Dog questions, answered.

Being ready means having enough time, space, money and commitment for everyday care and unexpected needs. Think beyond the first few weeks: feeding, exercise, training, enrichment, grooming and veterinary care all need a realistic plan.

Start with suitable food and water bowls, food, a comfortable sleeping area, identification, a lead, waste bags, safe toys, grooming supplies and a veterinary-care plan. For a puppy, also prepare a puppy-proofed area and a consistent toilet and sleep routine.

An apartment can work well when a dog's physical, social and mental needs are consistently met. Floor space alone does not determine suitability. Daily movement, sniffing, training, enrichment and rest all matter.

Possibly, but it depends on the dog's age, individual needs and how long it will regularly be alone. Puppies usually need much more frequent toilet breaks, supervision and interaction than adult dogs.

A puppy usually requires more supervision, toilet training, socialisation and routine-building. An adult dog may already have established habits. Choose based on your available time, household and the individual dog's needs.

Puppy biting is a normal part of development, play and teething, but it still needs gentle guidance. Redirect biting toward an appropriate toy, stop the game when teeth become too rough, and reward calmer behaviour. Overtired puppies may also become especially mouthy.

There is no single deadline when every puppy stops biting. The behaviour changes as puppies mature, learn bite inhibition and finish teething, but timelines vary. Focus on teaching what your puppy should bite.

Puppies need substantial rest, and their sleep pattern changes as they grow. A puppy that becomes increasingly wild, mouthy or unable to settle may sometimes be overtired. Build regular opportunities for naps and quiet time.

A puppy may cry because the crate is unfamiliar, they need the toilet, they are uncomfortable or they are struggling with separation. Build positive associations gradually and never use the crate as punishment.

Socialisation means carefully introducing a puppy to people, environments, sounds, surfaces and appropriate experiences while keeping them positive. Vaccination and local disease risk matter, so discuss the safest plan with your veterinarian.

Puppies go through a teething period as adult teeth develop, and chewing can become especially noticeable. Provide safe, size-appropriate chew options and ask your veterinarian about anything abnormal, painful or persistent.

Barking can have different causes, including excitement, fear, frustration, territorial behaviour or attention-seeking. Identify what happens immediately before the barking rather than treating every barking problem the same.

Growling is communication. It can occur when a dog is uncomfortable, frightened, guarding something, frustrated or highly aroused. Punishing the growl can remove a warning signal without addressing the cause.

Dogs may follow people because of social attachment, routine, curiosity or reinforcement. Following you is not automatically separation anxiety

Licking can be social behaviour, attention-seeking, exploration or a response to taste and smell. If licking becomes sudden, repetitive or focused on the dog's own body, ask your veterinarian about possible medical causes.

Dogs may react strongly because of fear, frustration, excitement or learned associations. Identify the trigger and the distance at which your dog can still respond to you. Use reward-based training and avoid forcing overwhelming situations.

A dog may appear to ignore you because the behaviour has not been trained in that environment, distractions are too strong, the cue is unclear or the reward is not meaningful enough. Start easy and gradually increase distractions.

Start somewhere safe and quiet, use a consistent recall cue, make coming to you rewarding and gradually practise around distractions. For unreliable recall, use appropriate management such as a long line in safe environments.

MEMYPETS recommends reward-based training rather than physical or psychological punishment. Teach the behaviour you want, manage situations where mistakes are likely and reinforce successful choices.

There is no universal timetable. Progress depends on age, routine, supervision, previous experience and the individual puppy. Consistent opportunities to toilet in the right place and immediate reinforcement help.

Your dog may not have fully emptied its bladder, may have become distracted outside or may not yet understand that outside is the place to toilet. Watch for signals and keep the routine predictable.

A sudden change in toileting can have behavioural, environmental or medical causes. Look for routine or stress changes, but do not assume it is simply a training problem. Sudden or frequent changes deserve veterinary advice.

Yes. Create a predictable toilet routine that fits your building and your veterinarian's health guidance. Watch for signals, plan fast access to the designated area and reward successful toileting.

There is no single number for every dog. Age, breed tendencies, health, temperament and lifestyle matter. Sniffing, training, food puzzles, exploring and problem-solving can all provide mental stimulation.

Try short training sessions, sniffing games, food puzzles, safe chew options, toy rotation and simple search games. Choose activities appropriate for your dog's size, health and chewing style.

Puzzle toys can give dogs opportunities to work for food and solve simple problems. Start with an easy level and supervise until you understand how your dog interacts with the toy.

Dogs may destroy toys because of chewing and exploratory behaviour, teething, play style, boredom or anxiety. Track when it happens, provide appropriate outlets, rotate toys and supervise toys that can break apart.

Prevent access when you cannot supervise, provide appealing legal chewing options and reward your dog for choosing them. Also look for the reason behind the chewing: puppies may be exploring or teething, while some dogs chew when bored or anxious.

Safety depends on the material, size, construction and individual dog. No chew is risk-free. Avoid options that can splinter, break into dangerous pieces or become a choking or obstruction hazard.

There is no required schedule. Keep a manageable selection available and rotate others when your dog loses interest. Inspect toys regularly and remove damaged pieces.

There is no single portion for every dog. Needs depend on size, age, activity, health and the energy density of the food. Start with the food manufacturer's guidance and adjust with your veterinarian based on body condition.

Whether a human food fits into a dog's diet depends on the food, quantity and individual dog. A complete and balanced dog diet should remain the foundation. Check individual ingredients rather than assuming household foods are automatically safe.

Important examples include grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, xylitol and chocolate. Macadamia nuts can also cause poisoning. If your dog has eaten a potentially toxic food, contact a veterinarian or appropriate animal poison service promptly.

Home-prepared diets can be difficult to balance correctly. If homemade food will make up a substantial part of your dog's diet, work with a veterinarian or veterinary nutrition professional rather than relying on informal recipes.

Bathing frequency depends on coat type, lifestyle, skin health and what your dog gets into. More bathing is not automatically better. Persistent odour, itching, redness or skin changes may need veterinary attention.

Introduce tooth brushing gradually. Let your dog become comfortable with mouth handling, then introduce a pet toothbrush and veterinary-approved toothpaste. Keep sessions short and positive.

Do not assume shaving is the best way to keep every dog cool. Coat type and individual health matter. Ask a veterinarian or qualified groomer about your dog's specific coat before making major changes.

Odour can come from normal skin and coat oils, wet fur, ears, mouth, skin folds or something your dog rolled in. A persistent or suddenly different smell can also indicate a health issue.

Provide water and shade, keep the home ventilated, avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day and watch for heat-related changes. Suspected heatstroke requires urgent veterinary attention.

When outdoor conditions are poor, combine shorter safe walks with indoor sniffing, training, food puzzles and play. After wet walks, dry your dog and pay attention to paws, ears and skin.

Registration requirements can depend on the city or municipal authority. MEMYPETS will maintain city-specific guidance using the relevant municipal source rather than presenting one nationwide rule.

Pet-owner rights involve national guidance, local rules and the circumstances of a dispute. A society notice is not automatically the same thing as the law. Check the applicable government or animal-welfare guidance.

Parasite prevention should be selected according to age, weight, health, lifestyle and local risk. Ask your veterinarian which prevention plan and product are appropriate.

Assess the individual dog's temperament, health, age, previous experiences and energy level rather than relying on breed myths. Plan veterinary care, parasite prevention, nutrition, training and a settling-in period.