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Adopting a puppy is a big responsibility, as we all know from watching Marly and Me. Bringing a new puppy in to your home is an exciting but also nervous experience. It starts off with the swooning and cuddling but quickly turns in to yelling, cleaning and chasing. Here are just 5 things we did or wish we would have done before bringing our puppy, Lola, home.
1. Puppy Proof your Home
Before bringing a puppy home it is wise to take a look around your house. Just take a walk. Is there a bunch of stuff on the floor that a puppy could get in to and chew up. Is there rooms you don’t want your new puppy to go in to. What happens if the puppy has an accident? All these questions and more should be going through your head.
To have a successful start you will want to make sure to pick up anything on the ground that a dog could get in to. You might also want to consider moving anything that has important value to you and your family out of the room and in to a safe place. If you just got a new rug, maybe you want to move it to the back office until the little baby is potty trained.
2. Have a Spot for your Puppy Picked Out
A puppy is a destructive baby with out a diaper. It’s going to need love and attention and a close eye to make sure it’s not eating your wall socket. I suggest keeping your dog somewhere there is tile. It’s going to have accidents until it’s been trained. You want it in an easy location where you can just clean it up and not have to worry about your carpets getting damaged or your house starting to smell.
This could be the kitchen or the laundry room. It’s also good to remember that a puppy will eat anything, so even though you keep him in the kitchen you are going to want to stay in eye sight because they will chew on your cabinets.
3. Buy Puppy Supplies
It’s important to go out and buy your dog supplies before you bring them home. When you finally bring home your puppy you are not going to want it to leave your sight, so get the supplies before hand.
We made sure to have a leash, collar, name tag, bowls, food, treats, a crate, training pads, an old blanket for her to lay on, and lots and lots of toys. We also got a baby gate to block off areas of the house we didn’t want her in.
4. Find a Vet
A puppy will need to take lots of trips to the vet in the first year. Find a vet that is close, within your budget, and is recommended by friends or family. It’s okay to make the first vet appointment before you even bring your dog home.
It’s also important to have a vet number on hand in case your puppy eats something they aren’t suppose to. We even keep a list of food you aren’t suppose to feed a dog on the fridge.
5. Socialization
I cant stress enough how important it is to socialize your puppy at a young age. It’s important for your new puppy to meet lots of different people young, old, men, women, and people of all ethnicity. It’s also important for them to play with other dogs.
When you first get your puppy it may not be able to go to certain dog parks or friendly dog locations because it doesn’t have the right shots yet. That’s why it’s important to contact your friends with dogs ahead of time. You can make sure their dog is up to date with all there shots, is friendly with puppies, and can set up a play date.
If your puppy has all their shots, find a puppy playtime or class. Go to the dog park and meet other people with puppies. Socialize, socialize, socialize.
