Before Bringing Home Your New Furry Family Member
Before bringing home a new puppy there are a few things you should do to prepare.
1) Purchase all the necessary supplies.
You will need: - Food and water dishes - Lots and lots of chew toys (Rawhide and other bones can be dangerous so try to avoid those) - Collar with identity tag - Leash - Dog bed (These are nice to have even if you plan on letting the puppy sleep in bed with you) - Puppy shampoo (Flea and tick shampoo if you live in an area where these are a problem) - Puppy food - Puppy treats - Potty training pads - Kennel -Bedding and water dish for kennel - Dog nail clippers - Brush - A bottle of floor/carpet cleaner (For the inevitable accidents during potty training) - Hot water bottle and/or soft ticking clock plus a towel for soothing the puppy at bedtime - Pooper scooper and/or poop bags (Plastic grocery sacks work just fine too) - Baby gate (Only if you have stairs or a "no-dog" zone in your home) - Lots of patience and love 2) Get everything set up: - Put the puppy's kennel in a quieter area of the house.
The puppy can retreat to it when it gets nervous or scared.
It's also a good idea to place it where the puppy will be able to see you as well.
- Put bedding, potty training pad, and water dish in kennel.
As far apart as they will go.
Water dishes in kennels tend to get knocked over and spilled every time there's a puppy in there.
- Put food and water dishes next to each other in one area of the house, usually they're put in the kitchen.
Try to keep them in one spot for puppy, so he always knows where they're at.
Don't put food or water dishes near laid-out potty training pads.
Puppies won't go to the bathroom where they eat and vice-versa normally.
- Make sure the puppy food and treats are put out of reach.
Puppies will gladly overfeed themselves with anything tasty they can find.
3) Figure out a puppy-care schedule.
(This is especially helpful if there will be more than one person caring for the pup.
) Do this so the puppy won't miss out on a feeding or have an accident because he wasn't taken out.
Puppies do best with a familiar schedule.
4) Puppy-proof your home: - Cover all electrical outlets.
- Pick up any electrical cords and wires.
Puppies will chew a hole right through these.
- Make sure to get rid of or put away any plants that would be poisonous to puppy.
- Double check that there is no human food that the puppy will be able to reach.
(Especially chocolate!) - Put a gate up, blocking any stairs.
Most pups will not know how to use stairs, and will fall right down them.
- Make sure long blind cords and the like are tied up out of puppy's reach.
- Pick up and put away any small toys and things the pup could ingest.
-If he or she will be outside in a fenced in yard without constant supervision make sure you puppy-proof it as well.
5) Do your research.
Learn about the breed of puppy you are getting, and about caring for puppies in general.
6) Schedule a vet appointment for a check-up to make sure your puppy is healthy, and to get any shots that are needed.
Doing all of these steps will save you a ton of work and stress in the long run! Enjoy your new furry friend.
:)
1) Purchase all the necessary supplies.
You will need: - Food and water dishes - Lots and lots of chew toys (Rawhide and other bones can be dangerous so try to avoid those) - Collar with identity tag - Leash - Dog bed (These are nice to have even if you plan on letting the puppy sleep in bed with you) - Puppy shampoo (Flea and tick shampoo if you live in an area where these are a problem) - Puppy food - Puppy treats - Potty training pads - Kennel -Bedding and water dish for kennel - Dog nail clippers - Brush - A bottle of floor/carpet cleaner (For the inevitable accidents during potty training) - Hot water bottle and/or soft ticking clock plus a towel for soothing the puppy at bedtime - Pooper scooper and/or poop bags (Plastic grocery sacks work just fine too) - Baby gate (Only if you have stairs or a "no-dog" zone in your home) - Lots of patience and love 2) Get everything set up: - Put the puppy's kennel in a quieter area of the house.
The puppy can retreat to it when it gets nervous or scared.
It's also a good idea to place it where the puppy will be able to see you as well.
- Put bedding, potty training pad, and water dish in kennel.
As far apart as they will go.
Water dishes in kennels tend to get knocked over and spilled every time there's a puppy in there.
- Put food and water dishes next to each other in one area of the house, usually they're put in the kitchen.
Try to keep them in one spot for puppy, so he always knows where they're at.
Don't put food or water dishes near laid-out potty training pads.
Puppies won't go to the bathroom where they eat and vice-versa normally.
- Make sure the puppy food and treats are put out of reach.
Puppies will gladly overfeed themselves with anything tasty they can find.
3) Figure out a puppy-care schedule.
(This is especially helpful if there will be more than one person caring for the pup.
) Do this so the puppy won't miss out on a feeding or have an accident because he wasn't taken out.
Puppies do best with a familiar schedule.
4) Puppy-proof your home: - Cover all electrical outlets.
- Pick up any electrical cords and wires.
Puppies will chew a hole right through these.
- Make sure to get rid of or put away any plants that would be poisonous to puppy.
- Double check that there is no human food that the puppy will be able to reach.
(Especially chocolate!) - Put a gate up, blocking any stairs.
Most pups will not know how to use stairs, and will fall right down them.
- Make sure long blind cords and the like are tied up out of puppy's reach.
- Pick up and put away any small toys and things the pup could ingest.
-If he or she will be outside in a fenced in yard without constant supervision make sure you puppy-proof it as well.
5) Do your research.
Learn about the breed of puppy you are getting, and about caring for puppies in general.
6) Schedule a vet appointment for a check-up to make sure your puppy is healthy, and to get any shots that are needed.
Doing all of these steps will save you a ton of work and stress in the long run! Enjoy your new furry friend.
:)
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