We’ve all seen the viral videos. A clip of an adorable little kid opening a big box with a red ribbon on top for Christmas, only to reveal a puppy inside.
Bringing home a new puppy is likely to be one of the happiest moments of your life, and it’s no surprise that the holidays are one of the busiest times of year for pet adoption.
But, a new dog is a big responsibility and deserves a home that is properly prepared to care for it.
Check out these essential tips for puppy care in advance of bringing home your new best friend!
Prepare for a New Puppy
1. Puppy Proof the House
Puppies are small but mighty creatures, and they may not look as cute after they’ve chewed through your favorite pair of shoes.
A key aspect of your puppy checklist should be puppy-proofing your home to prevent any damage. This also prevents your puppy from accidentally getting hurt or ingesting something that it shouldn’t.
Putting away any valuables or moving items to hard-to-reach surfaces is one way to puppy-proof the house.
You can also implement puppy gates to section off parts of the house that your dog should not be in unsupervised.
2. Gather the Necessary Supplies
If you’re bringing home your first-ever puppy, it can be tempting to go all out on toys and supplies. However, you may find that puppies require less than you think.
Puppy supplies that you will definitely need may include a leash, collar, kennel, clean-up spray, and potentially some grooming supplies.
However, it may be more beneficial to wait before buying out the entire pet store’s worth of toys. Getting to know your puppy first and learning what they actually use and like might save you a lot of money in the long run.
Focus on buying necessities and add in the fun stuff gradually!
3. Prioritize Training and Socialization
The first few months of a puppy’s life are crucial to its learning and development. If you allow your puppy to develop bad habits, you’ll be hard-pressed to break those habits later on.
Decide on the rules you’ll want to set for your pet and make sure your household is aligned in enforcing them. One example of a house rule might be “no feeding the puppy human food”.
It’s also important to socialize with your dog during the early stages of its life so that it develops a healthy association with other people and dogs.
Make plans to take your dog into public settings and simply explore the world!
If you’re a newbie to puppy training or puppy development, reading an article on puppies or two can be a great place to start!
Complete Your New Puppy Checklist
With a new puppy, you’ll have a lot of laughs and cuddles, along with a lot of sleepless nights.
This new member of the family is bound to bring you loads of happy memories, and it’s your responsibility to do the same. The more you plan in advance for your puppy, the less stressed you’ll be in the future.
Do you know what that means? More time for puppy cuddles!
