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Take your dog to the vet every year for a checkup and vaccines to protect them against disease.
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Just don’t overdo it, especially in large and giant breeds, because their skeletons are not mature until about 2 years of age. It will help keep them happy and at a healthy weight. No matter their life stage, be sure your dog gets plenty of exercise. While they're usually easier to care for than puppies, grown dogs still need your help with a few things so they can live their best:Įxercise. Breeds that are smaller - as measured by weight, not height - tend to live longer than bigger dogs. Your dog has hit middle age! Their age is older than 7 years. Your dog is officially an "adult" once they have finished growing. Their age in this stage ranges from 6 to 12 months. Although they can reproduce, they are still growing, so are not quite an adult yet. The ages for these stages may differ with each breed, but here are some guidelines: In these three stages your dog is in the prime of their life. Talk to your veterinarian about which ones your dog needs and when to get them. Dogs need several rounds of vaccinations or shots during their first year. Spaying and neutering while they are puppies rather than as adults can help prevent problems like breast cancer and testicular disease when they get older. They are usually done when your puppy is around 6 months old. These operations keep dogs from reproducing and having more puppies. You may want to have your puppy spayed (removing females' ovaries and uterus) or neutered (removing males' testicles). By the time they are 4 to 6 months old, they can usually go without having accidents. They are still developing, though, so don't expect them to learn quickly. You can introduce the idea of house training as soon as your puppy is weaned. Never use toothpaste that's meant for people. You can make your own toothpaste out of baking soda and water or buy one that is specially formulated for dogs. To clean your puppy's teeth, use a special toothbrush made for dogs or else use a clean piece of gauze wrapped around your finger. So the right time to begin proper dental care is when your dog is still a puppy. Dogs may show signs of gum disease by age 4 - or even as early as age 1 in some small-breed dogs - if you don't take proper care of their teeth. 6 months old to 1 year old (up to 24 months in larger breeds): 2 times a dayĪfter age 1, feed your dog once or twice a day. Tiny dogs may need more frequent meals.ĭental Care.The number of feedings per day changes as your puppy gets older: They should be fully switched over from milk to food by the time they're 7 or 8 weeks old.įeeding. Puppies slowly switch from their mother's milk to eating other foods when they're 3 or 4 weeks old. Small breeds tend to reach sexual maturity earlier than larger breeds. This happens at different ages, depending on the breed of your dog.
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Your dog is a puppy from the time it's a newborn until it's able to reproduce. Here's what to expect as they move through six stages of life. As your dog grows from puppy to senior, you'll need to adjust how you take care of them.
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