Five Things Your Puppy Needs To Know Or Have Before You Take It To A Dog Park
If you've recently decided to include a puppy in your household, you're probably looking forward to spending many happy hours with your furry friend. Naturally, you want the best for your canine companion, and this includes making sure that it gets plenty of outdoor exercises and has the opportunity to play with other dogs. Dog parks provide a great way to make this happen, and they're becoming more and more popular around the country, so chances are good that there is one near your home. However, there are certain things that need to be in place before taking your new puppy to a dog park. The following are five of them.
Your Puppy Should Be Trained to Come When It's Called
Few things are more embarrassing than an errant dog in the dog park that refuses to come when it's called. This is not only annoying, but it's also dangerous because you won't be able to call your dog away from potentially harmful situations.
Your Puppy Should Be Trained to Drop Items on Command
Another valuable command that it's essential for your puppy to know is to drop whatever it has in its mouth on command. This knowledge has probably saved countless dogs from ingesting dangerous items, and at the very least, it will keep your puppy from becoming a pest by picking up toys or balls belonging to other dogs and running around with them thinking it's a fun game.
Your Puppy Should Be Socialized
Puppies ideally receive their primary socialization through being part of a pack consisting of their mother and their littermates, but most need a bit of extra socialization before going to the dog park. Puppy playgroups provide an excellent way to provide this.
Your Puppy Should Be on Flea and Tick Prevention Medication
Fleas and ticks are abundant at dog parks, so make sure to ask your veterinarian to prescribe an appropriate flea and tick medication. Ticks carry Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and other diseases, and fleas carry tapeworm and can cause skin irritation and infection.
Your Puppy Should Be Vaccinated
Puppies should also be fully vaccinated before they pay their first visit to the local dog park. Puppies require a series of vaccinations over the course of several months before they are considered fully vaccinated, and after that, they need regular booster shots at varying frequencies for the rest of their lives. Puppies are considered fully vaccinated after their fourth round of shots, which usually occurs between the fourth and sixth month of their life depending on when the first round of shots was given.
For more information, contact an animal hospital like Apple Valley Animal Hospital.