While puppies can be cute, it can be pretty tough trying to raise them. This is because training the puppy is not exactly the easiest thing that you can do. We say this because the manner that the puppy is being trained will determine its behavior when they are in their adult stage. This is exactly the same for humans too. And this is precisely why we have decided to write this article: Caring For A 5 Month Old Pitbull.
Caring For A 5-Month-Old Pitbull
If you have been following the news, Pitbulls are now banned in Montreal. They are banned because of an incident whereby a Pitbull mauled a human to death. Hence, Pitbull owners are forced to let go of their pets should they wish to live in Montreal, or can simply move away from the country. While the exact cause of the brutality can never be determined, much of it can be attributed to the training that it receives while in its puppy stage. Pitbulls can be one of the world’s most gentle and friendly dogs around. They are often in the wrong spotlight due to their domineering outlook. If they are being trained well from young, the Pitbull will hardly be a danger to anyone. How do you exactly care for a 5-month-old pitbull then? There are several aspects that you will need to be aware of.
Socialize Your Puppy Early
This is one of the most important tasks if you would want your Pitbull to be well-loved by the community when they are older. When you start the community integration when they are younger, they tend to be more receptive and will grow up to be a dog that everyone loves. By socializing, we do mean bringing the Pitbull puppy out for walks often, so that the puppy will be able to play with other dogs and humans. This will also get your Pitbull puppy to be more in tune with how humans and other dogs behave when they are in a company. Have you seen the video at which a tiger pup lives with dogs ever since it was born? The pup turned out to be very homely and fun-loving, totally in line with the dogs that have played with the tiger pup since young. This is the sort of effect that training can have on animals when they are younger.
Train The Puppy
This is one of the most important tasks too. As mentioned earlier, if you train the Pitbull puppy when it is younger, it will be much easier for you to train them as the puppy will be more receptive to commands. As such, you will be able to train the puppy to react to certain words or to stop certain negative behavior that might propagate into something bad when they are older. For example, you should always train the puppy not to bite or bark aggressively. You should not let the dog bite your hand, even if they are just playing. When they are older, people really cannot discern if the biting is a non-malicious or a dangerous one. Hence, it can be seen that training the puppy from young is one of the most important tasks, especially for a 5-month-old Pitbull puppy, as that is the age whereby they are the most receptive to receiving commands and hence the training.
When training the Pitbull puppy, we always advocate using positive reinforcement rather than negative ones. You see, dogs are called man’s best friends for a reason. They are able to sense emotion. Hence, when we train them using negative reinforcement tactics, it might cause much discomfort to them. In time, they will surely develop negative feelings towards you, and that is when all hell will break loose!
When you train your 5-month-old Pitbull puppy, you should also let it know that you are in control. If your puppy knows that you are in control, it will be much easier for you when they are in the adult stage too. To achieve this, you will need to repeat commands to your Pitbull puppy when they do not obey. This includes allowing you to groom them. Trust me, this is the most important thing here.
Vaccine When Young
You should always vaccine the puppy when they are still young, as vaccinations will help to protect them from diseases. Usually, puppies should start the vaccinations process when they are 8 weeks old, and a booster should be administered 3 to 4 weeks after. You should always check with your vet about the vaccinations that your 5-month-old Pitbull puppy should take.
One of the highly recommended vaccinations is against Lyme disease as well as rabies. There are certain laws in each country that determines if the puppy does require to be vaccinated against the disease. We strongly recommend you to vaccinate your 5-month-old Pitbull puppy against the said diseases. This will help to protect the dog as well as you when the dog grows older.
Grooming
Grooming is an important part of caring for a 5 month old pitbull. Regular grooming can help keep your puppy clean and healthy. Brush your pitbull’s coat regularly to remove loose hair and prevent matting. Trim your puppy’s nails as needed to prevent them from becoming too long. Bathe your pitbull as needed, but not too often, as over-bathing can dry out their skin.
Plenty Of Exercises
Pitbulls are known to be strong when they are in the adult stages. As such, it will be good for your 5-month-old puppy to start exercising when they are younger, so as to allow the muscles to support its massive frame when they are older. For a 5-month-old Pitbull puppy, we recommend you to walk your puppy at least twice a day. Try to bring them out to walk, as they can run in open spaces. If the weather does not permit that, then you can always get the Best Treadmill For Pitbulls, so that they can walk indoors.
There are many benefits of exercising, rather than just supporting its massive frame. The most obvious benefit is that the puppy is kept healthy, at the same time burning off its excess energy. This helps to keep the puppy engaged and happy too, which are important ingredients to having a happy adult Pitbull in years to come. When they are older, you can consider purchasing the Weight Pulling Harness For Pitbulls for them.
Keep The 5 Month Old Pitbull Puppy Mentally Stimulated
This is one of the most important aspects that is often neglected by most dog owners. Do you know what happens when dogs are bored? They will start to do all sorts of things to gain attention from humans. This itself is bad, as the dogs could destroy furniture. To prevent this, keep the dog adequately mentally stimulated, and the troubles will be gone. You can use various methods or tools to keep the Pitbull puppy mentally stimulated, and one of the methods is to purchase the Food Dispensing Dog Toys. These dog toys help to dispense treats. While you might think that this is bad for the dog, you should be glad to know that it is not easy for them to extract the treats out. The entire process is mentally stimulating, and your dog will surely be exhausted after trying to extract the treats! this will prevent the Pitbull puppy from becoming bored.
Feed Pitbull Puppy 5 Small Meals A Day
This is highly recommended for puppies, as it helps to aid digestion and proper growth. Unsure of what to choose? Ask the vet for a recommendation. Always choose a puppy food that lists meat as the first ingredient. If in doubt, we recommend the Orijen Puppy Food. The Orijen puppy food is extremely nutritious, and it is suitable for a 5-month-old Pitbull puppy.
Nutrition
A well-balanced diet is crucial for a 5 month old pitbull’s growth and development. Feed your puppy high-quality, age-appropriate food that is rich in protein, fat, and other essential nutrients. Avoid giving your pitbull table scraps or low-quality dog food, which can lead to health problems down the road. Make sure to provide fresh water at all times
What Else Should I Get For A Pitbull Puppy
Apart from the above-mentioned steps, we figured that Pitbull puppies certainly deserves a comfortable place to rest in. As such, we have reviewed top quality dog crates for Pitbulls as well as Best Dog Bed For Pitbull Reviews. Do purchase the items as your Pitbull surely deserves it!
Conclusion
Caring for a 5 month old pitbull requires time, effort, and dedication. By providing your puppy with proper nutrition, exercise, training, socialization, grooming, and health care, you can help ensure they grow up to be a happy and healthy adult dog. Remember to always show your pitbull love and affection, and they will reward you with years of loyal companionship.
