Puppy Care Guide: From Feeding to Vaccination

Hey Pawrents,

Bringing a puppy home is one of those moments you’ll remember forever. Tiny paws. Big eyes. That clumsy walk that somehow melts your heart instantly.

And then… reality kicks in.

Is this normal? Why are they crying? Are they eating enough? Too much? Sleeping too little? Too much? Did I do something wrong already?

If your mind feels full of all this, you’re doing it right.

Every new pawrent feels this way, even the confident ones. This puppy care guide is here to slow things down and walk you through the early days with clarity, calm, and honesty, not pressure.

No perfect rules. No fear tactics. Just real-life puppy care, the way it actually happens.

Start With This Truth First

Before food bowls, vaccines, or training schedules, understand this:

~ Your puppy doesn’t need you to be perfect.

~ They need you to be present.

You will mess up. You’ll panic over small things. You’ll Google at 2 a.m. You’ll wonder if everyone else knows something you don’t.

And that’s normal.

Most puppy care for beginners feels overwhelming because people focus on “doing everything right” instead of doing what matters consistently. This is where good puppy care begins.

The First Few Days at Home

Your puppy has just been separated from their mother, littermates, smells, and sounds they knew.

So if they:

• Cry at night
• Follow you everywhere
• Refuse food briefly
• Hide or freeze

That’s not bad behavior. That's just their way of adjustment.

What helps:

• Keep feeding and sleeping times predictable
• Limit visitors initially
• Give them one quiet, safe space
• Avoid overwhelming affection

Routine brings comfort faster than excitement.

Feeding Your Puppy: Less Confusing Than It Looks

Food plays a huge role in growth, immunity, digestion, and behavior.

At this stage, your puppy needs:

• Puppy-specific food
• Smaller, frequent meals
• Clean water available at all times

General feeding rhythm:

• 2–3 months: 4 meals a day
• 3–6 months: 3 meals a day
• 6+ months: 2 meals a day

A mistake many pawrents make while learning how to take care of a puppy is overfeeding. Extra food doesn’t help growth; it stresses digestion.

Stick to recommended portions. Adjust slowly. Observe stool, energy, and appetite. Food consistency matters more than food trends.

Vaccination & Vet Care (Non-Negotiable)

Your puppy’s first vet visit sets the foundation for long-term health.

Vaccinations protect against:

• Parvo
• Distemper
• Hepatitis
• Rabies

Your vet will also guide you on:

• Deworming
• Flea & tick prevention
• Growth milestones

Never delay vaccines because your puppy “looks fine.” Prevention saves lives. This part of the puppy care guide may feel intimidating, but once you start, it becomes routine.

Sleep, Routine & Night Crying

Puppies sleep a lot. And they should.

Sleep supports:

• Brain development
• Growth
• Emotional regulation

Night crying is common in the first 1–2 weeks.

What helps:

• Keep their bed close initially
• Avoid responding to every small sound
• Maintain lights-off, quiet nights

Your calm teaches them safety.

Potty Training Without Losing Your Mind

Accidents will happen. A lot. Puppies don’t understand bladder control yet.

Helpful basics:

• ~ Take them out after meals, play, sleep
• ~ Praise immediately after they potty outside
• ~ Never punish accidents

Punishment creates fear, not learning. Consistency builds habits.

Biting & Chewing (This Phase Tests Everyone)

If your puppy is biting everything right now—your hands, clothes, slippers—take a breath. This is normal. Annoying, yes. But normal.

Puppies use their mouths to explore. Add teething pain and extra energy, and biting becomes their way of coping. It usually gets worse when they’re tired, bored, or overstimulated.

Don’t hit. Don’t yell. That just scares them and makes things messier.

What works better is boring consistency. Pull your hand away. Offer a chew toy instead. End play if biting continues. Repeat this a hundred times if needed. This phase passes. Calm responses help it pass faster.

Hygiene & Grooming Basics

Grooming is not about making your puppy look cute. It’s about comfort.

At home, focus on:

• Gentle brushing
• Occasional baths (not too frequent)
• Nail checks
• Ear inspection

Overbathing dries the skin. Clean doesn’t mean constant washing. These early habits make puppy care at home much easier long-term.

Training: Keep It Gentle

Training is communication, not control.

Start with:

• Name recognition
• Sit
• Come
• Leash comfort

Short sessions. Positive reinforcement. Patience. 

Your puppy isn’t stubborn. They’re learning a whole new world.

Good training is one of the most powerful puppy care tips, even though it looks simple.

Making Your Home Puppy-Safe

Your home looks harmless to you. It doesn’t to a puppy.

Watch out for:

• Wires
• Cleaning chemicals
• Small objects
• Open balconies

Create boundaries early. It reduces stress for both of you.

Emotional Care (Often Ignored, But Very Important)

Puppies feel fear before they feel trust.

They may:

• Follow you constantly
• Refuse to play
• Act overly quiet or clingy

What helps:

• Predictable routines
• Calm voice
• Letting them approach you

Emotional safety builds confidence faster than discipline. This is a core part of the puppy care guide, even though people rarely talk about it.

Common Mistakes New Pawrents Make

Almost everyone does at least one:

• Overfeeding
• Overbathing
• Expecting instant training
• Comparing puppies
• Panicking too fast

Mistakes don’t ruin puppies. Inconsistency does.

A Gentle Reality Check

• Some days will feel magical.
• Some days will feel exhausting.

But that doesn’t mean you’re failing.

This puppy care guide exists to remind you that raising a puppy is a process, not a checklist.

FAQs

Q: How do I know if my puppy is settling in well?

— You’ll notice small signs first, such as eating a little better, sleeping more calmly, following you around, or playing for short bursts. Settling in isn’t instant; it usually happens gradually over a few weeks.

Q: How much sleep does a puppy actually need?

— More than you think. Puppies can sleep 16–20 hours a day. It’s part of healthy growth. Too little sleep often leads to cranky, overactive behavior.

Q: How do I know if my puppy is teething or unwell?

— Teething usually comes with chewing, drooling, and mild fussiness. Illness often shows as low energy, skipped meals, vomiting, or loose stools. When in doubt, call your vet.

Q: My puppy cries at night. Should I ignore it?

— Some crying is normal in the first few nights. Don’t rush in every time, but don’t completely ignore distress either. Calm reassurance without play helps them settle.

By now, this puppy care guide has probably made one thing clear: nobody gets puppy parenting perfect. You learn by doing, by observing your puppy, making small changes, and showing up even on the messy days. That’s how confidence slowly builds, for both of you.

And when you don’t want to overthink every little thing, it helps to have reliable support. From daily care basics to food, grooming, and essentials, Furever Kare keeps puppy care practical and stress-free.

So explore Furever Kare’s pet care products and treats and focus on enjoying this phase because it won’t last forever.