Your Puppy’s First Year

By: Kelli Rascoe

Girl holding a fuzzy brown and black dog

Is there anything sweeter than puppy love? Your puppy’s first year will bring with it lots of joy and some sweet milestones.

Your new pup will give you tons of laughs, love, and puppy play. With your patience and consistent training, they’ll learn their bond with you and their new pack, and you’ll develop a best friend for life.

So while your veterinarian will help you learn the specific needs of your furry friend, most puppies follow some common life stages.

Congratulations on your new puppy! Read on to learn more about what to expect in your puppy’s first year from Trupanion.

Your puppy’s first year: milestones

Puppy’s first few weeks

Puppy first year graphic - first few weeks

Four to six months: training time

Puppy first year graphic - 4 to 6 months

Six to nine months: developmental leaps

Puppy first year graphic - 6 to 9 months

Ten to twelve months: pup finds a place in the pack

Puppy first year graphic - 9 to 12 months

Between schedules, training, play, and enrichment your puppy will keep you busy in the first year. But by taking the time to set up a schedule, prep your environment, and talking with your veterinarian, you’re all set for a year of fun and learning together!

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