Adopting a Pitbull puppy? Essential care, health, and training tips.

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach! The food I mostly recommend is Science Diet. I have used their food for over 20 years in my own pets and have never had a problem with their food. My own dog was on their food for 20 years and did very well. He maintained an excellent body condition, hair coat was amazing and he loved very long. I contribute his longevity to a good diet and good care as well. If you are opposed to Science Diet, I also recommend Royal Canin, Natural Balance and Purina One. There are so many foods out there and it is easy to get caught up in the marketing game of "natural", "organic" and "grain free". As long as your dog is on a well balanced and complete diet is what matters the most. I typically recommend feeding a puppy food for the first 12 months and then switching to an adult food from 12 months to 7 years of age. Beyond 7 years I recommend a senior formula. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

Thanks for using PetCoach! A couple ideas: try something like FreshPatch which essentially sends you a patch of real grass in a cardboard container. Or, try crate training since most pups will not pee in their “house”. Here is a good link for crate training. http://www.aahneenah.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/crate-training-your-puppy.pdf As far as the aggression, you’ll need to get that under control as soon as possible. Any form of aggression toward humans should be met with a firm “no” and stopping all play/walking. Practice just walking by and touching his back end frequently so that it’s normal and no big deal. Neutering often helps with aggression so keep that in mind. Finally, some dog require more intensive care so talk with your vet about anti anxiety medication or professional training.

You want to make sure to feed a high quality diet. You also need to make sure that the growth is slow and consistent. If your puppy grows too quickly, it will be more likely to develop conditions like hip dysplasia. The diet I recommend for my large breed puppies is Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy. It will ensure even growth and the diet is highly digestible. This diet can be purchased at many pet stores or online. Proper exercise is also important but remember not to start jogging with a large breed puppy until they are at least a year old. You can damage the joints that way BUT normal things like playing or chasing the ball should be fine. Please post again if you have any further questions!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Congratulations!! Bruno is adorable! Bruno needs to start his puppy vaccines. He should receive a DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parvo and parainfluenza) vaccine every 3-4 weeks starting around 7-8 weeks of age until he receives two past 12 weeks. He should get his rabies vaccine between 12-16 weeks. He can start being dewormed as well. Having him dewormed and Rabies vaccination will protect your family. Keep up with his vaccinations into adulthood as they do have expiration dates. Deworm yearly. I recommend puppy food until 1 year of age. I like Purina proplan, hills science diet and Royal Canin. As a puppy his energy level is like a new born. Play for a bit then sleep. Around 4 months they are awake more. So playing with him when awake and 2-3 walks a day are appropriate. Distance can increase with age and endurance. See below for links on training. I wish you and Bruno the best! https://www.petcoach.co/article/basic-dog-puppy-training-rules/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/rewards-are-necessary-when-training-dogs-and-puppies/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/training-fitness-for-sporting-dogs/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/interacting-with-your-pet/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-obedience-commands-every-dog-should-know/

Congrats on your new addition! Ideally, she should be physically examined by your veterinarian within 3 days of arriving home to confirm good health or to diagnose and treat any preexisting conditions. At the very least, she will likely need to be dewormed. Vaccines can start around 6 weeks of age and will continue every 4 weeks until about 16 weeks of age. Discuss monthly parasite prevention with your vet to protect against worms, fleas, ticks and heartworm. Feed a good quality puppy food. Look for brands such as Canidae, Acana or Merrick. You can feed according tot the directions on the bag, just know that each puppy is different and you may need to adjust the amount if Coqueta is gaining too much weight or not enough weight. Avoid store or discount brands as these may contain low quality ingredients and more fillers. Puppies typically need to go about about 20-30 minutes after eating, sleeping or playing. Expect accidents, they are going to happen. Since dogs thrive on routine, start a consistent schedule for potty breaks; first thing in the morning, midday, evening and before bedtime to begin with. Choose one spot in the yard and use it for bathroom training. She can have a short walk or playtime after she does her business. Praise and reward her each time. Avoid areas with other dogs and dogs of unknown vaccine status until she has at least 2 rounds of vaccines. Visit the PetCoach Educational Center for additional information. https://www.petcoach.co/article/the-first-week-with-a-new-puppy-what-to-expect https://www.petcoach.co/article/puppy-101-everything-you-need-to-consider/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/everything-you-should-know-about-pet-vaccines/ https://www.petcoach.co/educational-center/

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I recommend an adult mai ten every dog food fed twice a day. There is no need to add wet food. Do not feed table scraps or human foods. Do not feed grain free foods as those can cause heart disease. Royal Canin, Hills Scoence Doet and Ians are all good brands to feed.

Congrats on your new addition! If you've never had a puppy before, there will be many learning experiences ahead, some of which you will need to do on the fly. The most important thing you will need to do with your puppy is start with house training and obedience training right away. Positive reinforcement training is the best method in my opinion, with punishment reserved only for the most severe of instances when nothing else works. In terms of introduction to new animals, this should be done one at a time first, starting with the one Kira is most likely to get along with. The puppy should be kept on a leash as to have complete control over him and his behaviors. He will likely try to play and lick the other animals since this is how pitty puppies generally behave. This on-leash interaction will be particuarly important with the cats since they are much less likely to be accepting right off the bat. Reinforce good behavior of both animals with treats and praise. In terms of medical therapy and general care, Kiro should establish a relationship with a vet as soon as you get him. He will require vaccines starting at 8 weeks and every 4 weeks thereafter until 16 weeks of age. He may require additional deworming as well depending on the vet's findings. Hope this helps. Enjoy your puppy!