Important Puppy Firsts You Need To Know

Puppy Safety

If you’re the proud owner of a puppy – congrats! – you’ve probably wondered when it’s safe for puppies to experience certain milestones, like when puppies can have treats, when can puppies go on their first walk and when they should play with other dogs. 

WHEN CAN PUPPIES HAVE TREATS?

Maybe you already gave your puppy a treat or two before you looked up the answer to the question of, ‘When can I give my puppy a treat.’ Your puppy is growing quickly and ensuring they have a healthy diet to meet their nutritional needs is very important during these early stages.

In general, the age when puppies can have treats is after two months old. You should always check with your veterinarian about your puppy’s diet, including the types of dog food they should be getting, serving sizes, frequency, and when it’s safe to introduce treats for puppies.

That age is a good time to give your puppy a treat because their teeth should be strong enough to chomp down easily on a soft treat, such as Wellness Soft Puppy Bites, and their digestive system should be ready to handle a puppy treat in addition to their regular dog food.

As a new puppy owner, you’re probably trying to train your young dog to learn commands and house train them; and having a veterinarian-approved puppy treat can help you do that. Puppies need rewards and positive reinforcement while learning skills and the right treats along with a “good girl” or “good boy” will help you train them.

High-quality dog treats for puppies should include ingredients that benefit them without additives like artificial ingredients. Wellness WHIMZEES helps reduce the formation of plaque and tartar with natural ingredients. A daily dental treat like Wellness WHIMZEES Puppy Dental Treats are softer so they’re easier on your pup’s teeth. They’re available in two sizes depending on the weight of your puppy and they are grain-free and gluten-free so they’re good for a sensitive pup’s digestive system.

Why not reward your puppy with a treat that will help keep their mouth happy and healthy? Start a daily regimen toward preventing dental disease with a WHIMZEES puppy treat.

WHEN CAN PUPPIES GO ON THEIR FIRST WALK?

If you’ve mostly been playing with your puppy at home, you’re probably curious about when it’s safe to take your puppy on a walk. Your puppy should be receiving several vaccinations every three to four weeks and are considered protected from illnesses once they’ve received their boosters by 16 weeks of age. Until they’re around four months old, you’ll want to let your puppy explore the outdoors with a fenced-in yard. 

WHEN CAN PUPPIES HAVE A PLAY DATE?

It’s important for puppies to socialize with humans and other dogs during their first few months of life, but you want to make sure that’s done safely. The American Veterinary Medical Association says that socialization is important for dogs in the three- to four-month-old range because it may make them less likely to develop aggressive or fearful behavior down the line. Make sure any dogs your puppy is socializing with are up-to-date on their vaccines. If you are enhancing their training with puppy classes, make sure the facility you’re taking your puppy to requires all dogs to be following a vaccination schedule so your dog has a lower risk of contracting an infectious disease from another dog.