Puppy First-Year Guide in Burnaby

Bringing Your Puppy Home

Before They Arrive

A little preparation makes the first week far easier on you and on the puppy. Choose a quiet area of the home where your puppy can rest, eat, and decompress without being underfoot. Pick up small swallowable items, secure loose electrical cords, move houseplants out of reach (especially anything from our toxic-plants list further down), and check that your yard or balcony has no gaps a small puppy can squeeze through.

• A correctly sized crate with a soft, washable bed inside
• Stainless steel or ceramic food and water bowls
• A small bag of the same food the breeder or shelter has been feeding
• A flat collar, lightweight leash, and ID tag with your phone number
• Chew-safe toys and one or two soft toys for comfort
• Enzymatic cleaner for the inevitable accidents

The First Week

Keep the first week calm. Most puppies are processing a big change, so resist the urge to host friends and family for meet-and-greets right away. Stick to one or two short outings, frequent toilet breaks every one to two hours, and lots of quiet rest. Watch for normal eating, drinking, and stool quality, and book your puppy’s first wellness visit at Edmonds St. Animal Hospital within the first week if possible. That first visit lets us confirm your puppy is healthy, plan the vaccine series, talk through feeding and parasite prevention, and answer the questions that always come up in the first few days. Call (604) 540-7387 to book.

At-a-Glance Vaccine Schedule

The schedule below follows AAHA guidelines and is what we recommend for puppies in Burnaby and the surrounding Lower Mainland. Your puppy may have already started this series with the breeder or rescue, so bring any records you have to the first visit.

Bring your puppy’s full vaccine record to the first visit. We will confirm what is already done, schedule the remaining doses, and start them on a parasite plan at the same time.

Important Note on Lifestyle Vaccines

Lifestyle vaccines are not given to every puppy, only those whose home environment, travel plans, or activities put them at higher risk. In Burnaby and the Lower Mainland, the most common ones we discuss are listed below.

• Leptospirosis. The BC Centre for Disease Control flags Vancouver and the surrounding Lower Mainland as a higher-risk area for leptospirosis because of our mild, wet climate and busy urban wildlife population. Raccoons, rats, skunks, and squirrels can shed the bacteria in standing water and damp soil. Any puppy who walks at Burnaby Lake, Deer Lake, Robert Burnaby Park, or trails along the Brunette and Fraser Rivers should be vaccinated. Most puppies start at 12 weeks and receive a booster three to four weeks later, then annually.
• Bordetella (kennel cough). Required by almost every Burnaby boarding facility, daycare, grooming salon, and puppy class. If you plan to use any of these services, your puppy needs Bordetella at least a week before their first visit.
• Canine influenza. Optional for dogs who travel to high-contact settings like dog shows or who frequent busy daycares. Discuss with the vet at the first visit.
• Lyme disease. Tick exposure remains lower in urban Burnaby than in many parts of the country, but tick numbers are increasing in BC. Lyme is considered case-by-case for puppies who hike in the Fraser Valley, on Vancouver Island, or out of province.

We talk through which lifestyle vaccines fit your puppy at the first wellness visit. 

Spay and Neuter

The right age to spay or neuter your puppy depends on breed, size, and lifestyle. Larger breeds benefit from waiting longer because growth-plate closure happens later. We will give you a personalised recommendation at the wellness visit, but the general timing is as follows.

Spay and neuter surgeries at Edmonds St. Animal Hospital include pre-surgical bloodwork, full general anaesthesia with continuous monitoring (heart rate, oxygen, blood pressure, and temperature), warmed recovery, and post-operative pain control. We send every dog home the same day with detailed recovery instructions and a follow-up plan. 

Nutrition for Your Puppy’s First Year

Choose a complete and balanced puppy food that meets AAFCO nutritional standards for growth. The label should say it is formulated for puppies or for all life stages. Adult-only foods do not provide enough of certain nutrients for a growing puppy.

• Size-appropriate formula. Large and giant breed puppies need a large-breed puppy food with controlled calcium and phosphorus to support healthy bone growth. Small and medium breeds use standard puppy formula.
• Feeding schedule. Three meals a day from weaning to about four months, then two meals a day from four months onward. Free feeding is not recommended.
• Portion size. Follow the bag guideline as a starting point and adjust based on body condition. We score body condition at every visit and will help you fine-tune.
• Treats. No more than ten percent of total daily calories. Soft training treats work better than large biscuits for young puppies.
• Therapeutic diets. If your puppy has a confirmed medical condition like food allergy, urinary stones, or pancreatitis, your veterinarian may recommend a therapeutic diet. These are different from over-the-counter foods and are dispensed through the clinic. 

Avoid raw diets for puppies. The bacteriological risk to immunocompromised puppies and to the family handling raw meat is well documented, and balanced nutrition is harder to achieve.

Parasites: What to Know

Puppies are born with intestinal parasites passed through the placenta and the dam’s milk, so deworming starts very young.

• Deworming schedule. Most puppies are dewormed every two weeks starting at two weeks of age, then monthly until six months. Your puppy’s exact schedule depends on what they received from the breeder.
• Fleas. Coastal BC’s mild winters mean fleas are present year-round. Monthly flea prevention is standard for Burnaby puppies from eight weeks onward.
• Ticks. Tick risk rises in the spring and summer, especially on trails. Many monthly products cover ticks alongside fleas.
• Heartworm. Heartworm is not currently endemic to coastal BC the way it is to parts of Ontario or the southern United States. We do not routinely recommend year-round heartworm prevention for Lower Mainland dogs who never travel. Puppies who travel east or south, however, do need heartworm protection.
• Giardia. A parasite carried by wildlife and shed into standing water at parks like Burnaby Lake and Deer Lake. Puppies often pick it up by drinking from puddles. If your puppy develops soft or smelly stools after a park visit, bring a fresh stool sample to the clinic for testing.
• Family safety. Several puppy intestinal parasites can be passed to people, especially small children. Routine deworming, prompt clean-up of stool, and handwashing protect everyone in the home. 

House Training

Most puppies can be reliably house-trained within three to four months of consistent routine. A few core habits make the process predictable.

• Take your puppy outside first thing in the morning, after every meal, after every nap, after play, and just before bed.
• Pick one outdoor spot and use a short cue word (“outside” or “go potty”). Praise calmly the moment they finish.
• Watch for circling, sniffing, or sudden quiet behaviour as a signal that a toilet break is needed.
• Use enzymatic cleaner on accidents indoors. Plain household cleaners do not break down the proteins that draw the puppy back to the same spot.
• Never punish a puppy after the fact. Interrupt with a neutral sound, move them outside, and reward the right behaviour.

Crate training pairs well with house training. A correctly sized crate (large enough to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably, but not so large your puppy can use one corner as a toilet) becomes a safe sleeping space, gives you confidence when you cannot supervise, and helps your puppy learn to settle. Start with very short stretches and build up gradually with treats and praise.

Socialisation and Cooperative Care

The most important socialisation window runs from three to twelve weeks of age. Experiences during this period shape your dog’s adult temperament more than almost anything else you do.

• People. Introduce your puppy gently to people of different ages, appearances, voices, and movement patterns. Always at the puppy’s pace, never forced.
• Sounds. Vacuum, hair dryer, doorbell, traffic, garbage trucks, fireworks recordings at low volume. Pair each new sound with treats.
• Surfaces and environments. Tile, hardwood, grass, gravel, stairs, elevators, and the inside of a stationary car. Burnaby’s SkyTrain platforms are also a controlled exposure to crowds, noise, and movement.
• Handling. Touch ears, paws, mouth, and tail every day. Lift each paw, look at the teeth, look in the ears. This is cooperative care, and it makes vet visits, nail trims, and ear cleaning much easier for the rest of their life.

Until your puppy has completed their second DA2PP booster, keep them out of high-traffic dog areas like off-leash parks and pet stores. Carry them through busy environments instead, and arrange controlled playdates with vaccinated, friendly adult dogs. Well-run puppy classes (vaccinated puppies only, indoor space, positive-reinforcement trainers) are an excellent middle ground in the meantime.

Children and Other Pets

Children

Children and puppies both need supervision. Teach children to approach the puppy quietly, never to disturb a sleeping or eating puppy, and to recognise warning signs like a stiff body, lip licking, or turning away. A baby gate or pen gives the puppy a safe retreat when the household gets busy.

Other Dogs

Introduce new dogs on neutral ground rather than at home, on loose leashes, and with calm handlers. Watch for relaxed body language, soft tails, and short reciprocal play. Resource conflict (food, beds, toys) is common in the first weeks, so feed dogs separately and pick up high-value chews until you know how they will share.

Cats

If a cat already lives in the home, the cat needs a vertical escape route the puppy cannot follow, like a high shelf or a baby gate they can jump over. Keep first introductions short, leashed on the puppy’s side, and reward calm behaviour. Cats often take weeks to accept a new puppy, and that is normal.

Foreign-Body Ingestion Hazards

Puppies investigate the world with their mouths, and swallowed objects are one of the most common reasons we see same-day visits. Watch for these signs and call us at (604) 540-7387 right away if your puppy shows them.

• Repeated vomiting, especially if they cannot keep water down
• Abdominal pain (a hunched back, a praying position, or reluctance to be touched on the belly)
• Lethargy and refusal to eat for more than 24 hours
• Straining to defecate with little or nothing produced
• Blood in vomit or stool

Common Burnaby household hazards include corn cobs, peach pits, fruit stones from backyard trees, sock and underwear scraps, dishtowels, bottle caps, and chunks of chewed-up toys. If you suspect your puppy swallowed something, do not try to make them vomit at home unless we have told you to. Call the clinic first.

Holiday and Household Hazards

Several common household items are toxic to dogs. Keep these out of reach.

• Toxic foods. Chocolate, xylitol (in sugar-free gum, peanut butter, and baking), grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, macadamia nuts, alcohol, raw bread dough, and large quantities of fatty table food.
• Toxic plants. Sago palm, oleander, tulips, daffodils, autumn crocus, and any plant in the lily family is dangerous to cats and can cause stomach upset in dogs. The leaves and fruit of cherry, plum, and apricot trees common in Burnaby backyards contain cyanogenic compounds.
• Household items. Human medications (especially ibuprofen and acetaminophen), rodent bait, slug bait, antifreeze, cannabis in any form, and concentrated cleaning products.

If you suspect your puppy has eaten something toxic, call (604) 540-7387 during clinic hours. Outside our hours, contact Canada West Veterinary Specialists in Vancouver at 604-473-4882. They are a 24-hour emergency hospital.

Puppy Dental and Developmental Notes

Puppies are born without teeth. Their deciduous (baby) teeth start to come in at about three to four weeks of age, and the full set of 28 baby teeth is in place by six to eight weeks. Adult teeth begin replacing the baby teeth at around four months, and the full 42 adult teeth should be in place by six to seven months.

• Teething. Expect increased chewing between four and six months. Frozen wet washcloths and soft chew toys help. Replace bones, antlers, and hard nylon chews with softer options to prevent slab fractures of adult teeth.
• Retained deciduous teeth. If a baby canine or incisor has not fallen out by the time the adult tooth has erupted, the baby tooth needs to be removed surgically. This is most common in small breeds. We check at every puppy visit. 
• Malocclusion. Misaligned bite can cause pain and damage to other teeth. Identified early, many cases can be managed simply; identified late, they often need orthodontic referral.
• Umbilical and inguinal hernias. Small bumps at the belly button or groin in young puppies. Many close on their own; persistent hernias are usually repaired at the time of spay or neuter.
• Cryptorchidism. An undescended testicle. Both testicles should be in the scrotum by about six months. Undescended testicles need to be removed surgically because of higher cancer risk later in life.

Grooming Basics

Get your puppy used to grooming early. Daily handling sessions, even thirty seconds at a time, pay enormous dividends.

• Brushing. Short-coated breeds need a weekly once-over. Double-coated breeds (Husky, Golden, Bernese) need brushing two or three times a week to manage undercoat. Curly-coated breeds (Poodle, Doodle crosses) need daily brushing to prevent painful mats.
• Bathing. A bath every four to six weeks is plenty for most breeds. Use a puppy or sensitive-skin shampoo. Overbathing strips the skin’s natural oils.
• Nails. Trim weekly. If you can hear nails clicking on hardwood, they are too long.
• Ears. Wipe the outer ear canal weekly with a veterinary ear cleaner. Floppy-eared breeds need more frequent attention. Persistent head shaking, redness, or odour means a vet visit, not more cleaning.
• Teeth. Start brushing with a puppy toothbrush and pet-safe toothpaste early. Daily is ideal; three times a week is good. Human toothpaste is toxic to dogs.
• Professional grooming. Curly and double-coated dogs typically see a groomer every six to eight weeks once their adult coat is in. Edmonds St. Animal Hospital offers veterinary-supervised medical grooming for pets who need a calmer, slower environment.

Local Health Notes

Burnaby and the Metro Vancouver region carry a specific set of pet health considerations that out-of-province content does not capture. The notes below come from current local research and BC public health guidance.

• Leptospirosis is endemic in the Lower Mainland. The BC Centre for Disease Control has flagged Vancouver and surrounding municipalities as higher-risk because of mild winters, abundant standing water, and a dense urban wildlife population. Puppies who walk at Robert Burnaby Park, Burnaby Lake Regional Park, Deer Lake Park, Central Park, or along the Brunette and Fraser Rivers should be vaccinated for leptospirosis.
• Giardia in standing water. Beavers, raccoons, coyotes, and rodents shed Giardia into puddles, ponds, and slow-moving creeks throughout Burnaby. Discourage your puppy from drinking out of standing water on walks. Bring fresh water along instead.
• Salmon poisoning disease. Dogs in the Pacific Northwest, including BC, can develop a serious illness from eating raw or dead salmon found near rivers and streams. Symptoms appear within a week and include vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, and lethargy. If your puppy eats anything fishy along the Brunette or Fraser, contact the clinic the same day.
• Coyote interactions. Coyotes are a regular presence in Burnaby’s greenbelts and increasingly in residential areas. Small puppies should never be off-leash near greenspace, even briefly.
• Off-leash parks. Robert Burnaby Park (off-leash trails under the power lines), Burnaby Heights Off-Leash Dog Park (fully fenced, Burrard Inlet views), and Warner Loat Park have off-leash hours or dedicated areas. Hold off on these spaces until your puppy has completed their full DA2PP series.
• City of Burnaby dog licensing. Dogs over four months old need a Burnaby dog licence, renewed annually. Bring your puppy’s vaccine record when you apply.
• BC weather and paw care. Wet sidewalks and seasonal road salt can irritate paw pads. Wipe paws down after walks and check between the toes for irritation.

Low-Stress Veterinary Visits

Before the Visit

Practice handling at home in the days before the appointment. Touch ears, paws, mouth, and tail in short, positive sessions. Take your puppy on short car rides that end at fun places (a park, a friend’s house) so the car does not become a signal that something stressful is coming. If your puppy gets motion sick, feed a small meal three or four hours before the visit rather than just beforehand.

In the Clinic

Bring high-value treats your puppy does not get at home, like small pieces of cooked chicken or freeze-dried liver. We use treats throughout the appointment to build positive associations. If your puppy is anxious, ask us about quiet exam rooms or anti-anxiety medication for future visits. Stress changes everything about how a visit feels for a puppy, and there is no virtue in toughing it out.

Happy Visits

Drop in any time during clinic hours for a happy visit. A treat, a quick greeting from the team, and out the door again. No exam, no needles. The goal is simple: the clinic becomes a place where good things happen, not just a place to come when you are sick. Call (604) 540-7387 if you want to plan one in advance.

When to Contact Us

Call Edmonds St. Animal Hospital at (604) 540-7387 the moment something does not seem right with your puppy. We hold same-day appointments open for urgent concerns every day of the week, and we accept walk-ins for urgent matters during clinic hours when staffing allows.

Contact Us Same Day For

• Repeated vomiting, especially with no interest in water
• Diarrhoea, particularly with blood or going on more than 24 hours
• Sudden lethargy, weakness, or collapse
• Difficulty breathing or persistent coughing
• Suspected toxin ingestion (chocolate, raisins, medication, antifreeze)
• Suspected swallowed object
• Wounds, limping, or significant trauma
• Difficulty urinating or defecating
• Any seizure or fainting episode
• Any bite from another animal

Schedule a Routine Appointment For

• Vaccination boosters and yearly wellness exams
• Spay or neuter consultation
• Dental cleanings and dental check-ups
• Nutrition and weight management discussions
• Behaviour and training concerns
• Microchipping and travel documentation
• Skin or coat changes that have been gradual

Outside our hours: For overnight or weekend emergencies, contact Canada West Veterinary Specialists in Vancouver at 604-473-4882. They are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Pet Insurance

Pet insurance can make a meaningful difference if your puppy ever needs unexpected care, especially in their first three years when accident and illness rates are highest. We strongly recommend exploring coverage before your first appointment with us, because pre-existing conditions identified at a vet visit are typically not covered going forward.

Several providers operate in Canada. The list below is educational only and is not an endorsement of any single provider.

• Trupanion
• Pets Plus Us
• Petsecure
• Economical
• Intact

Edmonds St. Animal Hospital direct-bills Trupanion at checkout, so if you choose Trupanion you only pay your share at the front desk rather than waiting for reimbursement. Other carriers are accepted and we provide the documentation you need to submit on your end.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does my puppy need their first vaccines in Burnaby?

Most puppies start their core DA2PP vaccine series at six to eight weeks, with boosters every three to four weeks until they are sixteen weeks old. Rabies is added at sixteen weeks. The schedule matches AAHA guidelines and applies whether you live near the Edmonds SkyTrain or anywhere else in Burnaby. Call (604) 540-7387 to book your puppy’s first appointment, and bring any records you already have.

At what age should I spay or neuter my puppy?

Timing depends on adult size. Small breeds are typically spayed or neutered at five to seven months, medium breeds at six to nine months, large breeds at nine to fifteen months, and giant breeds at twelve to eighteen months. Larger dogs benefit from waiting because growth plates close later. We will give you a personalised recommendation at the wellness visit.

Does my puppy need the leptospirosis vaccine in Burnaby?

For most Burnaby puppies, yes. The BC Centre for Disease Control flags the Lower Mainland as a higher-risk area for leptospirosis because of our climate and urban wildlife. If your puppy will walk at parks like Robert Burnaby, Deer Lake, or Burnaby Lake, or anywhere near standing water, we recommend the vaccine. The series starts at twelve weeks with a booster three to four weeks later, then annual boosters thereafter.

How often does my puppy need deworming?

Puppies are usually dewormed every two weeks starting at two weeks of age, then monthly until six months. After that, most dogs move to a year-round flea, tick, and intestinal parasite prevention. If you adopted from a breeder or rescue, bring their deworming record to your first visit and we will continue the schedule without doubling up.

What food should I feed my new puppy?

A complete and balanced puppy food that meets AAFCO nutritional standards for growth. Large and giant breed puppies need a large-breed puppy formula with controlled calcium. Avoid adult-only foods and raw diets for puppies. We are happy to recommend specific brands based on your puppy’s size, budget, and any health concerns.

Is it safe to take my puppy to Burnaby parks before they finish their vaccines?

Off-leash parks and other high-traffic dog areas should wait until your puppy has completed the second DA2PP booster, usually around twelve weeks. In the meantime, carry your puppy through busy environments to keep socialisation going, and arrange controlled playdates with vaccinated adult dogs you know.

My puppy is a large breed. Does that change anything in the first year?

Yes. Large and giant breed puppies grow for longer than small breeds, so they need a large-breed puppy food with controlled minerals, a slower approach to exercise (avoiding repetitive jumping or forced running until growth plates close), and a later spay or neuter timing. We map out the year at your first visit based on your puppy’s expected adult weight.