Bringing home a new Puppy!

Oh, finally the new puppy is coming home, what a joy that is. But hey, there’s no need to freak out if this is the first puppy or furry friend you are getting. These awesome pre-puppy preparations will definitely put you through the vital steps in getting your fuzzy buddy acquainted to the new environment.

Before the puppy-arrival preparation.

Before the puppy arrives, you have to ensure everyone is comfortable having the new puppy around. Once this is sorted out, you can then proceed to other details such as the age, breed, method of adoption, and whether you want a puppy from the local shelter or from a reputable breeder. Then, you guys need to go over the schedules, I mean who gets to do what. Like feeding, water, veterinary appointments, taking the pup to the backyard or papers and so on. Remember having a puppy is like having a baby, because it needs constant care. Hence, everyone needs to be there for the little guy.

Without much delay, let’s have a rundown on the vital things to put in place before bringing home your puppy.

Stock up on all the puppy supplies.

Like I said, having a puppy requires almost the same attention as having a baby. Gather a comprehensive list of the necessary items needed for a puppy. Then go to your local pet store, before the puppy arrival, to get them. Trust me, you don’t want to keep running back and forth to the store when the pup comes home. Here are the basic things you’ll need:

• Water bowls
• Crate
• Collar and leash
• Food and treats as well for training. Trying buying the same food the dog is used to. You can get this information from the trainer. Any new diet might cause an upset stomach.
• Dog Bed
• Baby gates to restrict access to some sections of the house
• Stain cleaners and odor neutralizers

Get your house in shape!

You might not know this, but having a puppy changes a lot in a house. For starters, they are award-winning chewers, and will chew at anything they come across. Secondly, they have a super ability to go where they shouldn’t be. P.S., I hope you got the baby gates in the items list above. You will have a lot of organizing and dog proofing to do.

Gate off a suitable area for the puppy.

You have to decide on an appropriate space for the puppy. This needs to be somewhere the pup won’t get to damage your belongings or get hold of harmful objects to chew. This is going to be like the dog’s corner or sanctuary. A good dog space should however not be too far from the center of activity, so the puppy doesn’t feel isolated. The kitchen is usually the best place to have such a corner. Most people go to the kitchen now or then throughout the day.

Register in a good school/ Arrange for home care

Find and register with a good group obedience class for bonding and communication lessons, especially for puppies. Training on the other hand usually requires a few days to a week before you start. Allow the puppy to get settled in and accustomed to the new space first.

Figure out the trip home

The trip home could quickly turn messy if you don’t plan it well. Firstly, get a helper to come along if you don’t have a clue how to manage a puppy in a vehicle. Most times it’s the puppies’ first car ride. The pup might get a little rattled, causing a future phobia or distractions to you, assuming you are the one driving. The helper must soothe the puppy throughout the ride.

Secondly, you could stash him in a crate, if the puppy is already used to crates.

Training procedure

Now the puppy is home, yay! The first step is to keep him/her pleasantly low key and allow the pup to get used to the new environment first.

• Get the puppy introduced to its crates. Crates are the best way to train a house dog.
• Proceed to teach the puppy how to get comfortable around other dogs and people.
• Get started with the house training, and don’t forget to reward the puppy with treats when it does something new, it encourages him to learn better and faster.
• Set up a routine. This includes; bathroom breaks, walks, meals, exercise and stick to it.

Get your dog licensed.

This is not only for legal purposes, but it will also ensure that you get your dog back, should it get lost. You can also get the little guy/girl microchipped for additional insurance. Your local animal authority can put you through the right steps to take.

Get a veterinarian

Ask around for referrals and schedule an appointment with a good vet. Its very important that the vet is nice and animal-friendly. Also, don’t forget occasional checkups.

Enjoy your new pup

The bottom line is the puppy’s first weeks will eventually be a difficult one, but with patience, you will find out having one is wonderful for a home.