Your Puppy: 11 Months Old

Mental and Physical Development

Building Companionship Companionship is one of the main reasons people bring puppies into their homes. Puppies are still in their adolescence at 11 months old, so this is a good time to build on your friendship with your puppy.

Your puppy will be more afraid of new people and things at this age than they have been in the past. By helping your puppy overcome their fears, you are also helping to build a lifelong relationship with them.

Never force your puppy to advance toward anything that scares them. It is also imperative not to encourage their fearful tendencies. Slowly introduce your puppy to whatever it is that is frightening them, and reward them with praise, petting or treats as they conquer their fear.

Switching Medium Breed Dogs to Adult Dog Food Most medium breed dogs are ready to begin the transition to adult dog food at 11 or 12 months of age.

Puppies should always be switched to a high-quality adult dog food that is specific to their size or breed. Just like with small breed dogs, the switch to adult food for medium breed dogs needs to be a gradual process to prevent any digestive upset or changes to your puppy's eating habits.

At feeding time on the first day, simply mix three-quarters puppy food and one-quarter adult food together. Each day, increase the amount of adult food and decrease the amount of puppy food until it is all adult food. Some puppies are sensitive to changes in diet, so be on the lookout for loose stool or digestive upset. If either of these things occurs, slow down the transition to adult food.

Health and Veterinary Care: Common Injuries

Puppies at 11 months old will push their bodies to the limit through exercise and play. At this age, puppies lose their sense of caution and dive into any type of physical activity. However, in their zeal to expend energy, puppies do not always use good judgment and injuries can occur.

Knee and ankle sprains are the most common injuries that puppies at this age experience, but they can also strain the muscles in their backs, necks and groins during physical activities. Broken legs are also fairly common, and most happen because of a fall.

If your puppy has not yet been spayed or neutered, the risk of injuries increases. This is often because of fights or accidents that occur if your puppy escapes your home to find a mate.

Training: Doggy Daycare

Before sending your puppy to daycare, make sure the daycare center is right for both you and your puppy. There are two common types of doggy daycare facilities: in-home and commercial.

In-home daycare facilities are often cheaper and, because they are run out of a private residence, are able to offer a more familiar environment. These facilities typically have fewer dogs than commercial daycare centers, so they may provide more person-to-dog contact.

A commercial daycare facility is usually better for very social puppies. There are typically more dogs at these facilities than at an in-home daycare center, and there is often a full-time staff on hand to keep your puppy busy all day. The staff will likely be trained to handle any type of aggression or trouble the dogs may cause, as well as any emergencies that may arise.

Both types of facilities require proof of up-to-date vaccinations, and all dogs must be healthy when they arrive at daycare. Choosing a daycare center often comes down to your gut feeling about the operators and the facility itself. If something seems off about a place, simply move on to the next one.

To help prepare your puppy for daycare, make meetings and greetings with other dogs a positive experience, and encourage socialization.