Puppy Care
or call us at (587) 507-3718
Welcoming a puppy is equal parts joy and a to-do list. The choices made in the first few months can shape your dog’s health and behaviour for life. Our puppy program turns your to-do list into a clear, structured plan: a series of visits covering staged vaccinations, deworming and parasite screening, growth and nutrition checks, microchipping, and spay/neuter planning. Just as importantly, every visit includes coaching on socialization, house training, and handling during the brief developmental window when puppies learn what’s safe and normal in the world.
Your Puppy’s First-Year Roadmap
We follow the AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines and AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines, and we tailor everything to Calgary life and your pet’s specific lifestyle.
Timing is individualized. Your veterinarian will confirm your puppy’s exact schedule at the first visit.
Book your First Visit-
8 weeks
First full puppy exam; core vaccine series begins (distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus); deworming; fecal parasite test; nutrition, training, and socialization guidance.
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12 weeks
Follow-up puppy exam; core vaccine booster; lifestyle vaccines discussed (leptospirosis, bordetella for daycare, classes, or grooming); deworming; socialization coaching.
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16 weeks
Final puppy exam; final core booster(s); rabies vaccine; spay/neuter consultation with breed-specific timing.
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6–7 months
Recommended adult teeth check as baby teeth are replaced; body condition check; adult diet transition planning; pre-operative exam and testing for spay/neuter.
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16 months
First adult wellness exam; boosters as due; transition to an adult preventive schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Within the first few days of coming home, even if no vaccines are due yet. We’ll check for congenital issues, parasites, and infections; review the breeder’s or shelter’s records; and make the clinic a place of treats and praise from day one.
Antibodies from their mother protect young puppies, but also inactivate vaccines, and the age at which that protection fades varies from puppy to puppy. Repeating doses every 3–4 weeks until at least 16 weeks of age ensures your puppy receives the intended protection.
Yes, but socialization should be done with care. We recommend playdates with healthy, vaccinated adult dogs you know and trust. Socialization isn't only about meeting other dogs, though. It also includes gentle exposure to new sounds, surfaces, textures, people, and experiences like car rides, all of which help your puppy grow into a confident adult. We recommend waiting at least one week after the final booster before visiting a dog park. Even then, dog parks aren't always a safe choice for a young puppy who is still learning social cues.
The leptospirosis vaccine is now considered a core vaccine for all dogs under the updated AAHA guidelines. The bacteria spread through the urine of wildlife in water and soil, urban dogs are at risk and the disease can also infect people.
It depends on your puppy's breed and expected adult size. These recommendations are based on both size and breed, in order to reduce the risk of certain orthopedic conditions and cancers. Rather than applying one rule to every dog, we'll make a recommendation tailored to your puppy.
A few things: tick prevention becomes relevant whenever temperatures rise above about 4°C (which Chinooks can produce surprisingly early). Giardia and intestinal worms are common around river pathways and off-leash areas, therefore annual fecal tests are something to consider.