By the time you leave the veterinarian heading home, your puppy must have had several vaccinations as well as a vet’s check up to insure it’s in decent health. Perhaps you’re not buying your Maltese straight from a veterinarian, so the first thing you’d have to do is take it there even before going home (this will prevent your family – especially little children – or other animals from getting any disease or problem it may have without you knowing it). You must remember that puppies are active and demanding creatures (just like you were when you had its age!), so the first few weeks you may start reconsidering getting a puppy at all, or get in a cranky mood overall. The key is to be patient and keep the sense of humor: the effort you put at this stage will surely pay off in the future. So, what do you need for your Maltese puppy to be comfortable at home? First things first, you need to buy him/her a crate. A crate gives him a safe, cozy place to settle and feel sure in its new home, while also helps your training and makes things like traveling much more easily for you and the dog. It’s specially a good idea to buy a crate for its first visits to the vet. What about a bed? Just as we enjoy our privacy and comfortable place at home, your Maltese will enjoy that too if you provide it to him/her. Puppy life is a very playful and energetic experience, he/she will most definitely get exhausted several times during the day, and that’s when he/she needs its bed. This will help him/her getting accustomed to the new environment, so it’s important to find a place for the bed clear of noise and household traffic so the puppy can get the rest it needs. The next thing is getting a leash and collar. Your Maltese puppy surely needs one, but because of the hair around its neck, the leather or metal type will not work on them. The best choice is to buy a nylon one piece collar. Then you can buy a leash that matches this type of collar. Of course, you can’t forget about water and food dishes. The best pick are small lightweight bowls for food and water. They come in metal, plastic or ceramic material. Some Maltese owners prefer to train their dogs to drink out of a water bottle to avoid them from getting their facial hair all wet and sloppy. It’s also a good idea to provide him/her with toys and chewiest if you’re planning on keeping your house safe. For Maltese puppies, you need to look for small things that squeak and are interactive, as they particularly love this type of toys. Next, is getting them identification in case he/she gets lost. In terms of your home, you can make life safer for you, your puppy and your furniture by getting rid of dangerous objects, sharp corners and valuable pieces that may be destroyed. Once you and the puppy get used to each other and to your home, you can start by settling a work out or train schedule, give him/her their personal space in the house, socializing your puppy with your family or other animals in the house or in the neighborhood, and, finally, visiting your vet as frequently as needed. We hope you enjoy this basic article about Maltese puppy care |
