When you get a new pet puppy, it can be one of the most exciting times in life. Puppies make excellent companions for all members of the family, and they can provide tons of fun and laughs. When you first bring your puppy home, though, it can take some preparation. Preparing for your pup can ensure that your puppy is safe, healthy, and comfortable during his first days at home. Here are some things you need to know about taking care of your puppy when you first get him.
Get All of Your Puppy Necessities in Advance
There are some basic things that every puppy needs right away: a collar with tags, food and water bowls, a bed, a crate, and gates to keep him out of places he shouldn’t be. You should also have the proper puppy food, poop bags to clean up after him, and toys. Make sure you get all of these supplies in advance before you bring your puppy home. That way you’re armed and ready with everything you’ll need to care for your pup once he’s with you.
Designate a Place for the Pup
Your puppy needs to have a safe space created for him in your home. There are too many hazards throughout your entire living space to give him free range. Instead, gate off a safe area of your space where you’ve removed any and all hazards (like furniture he could pull over, cabinets he could get into, and things he could eat). Put your puppy in his designated space, and spend time with him there. Also, have him sleep in this space. Your pup will quickly learn that this is a place for him and will feel safer and more settled there.
Watch Your Puppy
You should spend a lot of time supervising your pup–and be with him at all times when he’s not in his crate. By watching your puppy, you can ensure that he doesn’t get into anything dangerous or troublesome, and make sure that he knows he is love and not going to be unsafe or neglected.
Get the Right Puppy Food
Most puppies need a special kind of formula or food so that they receive adequate nutrition. (Just like human babies!) Consult with your vet before you bring your puppy home to make sure you’ve gotten the right food to give to him. Also consult with your vet about when you should start preventative treatments with your puppy, like Sentinel, which can ward off parasites.
Start Potty Training
The minute your puppy gets home, get used to getting into a potty training routine. You may use crate training to help get your puppy used to going to the bathroom outside, or you may try pee pads to help him learn that there’s a designated spot inside where he can go (and slowly transition that spot outside). The sooner you start potty training your pet, the sooner he’ll get the hang of it.
Caring from your puppy takes work. You need to learn how to keep your pet healthy, safe, and comfortable in order to ensure he has a home that he loves. However, if you learn to properly prep and care for your pup when you bring him home to your space, you’ll help ensure that he becomes a happy thriving dog and that you’ll get to enjoy his company for years to come.
Listed below are some links to helpful resources as referenced in the article: