Bringing Home a New Puppy

Are you getting ready to welcome a new furry member to your family? Bringing home your new puppy can be one of the most exciting events you’ll ever experience. By preparing your home for your new addition, you will be able to fully enjoy the experience of getting to know your new family member, without the added worries of being unprepared.

The First Steps

Once you’ve made the decision to bring a new puppy into your home, you can start making preparations immediately. Here are a few things that should simplify the transition.

Establish Yourself with A Veterinarian You Like and Trust.

Ask around for names of vets that your friends and acquaintances trust. Double-check these recommendations against reviews on services such as Yelp to make sure that they will be a good fit. Never hesitate to ask questions and even do a pre-puppy meet-and-greet. They should be willing to take a few minutes to meet with you and answer any questions you may have. After all, this could be a relationship that lasts the lifetime of your dog.

Determine Your Puppy’s New Routine.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s very important to establish the routine you will follow with your puppy before he even arrives. By doing this, you will ensure that both of you fall into a comfortable pattern in just a few days. Make sure to build in plenty of playtimes, potty breaks, and naps. Even though puppies have a lot of energy, it tends to come in short spurts.

Puppy-proof Your Home.

Just as you would toddler-proof your home, you need to take a hard look at the surroundings your puppy will be spending time in. Check for things that could easily be pulled over on tops of him, such as top-heavy end tables, floor lamps or chairs.

Look around and make sure all electrical cords are out-of-reach. There is something incredibly irresistible about power cords to most puppies. A shock from a biting through a cord can cause heart and lung damage, or if the shock is great enough, even death. If there is absolutely no way to get a cord up and out-of-reach, there are special products made specifically to prevent cord chewing. They’re well worth the investment for the added layer of safety it will give your pup and the peace of mind it will afford you.

Puppy-proof Your Yard.

The great outdoors can be a wonderful place for you to spend quality time with your new puppy. To create a safe outdoor place for your pup, make sure you have a secure fence with no holes or cracks your new friend can squeeze through or under. In the same vein, make sure there is nothing he can get caught up in, such as fencing wire with holes he might get his head stuck in.

Once He’s Home

The big day has come! Your new baby is coming home! You’ve taken the first steps to creating a safe environment for your puppy. Now comes the rest.

Stick to the Vaccination Schedule.

Puppies must receive their distemper/parvo shots on time. These vaccinations prevent them from contracting the often lethal distemper or parvoviruses. In addition to the vaccinations, you will need to keep your puppy away from unknown dogs and puppies until he’s completed his entire series. Also, avoid taking him anywhere other dogs may have been — including dog parks and walking paths. Parvo especially can live dormant in the soil for over a year.

Transition his diet slowly.

Dogs have sensitive digestive systems. Find out which food your new little guy (or gal) has been eating and very slowly add in the new food you’re intending to feed. This is necessary to avoid any shocks to his digestive system. Avoid rich treats — there are many treats that are specially formulated for puppies. Don’t go overboard!

Provide lots of love and attention.

Puppies thrive when they receive attention and positive input. Keeping a puppy crated for several hours a day can be detrimental to their emotional wellbeing a development. If you won’t be able to spend much time with your pup during the workday, consider having a dog sitter come in a couple of times during the day for potty breaks and cuddling. Once he’s received all of his vaccinations, you can enroll him in doggy daycare. Both of these will also help socialize him. An added bonus? The more bonded you are with your puppy, the easier it will be to train him.

You’ll find more information that will help you enjoy every day with your dog at www.86pets.net