How to look after a dog

Unless you live in the Northern Territory, microchipping your dog is compulsory in Australia.¹ It ensures that your canine can be traced back to you if it goes missing or is stolen. It also allows dog owners to be found when their pet is missing, so you can quickly reunite with your dog.

Did you know you must register your dog with your local council? If you’re caught with an unregistered dog, you could be fined. However, there are perks to registering them; for example, Gold Coast City Council can help locate your dog if it goes missing, and the fees can help fund animal initiatives in your local community.¹⁴

Just as humans go to the GP for a check-up, the same should be done with our four-legged friends. Schedule regular vet visits to ensure your dog stays healthy. Annual check-ups are recommended for most adult dogs, but puppies, seniors or dogs with health issues may need more frequent visits. Health issues aren’t always visible to pet owners, so veterinarians will be able to advise if your dog needs treatments or offer advice on how to look after your pup best.

Several vaccinations are available to protect your dog and prevent illness. Rather than waiting for your dog to get sick, vaccines can keep your dog’s health in top shape. Dogs also need regular parasite prevention (e.g. fleas, ticks, heartworms).² Talk to your vet about the best options for your dog.

Depending on your state and local council, desexing your dogs may or may not be mandatory.³ Dogs can be desexed by the time they are six months old, though it may depend on the breed and size of your puppy.⁴ Spaying or neutering your dog can help prevent health problems and unwanted behaviours. It can also prevent your dog from falling pregnant, stop males from seeking a female during mating season and prevent heat cycles in females.

Puppy proof your home

Set up a living space where your puppy can safely stay and explore while they get used to their new environment.⁵ Check the area to ensure there isn’t anything dangerous they might easily access. Use a baby gate or a puppy gate to restrict the area that they have access to.

Create a comfortable sleeping area

Set up a comfortable and easily accessible sleeping area where your puppy can sleep and rest.⁵ You can provide a soft dog bed and bedding like blankets to ensure they’ll be cosy and dry. When you collect your puppy, ask for a toy or blanket to place in the bed so they can be comforted by the familiar scent.

Vaccinations:

Your new dog needs to be fully vaccinated to protect them from contagious and potentially fatal diseases.⁶ New puppies can be exposed to many common diseases passed between dogs or in the environment, some of which may not be so easy to treat once caught and can end up being severe or even fatal. Prevention is always better than cure, so it’s necessary to build your dog’s immunity when young and ensure they complete their vaccination program.

Feeding:

Choose high-quality food that’s specifically formulated for puppies, as it contains the necessary nutrients for their growth and development. Establish a feeding schedule as puppies can eat 3-4 times daily; follow the feeding guidelines based on your puppy’s age and breed and always provide fresh water. Avoid table scraps, and don’t feed your puppy human food, especially anything toxic to dogs (e.g. chocolate, grapes, onions).

Socialisation:

Socialisation is key to raising a well-adjusted dog. Expose your puppy to various people, environments, sounds and other pets to help them become comfortable in different situations. Consider enrolling your puppy in a socialisation or obedience class to help them learn basic manners and get used to being around other dogs.

Dog training:

Start training as soon as possible and begin teaching basic commands like ‘sit’, ‘stay’, ‘come’ and ‘no’. Positive reinforcement is important, so reward good behaviour with treats, praise or playtime. Avoid harsh punishment, as it can lead to fear and confusion.

To house-train your puppy, take it outside frequently (at least every 2-3 hours) and praise it when it goes to the bathroom outside. Crate training can be very helpful for housebreaking.

Exercise and play:

Provide plenty of playtime. Puppies have a lot of energy, so give them toys and engage in interactive play to burn off that energy. While it’s important to let them play, puppies are still growing, so avoid excessive exercise (like long walks or strenuous activities) that could harm their joints. A general guide for walking puppies is to allow them one to two sessions of five minutes of walking for each month of age.⁷ For example, a five-month-old puppy can enjoy a 25-minute walk once or twice a day. Puppies also need mental stimulation; puzzle toys and training sessions help keep their minds sharp, train their commands and can help tire them out so you get some peace around the house.

Health care:

Schedule your first vet appointment soon after bringing your puppy home; they’ll need vaccinations, deworming and flea/tick prevention. Ensure your puppy has a microchip for identification and a collar with ID tags. Ask your vet about the best flea, tick and heartworm prevention options and discuss the best time for neutering (spaying) your puppy.

Grooming:

Depending on your puppy’s breed, regular brushing will help keep their coat clean and free of mats. Bath your puppy when necessary and use a mild dog shampoo to avoid irritating their skin. Keep your puppy’s nails trimmed to prevent discomfort or injury. If you’re unsure, ask your vet to show you how to do this safely.

Dental care is also very important, so start brushing your puppy’s teeth early with a dog-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste to desensitise them to the feeling of getting their teeth brushed. Regular dental care helps prevent dental disease.

Patience and bonding:

Puppies can be a handful and won’t always get things right immediately. Be patient as they learn and remember that mistakes are part of the process. Spend time with them, offer cuddles and play, and engage with them. This will build trust and create a strong bond between you and your puppy.

Correct early if your puppy displays undesirable behaviour (e.g. biting, excessive barking). Puppy biting is common, but consistent redirection and providing chew toys can help. If your puppy does something wrong, don’t punish them. Instead, redirect their behaviour and use positive reinforcement when they act appropriately.

According to the Victorian State Government, most adult dogs should be fed once a day, while puppies require between three and four meals a day.⁸ However, factors such as breed, age, size and activity level can influence how much food your dog requires as part of a balanced diet.

These characteristics may also determine whether your dog has higher or lower nutritional needs, which can be met with certain types of food rather than quantities of it.⁹  Because of this, there’s no one set of guidelines to follow; instead, you should ask a vet or animal expert about the right amount of food for your pet.

The Victorian State Government notes that when it comes to commercial dog food – whether it’s dry, semi-moist or canned – the appropriate amount for the size of your dog is usually displayed on the package. Again, this is a general guide, and your dog may require more or less of it, depending on its dietary requirements.⁹

Meanwhile, the RSPCA lists a variety of safe foods to include in your dog’s diet. These include¹⁰

• Human-grade raw meats such as lamb
• Raw meaty bones (but discuss which types of bones are appropriate for your dog with a vet)
• Cooked veggies such as carrots or pumpkin
• Cooked rice or pasta
• Cooked chicken or lamb
• Grass
• Some fish include salmon, tuna and sardines.

Feeding your puppy the right foods is vital for its health, but they don’t always eat the same foods as adult dogs. According to the RSPCA, the safest food for pups is high-quality commercial puppy food.¹⁰ Always read the label to ensure the food is appropriate for your puppy’s age.

The age of your puppy will determine how regularly it needs to be fed. The Victorian State Government’s Code of Practice for the private keeping of dogs recommends that:

• Weaning puppies should be fed between three and four times a day
• Puppies between sixteen weeks and six months should be fed twice a day
• Between six and nine months, puppies should be moved on to one meal daily.¹¹

Of course, chat with your vet about what to feed puppies, as your pup could have specific needs. Other foods that are safe for puppies to consume in small quantities, according to the RSPCA, include:

• Raw diced human-grade meat such as lamb
• Cooked chicken or lamb with no bones
• Tinned salmon, tuna and sardines
• Bite-sized vegetables such as carrots and pumpkin.⁶

There are many things to consider when you become a dog owner. Try asking yourself the following questions to determine if now is the right time.

• Will I be able to properly care for a dog for the duration of their life?
• Can I keep up with the cost of owning a dog?
• Does my lifestyle allow me enough time to care for my dog adequately?
• How much exercise does the dog need, and can I help it stay fit?
• Is the dog appropriate for my family and children?
• How suitable is my home for a dog, and is there enough room for it to live comfortably?
• Does my current living arrangement allow pets?
• What will happen to my dog if I go on holiday or become sick?

While the specifics vary based on different dog breeds, every dog requires regular exercise at least once daily.⁹ Activities such as walking and off-leash running are ideal, but you can keep up your dog’s fitness with other games or activities.⁸

Regular walks are essential to keep your pet physically healthy, prevent obesity and improve its mental health and social skills, as well as other animals and humans.¹² Other than outdoor exercises, you should also provide your dog with mental health stimulation such as enrichment toys and simulation to engage with them.

We do everything possible to care for our dogs, but accidents happen, and your pet can become ill in the blink of an eye. While pet insurance can’t prevent injuries or illnesses from occurring, it can help you cover expensive vet bills if your pet requires medical attention. Even if your pet isn’t sick, some pet insurance cover or routine care as an optional extra may help you pay for vet visits and other bills such as worming, desexing and vaccinations.

Some providers only allow you to take out limited cover for older dogs, so it’s encouraged to cover your pets from a young age. Read more about pet insurance and the available cover levels .

Whether you’re looking for a pet insurance policy or want to see how your current level of cover compares to others on the market, we can help. Our pet insurance comparison tool is available to help you compare a range of policies from Australian providers. Enter your details, and within minutes, you can see various pet insurance products, their features and more in one place.

Whether your dog resides inside, or lives outdoors is entirely up to you. Whatever you decide, there are guidelines you’ll need to follow to ensure your pet remains safe. These include providing:

• A clean, safe and hygienic space for them to live in
• Access to regular and daily exercise
• An area that shelters the dog from the rain, wind, sun and other weather elements
• Sufficient ventilation if the dog resides inside
• Areas where dogs can use the bathroom that aren’t near food or sleeping areas
• Appropriate fencing so the dog can’t escape
• Kennels large enough for the dog to move comfortably around in.⁸

To ensure they’re as safe as possible, the Victorian State Government makes the following recommendations for travelling in a car with your dog:⁸

• Your dog should never be transported in the boot of the car. However, they can ride in the back of a trailer – providing they’re securely restrained.
• Any dog being transported in a cage or container must have enough room to move around inside the cage.
• If your dog is travelling inside the car, it should be restrained where possible, and it shouldn’t be able to stick its head out a window.

Pet parents should aim for at least one wash every four weeks for their pet’s well-being. It’s recommended to use dog-friendly shampoos and conditioners at a comfortable water temperature and dry them appropriately afterwards.¹³

Bathing your pooch once every four weeks ensures you’re not over-washing them, which could cause skin irritation and affect flea or worming treatments. However, you shouldn’t wait a month between washes if your pet becomes dirty – so bathe your pups at your own discretion.

Regular grooming is key to pet care and looking after and keeping pets healthy. As a rule, long-haired breeds must be groomed daily, while you should brush your short-haired dog around twice a week.¹³ Your dog’s fur may also need to be trimmed regularly depending on its breed.

In addition to keeping your dog as cute as a button, frequent grooming is essential in removing tangles, dust, dead skin, hair and other materials from its coat. It’s also an excellent way to catch ticks early.