All puppies are cute. However,
raising a cute puppy requires a considerable commitment of one's time and each breed has its unique
characteristics. Some dog breeds are better suited for the lifestyles of certain individuals and less so for
others. Study the temperament, training aptitude, grooming requirements, common health concerns, exercise needs and
size of the breed you are considering before making the decision as to which cute puppy to bring
home.
While generally tiny at birth, cute puppies
grow rather quickly but still need the nurturing and companionship of their mother and siblings for the first
two to three months. Newborn puppies spend most of their time sleeping and nursing. During the first
few weeks a puppy's vision and hearing is extremely limited but begins to develop. After about a
month of nursing, puppies are gradually weaned and can start to eat solid food. By two months of age,
puppies no longer need to nurse. By this time cute puppies are more active and begin to play with their
littermates and explore. A puppy should not be separated from its mother prior to two to three months of
age. Puppy litters average around six but vary widely and some breeds have litters up to
twelve.
The first several days after being separated
from its mother and litter a puppy will cry. Expect a new puppy to have a few "accidents" until it is
housebroken. Puppy bladders are small and so a puppy should be let outside numerous times thoughout the
day. When the owner cannot oversee their puppy's activitives, it is best to use a crate or confine a puppy to
a small portion of the home until it is housebroken. Note that the crate should be just large enough to sleep
in but not wet in. While many undesirable activities a new puppy performs might seem cute, the puppy
should be trained at an early age that these are undesirable behaviours so that they are not carried into
adulthood. Playtoys can help prevent your cute puppy from destroying furniture and other
household items. Ideally your cute puppy shouldn't be left alone for extended periods of time in the first
several weeks. This also helps in disciplining as one can let the puppy know with a firm voice at the
very moment they do something they shouldn't that that behaviour is
unacceptable.
Socialization at an early age is important so
that your cute puppy becomes accustomed to being around people and other dogs. It is also important that
puppies be given vaccinations within the first few months and that training commence after about six
months. In general, dogs have a high degree of intelligence compared to other animals. Sexual
maturity is usually attained between six months and two years of age depending on the breed so dogs which are not
intended for breeding should be neutered by this time.
Dogs have been man's best friend for
thousands of years and have been used for hunting, herding, search and rescue, pest control, protection,
transportation, service for those with disabilities and companionship. Dogs have hearing and olfactory
abilities far beyond those of humans. The American Kennel Association has defined characteristics for more
than one hundred fifty pure dogbreeds. Cute puppies typically learn either through observation of more
experienced dogs or through positive reinforcement.