When we haven’t raised a puppy in a while, it’s easy to forget the questions that were top of mind in those early months. Those are the very questions first-time puppy parents would love to see answered in your blog, website, FAQ, or puppy guide.
My Yorkie, Josiah, is one year old. He’s in that beautiful very-teen-almost-adult phase. I recently found some of my old puppy notes and was surprised at how much I’ve already stopped thinking like a puppy mom. So, I thought I’d write down some of those questions before I forget. These might help when you’re planning your puppy-focused online content.
My Questions as a New Puppy Mom
These are the questions that were constantly on my mind as a new puppy parent. I devoured any content I could find that helped answer them. Hint: I didn’t always find a lot. That creates a high-value content opportunity for you.
Potty Training
What are my options for potty training?
How do I crate train?
How do I handle potty accidents?
How often does my puppy need to go outside for potty breaks?
How soon does my puppy need to go outside after eating? After drinking water?
Eating
How do I get my puppy to eat if he doesn’t seem interested?
What kind of food should I give my puppy?
How often and how much do I feed my puppy?
Should I remove food at night?
When can my puppy start eating pieces of fruits or vegetables?
What kind of treats should I give and how often?
When does my puppy transition to adult food?
Water
What kind of water bowl should I use and what size?
Where should I place the water bowl and how many do I need?
Should I use tap water, filtered water, what kind of water?
What’s the best way to clean his water bowl?
Does my puppy know when to drink water? Do I need to coax him?
How can I tell if my puppy is drinking enough water?
Can my puppy lick ice cubes?
Do I remove water at night or keep it available?
Outdoor Safety
Does my puppy need a harness, leash, collar? What kind, what size? How can I tell if these items fit well?
Is my puppy old enough to go outdoors?
How long do I keep my puppy outdoors for his potty break?
When is my puppy old enough to go for a walk? How long, how far?
How do I handle flea, tick, and heartworm prevention with a puppy?
What outdoor temperature is too hot or too cold for a puppy?
What if it’s raining, snowing, or windy? How do I handle his outdoor outings?
Should my puppy walk on the driveway, in the grass, in the gravel, or in the dirt?
What predators do I need to watch for outdoors?
What if my puppy gets bit by an insect?
What plants are unsafe for my puppy?
Sleeping
How often does my puppy need to nap? Is he sleeping too much? Or enough?
Should my puppy sleep in a crate? If so, what items should go in the crate?
Should my puppy sleep in my room or in a separate room?
How often does my puppy need to go outside for a potty break at night?
How often do I increase the time between nighttime potty breaks. How do I increase it successfully?
How do I get my puppy to stop whining at night?
(Every puppy parent’s biggest question) When will I ever get to sleep through the night again?
Indoor Safety
How do I puppy-proof my home?
Can my puppy open cabinet doors and drawers? Are magnetic enclosures dangerous?
What items need to go on a higher shelf?
Are there puppy-proof containers I can store things in?
How do I handle cords? Do I need socket covers?
How do I keep my puppy from chewing on rugs, clothes, and furniture?
When is my puppy old enough to jump on or off furniture safely? Should I use furniture ramps or steps?
When is my puppy old enough to climb up and down stairs safely? How do I teach him?
When is my puppy old enough to free-roam indoors? How do I get him used to this experience?
How many hours can my puppy stay in his crate when I have to go out? How do I get him used to this?
When is my puppy old enough to leave unsupervised indoors? How do I transition him to this?
Traveling
When is my puppy old enough to ride in the car? For how long and how far?
What’s the safest way for my puppy to travel in the car? Does this change as he gets older?
How can I get my puppy used to riding in the car?
How can I tell if my car is too warm or too cold for my puppy while riding?
Training
When is my puppy old enough to start training?
How do I train my puppy?
What are the first training steps I should start with my puppy?
If I only teach my puppy a few commands, what are the most important?
Are there certain commands my puppy should learn at certain milestones?
Is it ever too late to train a puppy?
How do I help my puppy with teething? When does teething start and stop?
How do I teach my puppy to stop inappropriate biting?
How do I teach my puppy not to bark so much?
How do I teach my puppy not to jump on people?
When do I start socializing my puppy? What’s the best way to do that?
Content Is Valuable When It Anticipates Questions
Those are the questions that were most on my mind as a puppy parent. I’m sure there are other questions I’ve already forgotten. If I think of more, I will add them.
Some questions may be hard to answer without breed-specific details. Other questions may require referral to a pet professional.
But content is still helpful that tells a puppy parent when to contact a professional, what options will be considered, and what specifically to ask a professional about. All of that is helpful to an overwhelmed, sleep-deprived, first-time puppy parent.
The more you can anticipate and answer questions, the more your puppy-focused content will resonate with puppy parents. That’s how trust is built and how website visitors become happy clients who will then refer others.
Janet Eriksson 