Guides

New puppy guides

The questions that come up in the first year, one at a time. Each guide answers the question up top, keeps it short, and gives you something to tap, slide or play with Meatball and the gang.

• Why so many shots?Why does my puppy need so many shots?The Shield Relay: slide through weeks 6 to 20 and watch mom's protection fade while the vaccines take the handoff.Run the relay
• The socialization clockWhen can my puppy meet people and dogs?The window starts closing before the shots are done. Drag the clock, sort safe outings and print a checklist.Drag the clock
• Meet the freeloadersWorms, fleas, ticks and heartworm: what does my puppy need?Tap each cartoon freeloader to see how puppies pick it up and how it's stopped, then plan what's due.Tap the freeloaders
• Spay and neuter: when, by sizeWhen should I spay or neuter my puppy?Timing depends on size, and for big females it's a conversation. Pick your puppy's size and see the guideline.Pick the size
• Puppy-proof the houseHow do I puppy-proof my house?Five rooms, 27 hidden hazards. Find them before Meatball does.Play the game
• Tank's BS-meterIs that puppy advice true?Tank reads the internet so you don't have to. Guess how true 10 popular puppy claims are, then watch his needle.Guess the rating
• Read the tailWhat is my puppy trying to tell me?Tap the ears, eyes, mouth and tail on Meatball to see what relaxed and worried look like.Tap to read
• Puppies and kids: be a treeHow do I keep kids and a new puppy safe?Practice Be a Tree, play What Would You Do?, and print the puppy rules for kids.Practice Be a Tree
• Tooth timelineWhen do puppies lose their baby teeth?Slide through the first year and watch 28 baby teeth turn into 42 grown-up ones.Slide the timeline
• Is my puppy growing right?Is my puppy growing right?Log his weights, watch his line climb, and learn the rib check you can do at home.Log the weights
• First-year cost plannerWhat does a puppy cost the first year?The Two-Bucket planner: your own local prices, a live total and a monthly target.Fill it in
• Puppy food basicsWhat should I feed my puppy?Pick his grown-up size and age for the label to look for, meals a day and when to switch.Pick his size
• Puppy blues check-inIs it normal to regret getting a puppy?The puppy blues are common. A gentle check-in for you, not your puppy, and what actually helps.Check in

General education, not veterinary advice. Your vet's plan for your puppy comes first.