Puppies depend entirely on their owners to stay healthy and safe during their most vulnerable years. At DogingtonPost, we recognize that puppy welfare concerns often stem from poor breeding practices, inadequate veterinary care, and unsafe home environments. This guide covers the health issues every puppy owner should know about, how to find ethical breeders and rescues, and the practical steps needed to protect young dogs from day one. Health Threats Every Puppy Owner Must Know Parasites pose an immediate threat to puppies, and the data backs this up. According to Shelter Animals Count, puppies under five months old accounted for 841,000 intakes in shelters during 2024, and disease outbreaks are frequently linked to infections brought in by young dogs rather than environmental exposure. Internal parasites like roundworms and hookworms affect nearly all puppies at some point, while external parasites including fleas and ticks can cause anemia in young animals. Starting Deworming and Vaccination Early Start deworming at two weeks of age and continue every two weeks until twelve weeks, then monthly until six months. Puppies also need protection against parvovirus and distemper, two diseases that kill thousands annually. Vaccination schedules should begin at six to eight weeks, with boosters every three to four weeks until sixteen weeks of age. If your puppy came from a shelter or rescue, assume it may carry parasites or have been exposed to infectious disease. Many shelters now implement controlled outdoor outings for vaccinated and dewormed puppies as young as a few months to increase exposure to varied stimuli while minimizing disease risk, so ask your veterinarian about safe socialization opportunities during the vaccination window. Nutrition Mistakes That Harm Development Feeding mistakes cause lasting damage to growing puppies. Large breed puppies especially suffer from excess calcium and phosphorus, which accelerates bone growth and causes joint problems later in life. Choose puppy food formulated specifically for your dog’s expected adult size, not adult formulas. Puppies need roughly twice the calories of adult dogs per pound of body weight, but overfeeding creates obesity that stresses developing joints. Free-feeding or leaving food out all day makes it impossible to monitor intake and creates house-training problems. Feed measured portions two to three times daily until six months, then transition to twice daily. Switching foods too quickly causes digestive upset, so change brands over seven to ten days by gradually mixing the new food with the old. Raw diets for puppies require careful nutritional balance to avoid deficiencies in calcium, vitamin A, and other essential nutrients. Unless formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, homemade or raw diets often fall short. Work with your veterinarian to select complete and balanced commercial puppy food that meets Association of American Feed Control Officials standards, then stick with it through growth phases. Genetic and Developmental Red Flags Certain health problems appear early in puppies and signal poor breeding practices. Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and patellar luxation run in bloodlines and cause pain and mobility loss by adulthood. Responsible breeders screen parent dogs through X-rays and genetic testing before breeding. Congenital heart defects, eye problems, and neurological conditions also trace back to genetics. Puppies showing signs of illness or untreated injury, extreme thinness with visible bones, or inadequate grooming suggest neglect at the breeding stage. Behavioral problems often emerge from poor early socialization or genetics. Puppies removed from littermates before eight weeks frequently develop anxiety and aggression. The critical socialization window closes around sixteen weeks, making early exposure to varied people, environments, and stimuli essential for long-term behavioral health. Shelters and rescues now recognize this window and advocate for early socialization even during disease control protocols, using controlled outdoor outings and safe handling practices rather than complete isolation. If a puppy shows excessive fear, aggression toward littermates, or inability to learn basic commands by twelve weeks, genetics or early trauma may be at fault, and a professional trainer should evaluate the situation before problems compound. These health threats highlight why responsible breeding and adoption practices matter so much. Where a puppy comes from-and who bred or rescued it-directly determines whether it arrives in your home already compromised by disease, malnutrition, or behavioral trauma. Where to Find Ethical Breeders and Rescues Puppy mills and backyard breeders flood the market because they operate cheaply and advertise easily online. According to the ASPCA, lack of pet-friendly housing and affordable veterinary care push desperate owners toward the fastest, cheapest option available. Puppy mills prioritize profit over health, confining dogs to overcrowded cages with minimal veterinary care, poor nutrition, and zero socialization. Puppies from these operations arrive in your home already carrying parasites, behavioral problems, and genetic issues that cost thousands in veterinary bills. Backyard breeders lack knowledge about genetic screening, nutrition for pregnant dogs, and proper puppy development. They breed dogs because they think it’s easy money or because they own a dog they like. Neither puppy mills nor backyard breeders conduct health testing on parents, so hip dysplasia, heart defects, and eye problems pass directly to puppies. Reputable breeders screen parent dogs with X-rays and genetic testing before breeding. They maintain detailed health records, limit litter frequency, and raise puppies in home environments with early handling and exposure to normal household sounds and activity. Finding a reputable breeder requires effort, but it’s the only way to reduce the risk of inheriting preventable genetic disease. What Health Testing Reveals Ask potential breeders for health testing results on both parents, including OFA or PennHIP scores for hip and elbow dysplasia, eye examination certificates from the Canine Eye Registration Foundation, and genetic test results for breed-specific conditions. Reputable breeders provide this information willingly and have nothing to hide. They also allow you to visit their facility and meet the parents. If a breeder refuses home visits, uses only photos, or rushes you to decide, walk away. How Reputable Breeders Evaluate You Reputable breeders ask you detailed questions about your home, lifestyle, and experience with dogs. They want to know if you have a fenced yard, how much time you spend at home, and whether you’ve owned dogs before. They ask because they care where their puppies go, and they take a dog back at any point in its life if circumstances change. This commitment separates responsible breeders from those motivated purely by profit. Evaluating Shelters and Rescue Organizations Rescue organizations and shelters deserve careful evaluation. According to Shelter Animals Count, 2.9 million dogs entered shelters and rescues nationwide in 2024, and many came from homes where owners faced genuine barriers to keeping them. The ASPCA collaborates with hundreds of shelters to provide training, behavioral rehabilitation programs, and remote veterinary consultations to improve outcomes for young dogs. Shelters implementing controlled outdoor outings for vaccinated puppies recognize that early socialization during the critical window matters for long-term behavior, so ask rescues about their socialization practices. Request medical records, behavioral assessments, and information about the dog’s background. Good rescues provide all of this and follow up after adoption to ensure the match works. Questions That Expose Commitment Levels Ask breeders what happens if you can’t keep the puppy in five years. If they say they’ll help rehome it but have no formal contract, that’s a red flag. Reputable breeders have written contracts guaranteeing lifetime support and requiring return of the dog if you can’t care for it. Ask about their health guarantee and what conditions it covers. A legitimate guarantee covers genetic defects for two years or longer, not just obvious problems visible at pickup. Ask rescues how they assess behavioral temperament and what training they’ve provided. Shelters using professional behavioral assessment tools identify dogs with anxiety, aggression, or fear that need specialized handling. Ask about return policies. Quality rescues make returns easy and judgment-free because rehoming beats a dog ending up back in the shelter. Ask breeders about their breeding frequency and how many litters they produce per year. Responsible breeders limit breeding to one or two litters annually per dog and retire breeding dogs by age five or six. Commercial breeders produce litters constantly because volume drives profit. Ask rescues about their veterinary partnerships and whether they provide post-adoption support like training referrals or behavioral consultations. Organizations that invest in medical and behavioral care before adoption show they prioritize puppy welfare over speed. The breeder or rescue you choose shapes your puppy’s entire future. Your next step involves preparing your home and establishing the veterinary care that protects your new dog from day one. Preparing Your Home and Puppy’s First Vet Visits Securing Your Home Against Puppy Hazards Your home contains dozens of hazards puppies don’t recognize as dangerous. Electrical cords, cleaning supplies, medications, and small objects become choking risks or toxins when a curious puppy investigates. Secure electrical cords behind furniture or conduit tubing, store all chemicals and medications in locked cabinets, and remove houseplants like lilies, sago palms, and dieffenbachias that poison dogs. Puppies chew constantly during teething, so provide appropriate chew toys and remove access to shoes, furniture, and children’s toys. Use baby gates to confine puppies to safe areas when unsupervised, and remove decorative items from low tables where curious mouths can reach them. Walk through your home and yard at puppy eye level to spot dangers you’d otherwise miss-most owners underestimate how quickly puppies grow and explore. Protecting Your Yard and Outdoor Spaces Your yard needs equal attention to indoor hazards. Check fencing for gaps where puppies can escape, remove access to pesticides and fertilizers, and ensure water bowls stay filled but not stagnant. Puppies drown easily in pools and hot tubs, so secure access or install a fence around water features. Test your yard for toxic plants, including yew, oleander, and foxglove. Establishing Veterinary Care in the First Year Veterinary care during the first year determines whether your puppy develops serious health problems or builds a strong foundation. Schedule a vet visit within 48 hours of bringing your puppy home, even if it came from a reputable breeder or rescue. Your vet will examine for congenital defects, assess body condition, and confirm vaccination and deworming status. Puppies need veterinary visits every three to four weeks until 16 weeks of age to complete vaccination series and monitor growth. Large breed puppies especially require careful monitoring because meal-restricted feeding has been shown to reduce developmental orthopedic disease-your vet can assess whether your puppy’s growth rate matches its breed standard and adjust nutrition if needed. Establish a relationship with a veterinarian you trust because behavioral questions, feeding concerns, and socialization decisions benefit from professional guidance. Ask your vet about the timing of spay or neuter surgery; current evidence suggests waiting until growth plates close around 12 to 18 months for large breeds, though small breeds may close earlier. Early spaying and neutering reduce cancer risk but may increase orthopedic problems in large dogs, so discuss breed-specific recommendations with your veterinarian. Socialization During the Critical Window Socialization between the ages of 3 and 16 weeks shapes your puppy’s confidence and behavior for life, but many owners delay socialization until vaccines complete, missing irreplaceable development time. Controlled exposure to varied people, environments, and sounds during this window-using safe practices like puppy classes with vaccinated dogs, outdoor walks in low-traffic areas, and car rides-builds resilience that prevents fear and aggression later. Shelters now recognize this window and advocate for early socialization even during disease control protocols, using managed outdoor outings rather than complete isolation. Puppies lacking socialization during these weeks often develop anxiety around novel situations, fear-based aggression, or hyperactivity that training struggles to fix. Professional Training and Behavior Foundation Work with a certified professional dog trainer or behaviorist starting at eight weeks to establish basic commands, house-training, and bite inhibition. Training at this age is far easier than correcting ingrained problems at six months. Your trainer can also guide you through the socialization window, helping you balance exposure with safety protocols your veterinarian recommends. Final Thoughts Puppy welfare concerns stem from decisions made long before a dog arrives in your home. Where you source your puppy, how you prepare your environment, and the veterinary care you provide during the first year determine whether your dog thrives or struggles with preventable health and behavioral problems. We at DogingtonPost believe puppy welfare starts with rejecting puppy mills and backyard breeders entirely. The 841,000 puppies that entered shelters in 2024 represent real dogs suffering from diseases, malnutrition, and behavioral trauma that responsible breeding and adoption practices could prevent. When you choose a reputable breeder who health-tests parents and limits breeding frequency, you remove profit incentive from the equation. When you adopt from a shelter or rescue that provides medical records and behavioral assessments, you give a dog a second chance while freeing shelter resources for animals still waiting. Your role as an owner extends beyond selecting the right puppy-completing vaccination schedules on time, feeding appropriate nutrition for your puppy’s size and age, and providing controlled socialization during the critical window shapes your dog’s entire future. Supporting adoption and ethical breeding standards means advocating for spay and neuter programs that reduce shelter intake, volunteering or fostering to ease capacity pressures, and encouraging others to adopt rather than buy from commercial breeders. Visit DogingtonPost for ongoing guidance on responsible dog ownership, adoption resources, and practical care strategies that protect puppies from day one.