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So, you’re ready to bring your new puppy home. This is such an exciting time, and is sure to be filled with a lot of joy and love for your new pet, but before you bring the baby home there are some steps you should take to make sure that you are prepared to introduce a new animal into your home.
Firstly, before bringing them home you should set up a living area for your dog. Give them a cozy place to lie down and get some rest. Provide them with some toys to play with as well, so that they can play in the space you created for them. This will allow them to become more comfortable in their new surroundings. In setting up an area like this for your dog you’ll want to make sure that they know where to find their food and water bowls, where it is okay for them to sleep, and where to go to the bathroom!
You may have to show your puppy these areas a couple of times in order to familiarize them with your home. When you are fixing this area up, check for anything that could be dangerous to your puppy and remove it from that space so that they don’t accidentally access it and end up hurting themselves. In addition to simply showing your new puppy where to use the bathroom, you also have to potty train them, so don’t be surprised if you find your puppy having the occasional accident.
Next, you’ll want to focus on toilet training, This can take time and requires some patience so don’t get frustrated if your puppy doesn’t catch on right away. Make sure to provide plenty of opportunities for your dog to use the bathroom. It helps to reinforce good toilet training behavior with treats or other rewards every time the puppy goes in the designated spot.
This is a good time to mention nutrition. You want to make sure that your new puppy has food that will provide a growing dog with plenty of sustenance and will help them develop strong bones and teeth, and healthy coats. Ask your vet if you are not sure what food is going to be best suited for your dog.
Since we’re talking about eating, we should also take this time to talk about your new puppy’s dental health. Dental health is very important for all dogs, but especially important to young dogs. Keeping your puppy’s teeth clean will prevent the dog from developing a range of problems. Since your dog is not hunting animals for food, its natural way of cleaning its teeth and flossing has disappeared. Modern canned food, and dry food does very little to help keep your dog’s mouth clean. In order to keep their teeth clean, you will actually have to brush their teeth for them. Cleaning your dog’s mouth may seem somewhat daunting but the earlier you start doing this in the dog’s life, the easier it will be to brush their teeth and keep them clean as the dog ages.
Pure and Natural Pet makes this chore a snap with their $12.99 Doggie Dental Kit which not only includes a toothbrush but also organic toothpaste made from natural ingredients so you won’t have to worry about your dog ingesting any harmful chemicals during the teeth cleaning process. You’ll want to make sure to utilize these cleaning tools about 2-3 times a week.
If your dog is not yet fixed, you should make an appointment with your local vet to have this procedure done. Desexing your new puppy will help you to prevent unwanted pregnancies and can positively affect your dog’s behavior and mood as well. In addition to getting your dog fixed, the vet will also discuss necessary vaccinations for your puppy to receive. Young dogs are vulnerable to many diseases, such as Parvovirus, which can be fatal to a dog. These vaccinations will prevent your dog from contracting diseases that could be harmful to your dog.
Eventually, you will also want to consult your vet about Flea, and Tick treatment. The vet can also help with deworming, if your dog does have worms.
Another important step of owning a brand new puppy is socializing your dog.This is essential because it will have an effect on how your dog interacts with other dogs and people as it grows up. Between the ages of 3 - 17 weeks old, It is critical that you expose your new puppy to new environments and stimuli so that they are able to develop into an adult dog that is well adjusted. Dogs who have not been properly socialized are prone to behavioral issues and aggression toward other dogs and people as well. On this note, make sure to avoid any training regimen or program that relies on negative stimuli such as a punishment to teach your dog how to behave.
Finally, you need to make sure that your new puppy has plenty of chances to get exercise For many new pups, their daily walk is the best part of the day. Walking not only gives them a chance t get out and stretch their legs, it also allows for other opportunities for socialization while you are out and about. Aside from the health benefits herein, this is also a time that your puppy gets to spend with you and this will help to solidify the bond between the two of you.
You should also make sure that you have dog ID tags, and a collar for your dog so that people can locate you in the event that your dog gets lost. Additionally most places require your dog to have a collar on in public. We offer a range of collars to choose from, but one standout product is the Dogline Comfort Microfiber collar. It comes in a range of different colors and features a quick release buckle and padding for your dog’s neck. Best of all this collar is not only durable and comfortable for your dog to wear, but it won’t hurt your wallet because it’s only $7.99 to purchase. Combine your Dogline collar with an S-Biner Taglock tag holder from Nite Ize. These are durable, lightweight S shaped carabiners that make switching tags from collar to collar a snap.
If you decide to take your dog in the car, or if you have to travel to get to the area where you usually walk your dog, you should absolutely invest in a car harness. Puppies are unpredictable and it is better to have them safely buckled in while you are driving so that they don’t get underfoot while you are driving, or cause another distraction that could get you both hurt.
For our needs, we here at Keep Doggie Safe really like the Kurgo Tru-Fit harness. This harness has been strength tested and crash tested, and because the harness allows your dog to sit, stand or lay down comfortably, it is a great choice for a car harness. It also features double-nested hardware for more strength and security, and a seat belt loop so that you can safely strap your puppy into the seat and prevent them from roaming around the inside of the car while you are driving. This harness comes in at a mid level price point of $40.49 and has all of the standard features from the basic Kurgo car harness, as well as super strong and stable nesting buckles for added support.
Prepping to bring a new puppy home can seem like a lot of work, and it can feel like there are a million things to remember. If you have any questions or concerns about this process, it is helpful to consult your vet for their advice. Follow this guide, and your stress about owning a new puppy will melt away. Make sure to keep them well fed, well exercised, and their teeth well cleaned and you will have nothing to worry about. Oh, and congratulations of the new dog!
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