Spring and summer are the most popular times for people to bring home a new puppy. The excitement of a new furry friend can overshadow the preparation it takes to have a smooth transition. Take these steps now to ensure that you are ready to bring a puppy home and keep them there fur-ever.
Chow
You will need to have food available from the moment your puppy comes home. Consider asking the breeder or organization you are getting your puppy from what food they are already using. It is a good idea to keep them on the same diet if they aren’t having any issues with it. Eventually, you can transition them to a new food as they get older. Also, don’t forget about treats. Training your puppy and keeping them happy will require lots of treats.
Snooze
Your puppy will need somewhere to sleep. It is a good idea to set up this spot in advance. Puppies usually like to start out in confined spaces like a crate or in a dog gate area blocked off. They prefer to have a safe space that is familiar and their own. You can make it cozy with a dog bed, but also make sure to line it with pads for potty training. You can learn more about crate training here.
Potty Train
Most puppies will not be potty trained at the time you bring them home. This can be a ruff process, but with studying up on the best techniques and a lot of patience, your puppy will know how to use the potty outside soon.
Keep Them Close
The more you let your puppy roam, the more likely they are to find something to chew on or rip up. Puppies teethe, so they will be looking for a sock to nibble on. Prevent anything of value from getting ruined by keeping your puppy in a limited space until they learn what is their toy is and isn’t.
Live and Learn
Dogs are a lot like people. They need their own space to relax. If your dog chooses to go on their own to their safe space you prepared for them, let them. If they don’t want to play, let them rest. Sticking to a routine also helps dogs rest. The more you stick to a routine, the more likely your dog will settle in and get adjusted quickly.
Keep Your Cool
Have patience with your puppy. They are figuring a lot of things out and they don’t speak your language. Give them time to adjust and keep your cool so that they can figure it out.
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Have Fun!
Remember to have fun with your puppy and show them a lot of love. It isn’t easy to train a puppy, but it is worth it.
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