Bringing Your New Puppy Home

Bringing a new puppy home for the first time is very exciting, but it can also be rather stressful if you aren’t prepared. Luckily, there are a few easy steps to follow to ensure a stress-free environment for you and your brand new arrival.

You must remember that this could be quite scary for your furry little friend, so you need to make the transition as smooth and comfortable as possible. You will both be a lot happier if you have prepared ahead of time.

Having the right supplies for your new pup is essential. Your dog may be little, but they’ll still need certain items to be cared for properly.

Here are the absolute necessities you will need before bringing your newest member of the family home:

Food: You’ll want to make sure you have the same food puppy has grown accustomed to eating in their previous environment. If you prefer a different type of food, you can gradually introduce the new food into your puppy's diet. Changes should be made slowly, so it's best to have both on hand if you're going to switch.

Bowls: Sturdy food and water bowls that can't easily be tipped over by rambunctious and curious puppies will be needed.

Toys: Toys keep puppies entertained and provide them with adequate exercise. Chew toys will help with teething, and possibly prevent destructive chewing as well.

Gates: Baby gates or other similar barriers to puppy-proof your home are a must have. You will also want to put locks on any cabinets containing harmful products that your puppy may try to get into.

Crate:Be sure to have the right sized crate if you are planning to crate train.

Bedding: Soft, washable bedding for the inside of the crate will be most appreciated by your new pup.

First-aid: A first-aid kit for pets is important to have nearby in case of an emergency.

Safety Measures

Having a puppy is really no different than having a small child. They are equally as curious and investigate everything in their surroundings. Because puppies explore and learn quite a bit by chewing and mouthing, precautions must be taken to keep them safe.

Electrical cords within the puppy's reach will need to be rerouted.

Remove or secure hanging items, such as floor length curtains, tablecloths, hanging plants, blind pulls or any other items that may tempt puppy to tug on. Blind pulls are especially dangerous, as they can easily get caught around the puppy's neck.

Remove houseplants, which may be poisonous to your puppy. There are many plants that are harmful to pets, so unless you know for certain that it is safe, it should be removed from puppy's reach.