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Bringing Home Your New Puppy

When deciding to bring home a new puppy, it is important to prepare yourself beforehand, to make sure that you have everything that your new addition will need. If you follow all of the necessary steps, you can ensure that your new puppy will adjust well to his or her new surroundings, and will get along with children, adults, and other pets that might be in the home.

Have you given your new puppy a name yet? Visit our Pet Names pages for inspiration..

Preparing Your Home

The first step when getting a new puppy is to prepare your home. Puppies are inquisitive and prone to chewing, and getting into things they shouldn’t. Puppy proofing your home could save you a lot of trouble in the long run. Place all electrical and window cords out of the puppies’ reach. Make sure all cupboard doors are closed, and that shoes and bags are placed inside them.

Do not leave food in containers on the floor where puppies could get into them, and be sure to get a covered dustbin that makes rubbish inaccessible to your new pet. Try to go through your home room by room, and decide if there is anything that a toddler would get into, if so, then your puppy would probably get into it as well, and it is best to place it higher.

House Training

With new puppies, the most commonly discussed topic is usually house training. As much as you may want to, it is important not to yell or hit your puppy when he has an accident within the home. Puppies don’t want to go in the home; they just have not been taught how to let you know that they want to go out. You can gently scold your puppy if necessary, but positive praise when he does go outside will work much better than harsh punishments.

Purchase a house training crate for your puppy, and keep him or her in there when you are out for long periods of time, and at night. Crates help to teach the puppy not to go in the house, because it is a confined area, and puppies don’t like to use the restroom where they sleep. Over time, they will learn how to go longer without urinating, and will associate your entire home with a living place that they should not urinate in.

Take your puppy out frequently as soon as you bring it home. Try to take it out at least once an hour so that it has every opportunity to use the restroom outside of the home. Give positive praise when your puppy does right, and eventually you can slowly lengthen the amount of time in between trips.

Materials

There are a wide variety of materials that you will need to purchase before your puppy comes home. These items are needed to provide your puppy with a comfortable and safe living environment, and should be purchased before you bring him home or shortly after.

1. A leash , collar, and identification tag
2. A cage or crate for house training
3. A brush or comb for grooming
4. Flea shampoo, and related flea medicine
5. Toys, toys, and more toys
6. Food and water bowls

Food

When you purchase or adopt your new puppy, it is a good idea to ask what they are currently being fed. Changing a dog’s diet can cause them to get sick, and have accidents all over your home. As long as your puppy’s diet was healthy before you got them, it is a good idea to maintain the same diet after you bring them home.

If you must change their diet, mix in some of the new food with some of the old each day a little at a time, until it is eating only the new food. If your puppy has any medical issues, look into vitamin and mineral supplements that can be mixed into their food to help them stay healthy.

A Clean Bill of Health

Take your new puppy to the veterinarian before you bring them home. Make sure that they have gotten all of their vaccinations, have been de-wormed, and have had their rabies shots. Ask the vet about anything you may be concerned about, and curb any flea problems the puppy may have before bringing them into your house. This is especially important if you have other pets. You do not want them getting sick because you brought an unhealthy puppy into your home.

Pet Insurance

Consider buying pet insurance for your puppy. Depending on the type of puppy you have purchased, it might have a predisposition to certain diseases and conditions. You never know what might happen, or what trouble your little puppy might get into. With pet insurance, you will be fully covered should an accident occur. Nothing would be worse than bringing a new puppy home, having something happen, and then not being able to afford treatment.

Have Patience

Puppies are energetic and active; they require a lot of work and patience. If you find that your puppy is exhibiting problematic behavior, then consider taking them for puppy training classes, to teach them the skills they need, to be well adjusted pets.

Introduce puppies slowly to other pets, and always one at a time. Give them plenty of love and attention, and remember that they are getting used to their new surroundings. With a little bit of patience, and a lot of love, you and your puppy can make a great start to your lives together.

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