Like any new endeavor, owning a puppy for the first time has a learning challenge. There will be things that are completely new to you regarding caring for your puppy. The best way to learn how to care for your dog is to ask questions of professionals and those who are experienced dog owners. There are some basic needs that all dogs have regarding their personal care:

Dogs need to be provided, groomed, exercised and taken to a animal medical practitioner for care. Grooming involves brushing or discovering the coat, showering, and brushing his teeth. Each breed of dog will have different grooming needs  itsaboutdog. Every dog no matter the breed needs regular grooming. It is generally not only easy as it may seem to cut your dog's hair properly. It is best to take your dog to a dog's groomer for best results.

Dog breeds such as poodles will need to be groomed professionally. Part of grooming is clipping the dog's nails. Typically you will need to clip your dog's nails about every few months. White nails are obvious where the "quick" of the nail is which is the blood sensors line in the nail that needs to be avoided so as not to make the nail bleed and to avoid pain.

Dental care for your puppy:

It is important to brush your dog's teeth because they can't do it for themselves. Fourteen weeks is the should have pearly white's brushed on a regular basis using a dog toothbrush that fits over the tip of your finger. Never use human toothpaste when brushing a dog's teeth. Toothpaste that is designed particularly for dogs is safer to use than toothpaste as used by humans.

Most breeds require a bath approximately every three to six months. Any more than that will dry out the skin by removing the protective oils contained naturally in the dog's skin. Human wash should never be applied as it could cause damage if it gets into the dog's eyes or even damage their coat. It is advisable to use plain water or specially made dog wash.

Other dog owners have been through it all and what they haven't someone they know has experienced it. Your animal medical practitioner is an invaluable source of information on caring for your dog at all development of his life. You can find books at the library about caring for your dog as well as videos and Dvds. If you purchase a dog from a breeder ask questions of the breeder regarding care needs for this particular breed of dog. If you adopt the dog from a shelter or dog rescue group ask anyone on the staff for tips on caring for the particular dog you are taking on.