How exciting—you’re bringing home a new puppy! This can be one of the best days, but it can also be stressful and frustrating. Let’s be real—it’s not all cuddles and cute Instagram pics. There’s a lot of work to get prepared for the puppy’s arrival. We’ve put together some suggestions to make bringing your puppy home easier.
1 – Puppy-Proof Your Home
First, let’s ensure your home is safe for your little bundle of fur. Puppies are like toddlers—they get into everything! Puppies are super curious about the world around them and enjoy a good exploration – mostly, this is done with their teeth!! So, here’s what you need to do to puppy-proof your home:
- Hide all Cords and Cables: to a puppy, everything looks just like a cool new chew toy to discover, so make sure you keep electrical cords out of reach or use cord protectors.
- Stash Hazards: Look around each room in your home for potential hazards, such as household cleaners, plants, and small objects. It’s a good idea to move these items out of the puppy’s reach.
- Create a Puppy Zone: This is super important for keeping puppies safe when you can’t be watching them. It’s also a great idea to have a “time-out” space where puppies can go to rest without being disturbed by family members or other household pets. This could be a crate, puppy pen, or gated-off area. It’s a good idea initially to have a place set up in the main living area around the family.
2 – Essential Supplies
Before your new puppy arrives home, ensure you have all the essentials. Here’s a handy checklist to get started:
- Food and Water Bowls: Stainless steel or ceramic is best—it is easy to clean and hard to knock over. Consider enrichment feeding alternatives such as a Lickimat.
- Puppy Food: Most breeders will send your puppy home with a sample of food that it has been used to eating. It’s important to make any diet changes gradually so as not to upset the puppy’s stomach. Pick a high-quality puppy food to help your puppy grow and ensure all its nutrient needs are met.
- Crate: crate training is a super important skill to teach your puppy and can make life easier for both of you.
- Comfy Bed: Your puppy needs a cozy spot to sleep, and puppies settle much more quickly when they have a place to be. I suggest having a puppy bed in each of the rooms where you and your puppy might be together.
- Toys, Toys, and More Toys: a variety of toys will help keep your puppy entertained and give it something to chew on when it starts teething.
- Collar and Leash: It’s a good idea to get your puppy used to wearing a collar early on before they’re old enough to go for walks. This will also make training sessions a little easier.
- Grooming Kit: A great way to start building your relationship with your puppy is to get into a grooming routine. Some of the must-have items you will need to get are a brush, nail file (Dremel) or clippers, and shampoo. If you start planning early, it’s helpful to keep some of your old towels, too!
3 – First Vet Visit
Your puppy’s health is incredibly important, as is your relationship with your veterinarian. I suggest booking a visit to your chosen vet clinic as soon as possible. During your first visit, take the opportunity to meet your vet and acclimate your puppy to the clinic's smells. I recommend bringing your new puppy to the clinic early, weighing them, introducing them to the staff, and ensuring they have a positive experience. Then, you can schedule an appointment for a check-up and vaccinations and discuss deworming and flea prevention.
4 – Training and Socialising
Early training and socialising for your puppy are crucial. Here’s what you need to focus on:
- Toilet Training: Establish a routine and reward your puppy for going outside.
- Basic Cues: Start with the basics like sit, stay, and come, using positive reinforcement to reward your puppy when they make good attempts.
- Socialisation: Introduce your puppy to different environments, people, and other animals to create a confident puppy and prevent future fear and aggression issues.
- Puppy Class: Positive and fun puppy training classes, led by a qualified training professional, can provide a solid foundation for you and your puppy. We offer various puppy classes at Pawz Perfect and would love to welcome you and your family!
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5 – Time and Patience
In the first few days and weeks, your puppy will require a lot of your time and attention. Be prepared for frequent, regular feeding times (usually 3 times per day), lots of toilet breaks, training time, and plenty of playtime. Patience is essential—there may be accidents and sleepless nights, but it's all part of the journey and doesn't last forever!
6 – Bonding Time
Most importantly, enjoy your time with your new puppy. Play, cuddle, and create happy memories. Enjoy fun training sessions and quiet moments together to build a strong bond that will last a lifetime.
Bringing home a new puppy is an incredible experience that can fill your home with lots of love and laughter. By preparing your home, getting the right supplies, ensuring good veterinary care, and focusing on training and socialisation, you're setting up a wonderful life together. Embrace the fun and the challenges, and you'll find a loyal and loving companion in your new puppy. Are you ready? Of course you are – all you need is a little preparation and a lot of love!
About Caz:
Caz has been working with dogs for over 15 years. She is a Certified Pro Dog Trainer and a certified Trick Dog Trainer. Additionally, she holds a PetTech Certificate in Dog First Aid and is a full member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers of New Zealand.
Caz is the PITC Dog Training Manager and provides In-House Dog Training programmes at our Wairau Park and Silverdale branches. Alongside this, she runs her own professional Dog Training Business called Pawz Perfect. To learn more about the services she provides, you can visit her website at https://pawzperfect.co.nz.
For information about the Pets In the City in-house Dog training programme check out: PITC In-House Training Programmes
Caz Bassett, Pawz Perfect
