Health8 min read

Health & Care in the First Months

What to expect from early veterinary care, nutrition, and everyday wellbeing.

Registering with a vet

Register your puppy with a local vet as soon as possible after collection — ideally within the first week. Even if your puppy was seen by the breeder's vet before sale, establishing a relationship with your own practice early means you have a point of contact when questions arise and your puppy's records are held in one place.

The first appointment is usually a general health check rather than vaccinations — your vet will examine the puppy, review the paperwork from the breeder, and advise on timing for any outstanding vaccinations, flea and worming treatments, and neutering if relevant.

Vaccinations and the socialisation window

Most UK puppies receive a primary vaccination course at around eight to ten weeks and again at ten to twelve weeks, though your vet will advise based on the specific vaccines used. Full protection typically takes effect one to two weeks after the second injection, after which your puppy can begin meeting other dogs and exploring public spaces.

This timing creates a practical tension: the critical socialisation window — the period when positive early experiences have the most lasting effect on behaviour — runs from roughly three to fourteen weeks. Many vets now recommend carefully managed socialisation before vaccination is complete, such as carrying your puppy in public spaces or visiting the homes of fully vaccinated adult dogs.

Worming and flea treatment

Responsible breeders worm puppies regularly from two weeks of age, and your puppy should have been treated before leaving the litter. Continue worming every two to four weeks until twelve weeks old, then monthly until six months, and every three months thereafter. Your vet can recommend a suitable product — prescription treatments are often more effective than over-the-counter options.

Flea treatment should begin early and be maintained year-round, as fleas can cause significant discomfort and in young puppies can lead to anaemia. Avoid using adult-formulation products on puppies without veterinary advice, as some ingredients are not suitable for young dogs.

Feeding and nutrition

Stick with the food the breeder was using for the first week or two to avoid digestive upset, then transition gradually to your chosen food by mixing increasing proportions over seven to ten days. Puppies have different nutritional needs from adult dogs — choose a complete food formulated specifically for puppies, ideally one appropriate to the breed size.

Feed little and often in the early months: most puppies need four meals a day up to twelve weeks, reducing to three between twelve weeks and six months, and then to two meals a day from six months onwards. Fresh water should always be available.

Early training and mental wellbeing

Training can and should begin from day one. Short, positive sessions — two to five minutes several times a day — teach a puppy its name, the basics of sit and recall, and how to settle calmly. Puppies have limited concentration spans and learn through repetition and reward rather than correction.

Mental stimulation is as important as physical exercise for young dogs. Puzzle feeders, sniff games, and calm handling prepare a puppy for the variety of experiences adult life will bring. Puppy classes — run by an accredited trainer — provide both structured learning and valuable socialisation with other dogs and people.