Keep your dog or puppy happy, healthy and safe. Home What we do Care for Animals Dog Care Puppy Care What we do Adoptions Dogs and Puppies Cat and Kittens Cat Care Guide Cat Care Guide: Cat Friendly Homes Cat Care Guide: Introducing The Family Cat Cat Care Guide: Petting and Cat Communication Cat Care Guide: Your New Cats Home Pocket Pets Birds Livestock Adoption fees Exceptional Owners Seniors for Seniors Program Home Ever After Intensive Breeding Taskforce Donate to support our IBTF Finding a Good Breeder Legal Implications The Animals The Business of Cruelty The Team Tip-Off Form Our Impact Social Return on Investment Sydney Education Centre Auditorium Meeting and Training Rooms Veterinary Services RSPCA Sydney Veterinary Hospital RSPCA Hunter Veterinary Hospital (Rutherford) RSPCA Broken Hill Veterinary Hospital Rescue and Rehabilitate Behaviour Pet Rehabilitation Program Lost and Found I’ve lost my pet I’ve found a pet Care for Animals Owning a Pet Costs Veterinary Care Adopting a New Pet Locating a Lost Pet Pets and Rental Properties Disaster Management Plans Enrichment Dog Care Dog Walking Guidelines Parvovirus in Dogs Barking Bathing and Grooming Identification Veterinary Care Housing Breeds Enrichment Nutrition Puppy Care Cat Care Kitten Care Identification Veterinary Care Keeping Wildlife Safe and Your Cat Happy Housing Breeds Bathing and Grooming Training Nutrition Pocket Pets Livestock Birds Housing Identification Veterinary Care Nutrition Bathing and Grooming Training Pet Hazards Toxic Plants for Pets Christmas Season Fireworks and Storms Heat Stress Snake Bites and Pets Bushfires and House Fires Droughts Education School Education School Holiday Program Kids’ Corner Youth and Animal Program Teacher and Educator Portal Community Engagement RSPCA AWARE (free education resources) Training ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care ACMGEN309 Provide Basic Animal First Aid ACMMIC401 Implant Microchip in Cats and Dogs Introducing Your Pet to a New Baby Basic Animal First Aid Introduction to Animal Enrichment Introduction to Animal Welfare Animal Welfare Our Inspectorate Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1979) Working in Communities Community Aged Care Program Community Domestic Violence Program Community Homelessness Program Outreach Animal Assistance Programs Indigenous Community Companion Animal Health Program (ICCAHP) Community Branches and Programs Bushfire Response Disaster and Alerts Hot weather Fireworks and Storms Bushfires and House Fires Droughts RSPCA Pet Insurance Dog CareDog Walking Guidelines Parvovirus in Dogs Barking Bathing and Grooming Identification Veterinary Care Housing Breeds Enrichment Nutrition Puppy Care Puppy Care Puppies can be a huge time investment, particularly when they are between three and 17 weeks old – their critical socialisation period. This is why RSPCA NSW recommends taking your puppy to Puppy Preschool classes and to off-leash parks to socialise with other dogs – but only once she has been fully vaccinated. Training is important as it: provides mental stimulation keeps your dog happy provides important socialisation opportunities Remember to reward your puppy’s good actions with a food treat, pat, or pleasant tone, and to ignore ‘unwanted’ actions. Training should always be based on positive reinforcement training and kindness. You will need to ensure your puppy: has ongoing opportunities to socialise with other dogs and with people is house trained is obedience trained and properly socialised settles into your house comfortably, with a quiet place to call their own You can find more information about caring for your puppy on the Knowledgebase here.
