How Much Attention Do Puppies Need A Day?

You’ve finally brought a new puppy to your home- Well done! But life with a new puppy can be overwhelming at first, especially if you haven’t interacted with a dog of their kind before.

Among the many questions that you are likely to ask yourself is whether you are having enough time with your new pet and if they are enjoying your company- and that’s exactly what we are going to answer today.

So, how much attention do puppies need a day?

Puppies will need around 2-3 hours throughout the day for training, exercise, and socialization. They will grow up to be happy, healthy, and well-behaved with your proper care.

Puppies young as eight weeks old may not need the same level of attention as larger pups. After all, they don’t have much time for their human partners since they spend most of their time sleeping.

How Much Attention Should I Give My Puppy?

Remember your day one in school? Can you recall how you felt when you found yourself in a scary world surrounded by strangers?

That’s exactly how things are with your puppy when you bring him home.

You just separated the young canine from the mother and siblings and now want to bring him up in a ‘foreign’ environment, teaching him to obey and act in accordance with the rules of the ‘land’.

In the first few days, puppies may not need much attention from you. They are still scared and probably sad and wondering when will they ever reunite with the family.

However, as they begin to get comfortable with their new environment, your puppy will begin to demand more and more attention from you.

So, how much time should you afford the new member of the family? As stated earlier, the amount of time will vary depending on age.

If the puppy is very young, let’s say about eight weeks old, they spend about fifteen hours a day in slumberland. Hence, they won’t need much attention from you like a six-month-old puppy.

Do Puppies Need More Time Than Adult Dogs?

The perfect time to train your dog is when they are young. Actually, a puppy eight weeks old (2 months) is ready for basic training. It’s the perfect age to begin potty training, teach him some cues, and discourage negative behaviors like chewing and jumping on you and strangers who come by.

With all these things to impart on your pup, it’s easy to wonder whether they actually need more time when they are young than once they get old.

You are also likely to worry that you may be spending more time with your pup than they need.

So, is there such thing as too much attention when dealing with pups? If yes, are there any consequences, and what are they? Let’s examine that closely.

First, it can be tempting to spend more time with your new puppy, and it’s not a criminal offense.

Nevertheless, every pet parent needs to understand that affording puppies more attention than necessary can do more harm than good in the long term.

If you spend more time with your young canine than you should, he will mature being used to having you around.

Over-relying on your presence may cause some troubles such as separation anxiety when you stay away from your dog for several hours.

The rule of the thumb is that you give your pup the same level of attention you are going to afford them once mature.

Dogs carry on what they learn in their puppyhood into their adulthood. Therefore, the same level of attention your adult dog needs should match the exact level you gave him in his puppyhood.

Some dogs, however, become more independent as they age and will not demand as much attention from the owners.

But unless your dog begins to portray some level of independence, carry on the same amount of attention to his adulthood.

Separation Anxiety

Puppies and senior dogs can develop anxiety when left alone at home for long periods than usual. Canines are social beings, and therefore want to spend most of the time with someone around them.

When left alone, your dog may get sad, cry, whine, chew things, or mess up space. All these are signs that he’s suffering from separation anxiety.

The condition can be severe especially when you’ve been spending the most time with your dog. To avoid this condition, train your puppy to spend some moments alone.

You can begin by leaving him for a few seconds. Increase the time you stay away from him in small bits until he’s comfortable to remain alone for long periods.

You can start by leaving for 30 seconds, return, go back for a minute, return, and so forth. By doing this, your puppy will always have it in mind that you will return as usual every time you leave.

An interactive toy is another creative way of keeping your pup mentally active until you are back. But no matter how your dog seems comfortable when alone at home, experts still recommend not to leave them for more than eight hours.

Quantity Or Quality Time?

Although your presence is enough to keep your furry friend calm from separation anxiety, making your dog feel loved and recognized takes more than your mere presence.

If they were to choose, most canines would prefer the less time you spend interacting with them closely to more time of just being around them.

You can make the most out of your interactions by focusing on having quality time rather than more time of doing nothing.

An hour of playing with your young furry friend will mean more to him than several hours of having him just sit next to you as you watch the TV.

The tug-of-war, hide and seek, and the game of fetch are a few of the fun games you can play with your puppy.

An hour or two of play should be enough to make life comfortable for your canine. If you can’t get all this time at once, opt for multiple short sessions of play.

For instance, you can play with your pup for 15-30 minutes before work and then again after you return. If you don’t have enough time to play or interact with your pet, you can opt to kill two birds with one stone.

For instance, if he’s ready for long runs, you can have him join you in the morning run. Running with your dog will create an avenue for you to interact and create a stronger bond between the two of you.

How Can You Make Your Puppy Happy?

The friendship between man and dog has been there for many centuries. Once you establish a bond between you and your canine, you will have gotten a true friend who will always be by your side no matter what the future unleashes.

Pooches have proved time and again to be loyal, understanding, and have an indomitable spirit. Of all the tamed animals, dogs have the widest array of roles in a man’s life: protector, lifesaver, friend, helper, and many more.

In return, we want to make their lives wonderful. So, how can we give dogs the most amazing life they deserve? Here are seven ways to keep your puppy happy.

1. Grooming is Key

Grooming is one way to make your puppies life sweet, comfortable and create a strong bond with your furbaby.

As you comb or brush your canine’s fur, it feels to him like an all-over massage, especially if you have the right paraphernalia for the job.

Grooming moment is the perfect time to check for pests, injuries, and other things that may make life quite uncomfortable for your lovely pup.

When grooming, focus more on the “sweet spots” such as the tummy and the chest to make the grooming sessions moments of delight for your loyal friend.

2. Keep Your Puppy Looking Super Cool

Keeping your dog looking cute doesn’t always have to be on special occasions like birthdays, Christmas, photoshoots, weddings, and so on.

Like humans, your dog will want to look the coolest in the entire neighborhood every time you take him out for a walk.

Get your small furry friend a dog hat, bandana, hoodie, dog collar, and other pet accessories once in a while. These pet gear will make him feel loved and part of the family.

Your canine may tend to disagree with the idea at first, and it’s normal. Once pets become used to them, they will always want to be in them even when staying at home.

3. Make Your Vet Part of It

There are many things that will deny your pet the happiness they deserve. Illness is one of them, and probably the most threatening. A healthy pet is a happy pet.

Ensure that you monitor your puppy very closely to notice any signs of diseases in earlier stages. Large dog breeds like the German shepherd and Great Danes are very susceptible to joint-related conditions, bloat, hypothyroidism, and more.

Other common illnesses in dogs relate to ear infection, urinary problems, dental diseases, and others. It’s wise to work with the vet to keep your dog’s vaccination up to date.

Once you notice any unusual behavior in your dog, seek the attention of the vet immediately to help identify the cause.

4. Introduce Your Puppy To New Friends

As social beings, dogs thrive in an environment with people and other pets. That’s why they develop depression and anxiety when left alone for long periods.

Introducing your puppy to new people and pets is one surefire way to make them happy. You can either invite friends to come over or have him accompany you to a public setting to meet new people and other dogs.

Early socialization will go a long way to train the dog how to interact with strangers and other dogs that come visiting. It will be a perfect opportunity for your puppy to learn that not every stranger who comes about has a bad motive.

5. Give Him Some Work

If it’s your first dog, it’s almost always tempting to treat your canine like a newborn baby. Of course, there is no harm in that.

Nevertheless, that isn’t what most dogs want from their human partners. Your furbaby might find life more comfortable if you give him some work to do.

If possible, have him trained to do simple tasks like fetching your keys, opening the door, so on and so forth. When going out for a walk, your dog will appreciate carrying his own water and snacks.

Giving your dog some job to do will make him feel recognized, loved, and more trusted in the family.

6. Find Time To Hit The Waters

The afternoon sun can at times make the life uncomfortable for your pet. While bathing your dog is one way to keep them cool, almost every pet will welcome prance through puddles, a journey to the beach, or a leap to the lake.

You can even bring all this fun to your home by investing in a good dog pool. But remember to monitor him in the water at all times, no matter how good he’s ay swimming. It’s the same way you won’t permit a child to swim without the supervision of an adult.

7. Know What Is Safe For Him

Dogs usually pack a huge appetite. Most of them will devour anything that passes their nose test. But not everything is healthy for your lovely canine.

In fact, most human treats aren’t good for dogs. Things like chocolate, chewing gum, and others contain Xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is potentially harmful to dogs.

Other foods that can be harmful to your adorable canine include avocados, raisins, onions, sugarless gum, walnuts, macadamia nuts, yeast dough, and many others.

While almost every dog will express interest in all these, it’s your responsibility as a pet caregiver to ensure that your pooch only takes what is healthy.

Final Thoughts

A new puppy comes with a new set of responsibilities. You need to come up with ways of keeping your pup more comfortable and happy in the new home.

Find time for training, socializing, playing, and other activities that strengthen the bond between you and the young furry friend. This way, your puppy will grow healthy and find life to be more wonderful in their new home.