Caring for a puppy involves more than food and playtime. Early veterinary care, nutrition, training and preventative health all play an important role in supporting healthy growth and long‑term wellbeing.
The University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Sydney (UVTHS) provides comprehensive new puppy care, supporting owners through their puppy’s first vet visits, vaccinations, training advice and ongoing health needs.
Our experienced veterinarians work with you to understand your puppy’s individual needs and your lifestyle, creating a tailored care plan that supports their health and wellbeing at every stage.
Your puppy’s first veterinary visit helps assess overall health and establish a preventative care plan. Early veterinary care supports disease prevention, growth monitoring and behavioural development.
This visit may include:
Puppies require a course of vaccinations starting from 6–8 weeks of age to protect against serious infectious diseases. Booster vaccinations are required to develop effective immunity.
Puppy preschool supports early socialisation and learning during a critical developmental period. Classes are designed to build confidence, encourage positive behaviour and familiarise puppies with handling and new environments. Puppies typically attend puppy preschool from 8-16 weeks.
Parasite prevention is an essential part of puppy healthcare. Regular protection helps safeguard your puppy against internal and external parasites that can impact health and wellbeing. Puppies will be need protection against intestinal worms, heartworms, fleas and ticks.
Our veterinarians can guide you through the best options to keep your puppy healthy, based on their needs.
Puppies have specific nutritional requirements to support growth, bone development and immune function. Feeding a complete, balanced diet formulated for puppies is essential during the first year.
Microchipping provides permanent identification and is an important part of responsible pet ownership. It is commonly performed early in life and linked to registration requirements.
Visit NSW Pet Registry to learn more about your responsibilities as a new pet owner.
Your veterinarian will advise you on the most appropriate timing based on your puppy's breed, size, health and development.
As your puppy transitions to adulthood, ongoing preventative care remains important. Regular health checks, parasite prevention and booster vaccinations support long-term health and wellbeing.
Puppies should see a veterinarian as soon as possible after entering your care.
Most puppies require a series of vaccinations every 2-4 weeks until around 16 weeks of age.
Training should begin early using positive reinforcement, starting with basic commands and safe socialisation.
Our puppy pre-school gives your puppy a confident start to training and socialisation.
Costs vary depending on vaccinations, treatments and your puppy’s individual health needs.
Puppy care includes regular vet visits, appropriate nutrition, training, parasite prevention and a safe home environment.
Our Puppy Preschool classes are specifically designed for dogs eight to sixteen weeks of age, as this is the crucial developmental period in their lives.
Classes offer the vital need for exposure, training, and socialisation in a clean, safe, and supervised environment. You will socialise and train your puppy, with only the first vaccination needed in order to participate.
It is also an opportunity for owners (as well as other family members) to learn how to best manage and understand their dog.
You'll learn the tools to become a confident dog owner, and have the best relationship with your four-legged friend.
Classes run over a 5-week period, with each puppy graduating at the completion of all classes.
