Bringing A New Puppy Home What Should I Know

You’re so excited; you’ve found a reputable breeder and that perfect puppy that matches your lifestyle, family needs, and lifestyle. Now that you’ve found that perfect puppy you may be wondering, “Is there anything I need to know before bringing a new puppy home?” The answer is yes, and with a few simple puppy care tips and changes around the house you’ll be ready for that new puppy to come bounding into your home.Think of the process as puppy proofing your home.

First of all before your puppy comes home you may want to consider purchasing pet insurance. First obstacle in getting your new puppy home is dealing with the car ride home. In the best case scenario the breeder is not located too far from your home, resulting in a relatively short amount of time in the car. If this however is not the case then you have to be patient and remember the puppy is probably a bit nervous and very excited and may have an accident while in the car. Therefore, it is important that you bring a towel along for the ride to keep on your lap where you can hold the puppy and if he does have an accident, you can just throw the towel in the washing when you get home. If the car journey is a bit long then it may be necessary to pull over and give the puppy a chance to go to the bathroom. This is good for the puppy to get him in the habit of going to the bathroom outside.

Next up is your home, which should be puppy proofed well before the puppy ever arrives home. Puppies are pretty much the same as babies, so it is best to get down to their level on the floor and see what objects are dangerous but may be attractive to your puppy. Anything electrical should be kept off the floor and out of reach of the puppy. Puppies love to chew and they will definitely either chew or urinate on electrical cords if given half a chance. There are also sprays that you can buy both online or in pet stores that taste bad to dogs and prevent them from chewing things. Don’t worry these sprays are perfectly harmless to dogs and come in flavours such as bitter apple, apparently dogs do not like the taste. Any plants in the house should be removed from the floor to prevent chewing and urinating. Any objects on tables that can easily be knocked off or could be dangerous should be removed for the time being. As I stated before a puppy will be full of energy and bounding around the house most likely bumping into things so you want to make sure he is safe.

If you have children make sure that all small toys are put away because once again that will look like a tasty snack to any puppy. You can also section off one room in your house specifically for toys and keep that door closed at all times. While on the topic of children it is important that you speak to your children before you think about bringing a new puppy home. Make sure that they understand they need to be gentle with the puppy and it is not a toy.

As well as your house it is also important to check over any outside surrounding that your puppy will be walking around or playing in. If you have a backyard or back garden make sure there are no gaps or holes between the fencing and the ground. Puppies are tiny and can squeeze out of anywhere. If you have a pool it is best to block off access to that or if you can’t do that make sure you stay outside with your puppy and watch him at all times.

With a few simple steps you can make taking care of your puppy and bringing your new puppy home a breeze. Puppy proofing your home ensures that you will keep your puppy safe and you can feel free to enjoy playing with your puppy there for many years to come. Now onto that puppy potty training....