dog daily will also establish one-on-one time while building a routine; cementing a bond with your pup for years to come.
Books by Andrea Arden
Arden (the proud parent of four dogs: Lena, Nora, Moka and Bela) has authored five books including:
White House photo by Pete Souza
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