* Schedule veterinarian appointments every two to three weeks. It is likely that your veterinarian will want to see your puppy every two to three weeks for checkups until his twelfth week.
* Begin puppy vaccinations. Your puppy's initial vaccinations for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus and Bordetella typically begin around six weeks and are repeated every two to three weeks until he is fourteen weeks old.
* Monitor your puppy's diet. This is the stage for your puppy to establish good eating habits. You need to be consistent with what you feed your puppy, monitoring how much he eats and weighs. From six to eight weeks old, your puppy should be fed three times a day, and when he reaches eight weeks, feed him twice a day. Feeding guidelines should be listed on your pet food package.
* Note: Don't be alarmed if you notice changes in your puppy's appetite. Growing can affect your puppy's digestive system causing him to lose his appetite or experience digestive upset occasionally. If stomach symptoms become severe or continue for longer than a day or two, contact your veterinarian.
Three - Six Months
* Schedule rabies vaccination. By law, your puppy needs an initial rabies vaccination before six months. Ask your vet about checking puppy for parasites between four and six months.
* Consult veterinarian about having your puppy spayed or neutered.
Six Months - One Year
* Schedule booster vaccinations for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis, and Parvovirus, and for rabies at the time of the annual checkup.
* Schedule annual checkups. Your puppy will visit the vet a lot during his first six months. Once he is six months old he should have received all his vaccinations and will probably only need annual checkups. Consult your veterinarian about the frequency of visits.
REMEMBER: Even though your puppy may look grown, he actually still growing. Continue feeding him puppy food and consult your vet on when to switch your puppy to adult food.
The Second Year
* Continue taking your puppy for regular checkups and make sure he is up-to-date on all vaccinations.
* Consult your veterinarian about transitioning your puppy to adult dog food. Generally, smaller-breed puppies will be ready to transition to an adult dog food after one year. Larger-breed puppies are likely to take longer than that. Your veterinarian can determine if your puppy has reached full maturity.
