The Available Puppies Page

What To Do To Get Ready For a New Puppy in Your Home?

Adopting a new puppy is fun and exciting. It is definitely a rewarding experience for pet lovers all over the world. However, getting a puppy can be exhausting too if you don’t know what to do before you bring it home.

Just like any other pet, dogs would love to have a routine. Thus, bringing a little puppy home won’t be a walk in the park. You have to constantly make an effort for it to settle in and be comfortable with its new surroundings.

As the new fur parent, preparation and patience are key to making your new puppy feel at home.

Prepare your home

For every change, there’s always an adjustment time. If there is one thing that you should consider first before adopting your new puppy – that is to prepare your home.

This means that you have to prepare not only the house that your new puppy will live in but also the people that are living in it. You all have to be physically, financially, and mentally prepared for having a new addition to the family.

Let’s look at the things you can do for your upcoming fur baby.

1. Schedule the arrival

Before you bring your new puppy home, plan and schedule its arrival beforehand. Decide how and when you are going to pick it up from its previous home.

If possible, take a day off or plan to pick the puppy on a weekend in your free time. Have someone to ride with you to hold it while you drive home. Don’t also forget to bring its collar and leash with you as you take it straight home without distracting stops.

2. Organize the pet supplies

You want your new puppy to be as comfy as possible. Prepare all the necessary items for your puppy in advance such as a flat buckle, identification tags, martingale collar, a harness, a nylon leash, food and water dish, a bed, and of course – toys!

Your new puppy will certainly love to play with his new toys. Just be careful in choosing toys in the beginning until you determine whether the puppy sheds or ingests toys. You can first get toys like Nylabones, not to be confused with rawhide which is not really recommended for a puppy.

You might also want to consider getting his own playpen, just large enough for him to room around to be used as his safety den.

If you already know the type of food your puppy loves to eat, you can also prepare the food beforehand. Though you can alter its food in the long run, you want to make sure that the puppy feels at ease with you and does not get an upset stomach.

3. Prepare for in-house training

Bear in mind that any in-house dog can get overwhelmed whenever moved to a new environment. While you want him to be as safe and comfortable as possible, you would also want to instantly train him.

You can consider introducing him to the new crate he can play or sleep in. You would also want to use a soothing, calming voice when talking to your newly adopted puppy. Reward him with praise or treats whenever he does something good or if he obeys your simple commands.

Whether pet or human, positive reinforcement brings positive results when it comes to developing good relationships. Consider signing up for a virtual dog training class if you need assistance in this area.

4. Make sure other pets are healthy

If you are joining the new puppy with other pets at your home, make sure all the pets are healthy, including your new puppy. You don’t want them to infect each other, do you?

Make sure all the pets are up to date with their shots. Bring the other pets in your home for general health check-ups, booster shots, and even for pet grooming. You may also request for your new puppy to get microchipped to ensure security.

5. Establish a routine

One of the best ways to ensure that a new puppy gets easily accustomed to his new environment is by establishing a routine.

Organize a set of activities that your dog must do in the first few weeks before slowly transitioning to more rigorous activities. Decide on your new puppy’s care regimen in advance with the people in your house.

Who will walk your puppy outside? How often will you feed your puppy in a day? Will you immediately introduce the puppy to his own crate or will you let him stay with you in your room?

Also, set a schedule to play with your puppy and establish a strong bond. Just don’t rush your new puppy to adapt to new routines. Allow him to adjust to you, your family, and the new environment.

You might want to show off your new puppy to the neighborhood which can potentially put him in a stressful situation. Keep things simple at first. Allow him to be at ease with your family first before introducing him to other people.

Before you leave home for work, you may also consider giving him an enrichment item to play with to temporarily distract and prevent him from separation anxiety.

6. Introduce your family

Nothing will make a pet more comfortable than to feel loved by the people around him. Just like humans, dogs want to be pampered and cared for.

Introduce your family to your new puppy and plan a time for recreation. Go outside and have fun with your new puppy to establish a bond within your family. Let your fur baby feel that he is important and that he will always have a place in your family.

But before the new puppy gets at ease with the family, restrain the children from kissing and hugging it as it might lead to any untoward incident.

Show Love To Your New Puppy at Home

There is no greater bliss than to be loved in return. Allow your newly adopted puppy to get used to you. He will eventually give you back his loyalty and friendship in no time.

Manage your expectations and adjust your approach as you nurture your new puppy into a loyal best friend. Be patient and consistently show your love to him. Give your new puppy time to adjust to his new home.

Reach out for assistance if you are struggling in taming your newly adopted furbaby. The shelter or the breeder where you adopted or purchased from can definitely offer assistance and tips regarding behavioral challenges.

Article by JocelleS