How to Prepare Your Home for a New Puppy

So, you have made the decision to bring home a puppy! Congratulations on your new furry bundle of joy! But, wait! Many people make the mistake of bringing the puppy home first and then trying to prepare. Don’t make that mistake. Before you bring home your puppy, you need to prepare your home for a new puppy. The right preparations will make this happy event all the more enjoyable for you and your family. Read on to learn about how you can prepare your home for a new puppy.

Necessary On-Hand Supplies:

Bed: Choose something cuddly, soft and most importantly washable! Keep in mind that puppies chew and your puppy might chew up the bed so don’t break the bank!
Crate: Choose a crate that is sturdy and has a secure locking mechanism. Puppies are sneaky little escape artists and they can sometimes manage to unlock the crate on their own. Also, select a crate that has plenty of ventilation and make sure it is large enough for your puppy to stand up and turn around inside.
Food: Find out what kind of diet your puppy is currently on and buy that same food. You don’t want to switch your puppy’s diet cold turkey because that will cause his tummy to be upset and you definitely don’t want that.
Dishes: Select a food and water bowl that is sturdy and not easily tipped over! A good one to choose has a rubber base and that will also prevent sliding. Don’t choose glass or anything that is breakable.
Puppy Gate: You will definitely want to purchase a puppy gate to keep your puppy out of areas that may be unsafe for him or just areas where you don’t want accidents to happen or areas where you don’t plan on the puppy to ever have access too. Many people choose their kitchen or other tiled room because accidents WILL happen. Choose a gate that you can see through. A puppy pen is another option for when you want the puppy to be contained but still want him to be able to romp around.
Toys: Pick up a few toys but don’t go crazy. Nylabones and Kongs are great because they’re pretty durable and most puppies like them. Once you get your puppy home, he’ll soon develop some of his own interests in toys and it won’t take long to figure out either.
Collars/leashes: Think about what type of collar or harness and leash you might want to use. Again, don’t break the bank because your puppy will grow fast!
Wee wee pads/Newspaper: Even if you plan on crate training, you’ll want wee wee pads or newspaper to put in Mr. Puppy’s create and playpen, if you plan on using one. Accidents will happen so if you have paper lined in your puppy’s crate and/or play area, it will make cleanup a little easier. Also, you might want to make a decision BEFORE puppy comes home as to whether or not you plan on crate training.
Grooming tools: You will definitely want your puppy to get used to being combed and brushed right away so pick up a brush, comb and puppy shampoo. You may need breed specific tools (the groomer you interview before hand will be an excellent resource).

Necessary Service Providers: Second of all, think about the service providers that you will need as Mr. Puppy grows up!

Veterinarian – Ask about new puppy shots and common puppy ailments
Trainer – Discuss your ideas on training and corrective actions
Groomer – Find out exactly what happens during a grooming session
Pet Sitter / Dog Walker – Ask the pet sitter how they can help you with training your new puppy while you are at work…puppies should be walked every couple of hours

Ask friends for recommendations make phone calls and stop in and meet these professionals for a free consultation. Not only will you get a good feel for what their philosophies are and who you connect with but, you will also most likely come away with some puppy training tips and tricks from people who spend their days with pets!

Feeding Schedules and Proper Care: Next, think about feeding schedules and proper care. Who will be responsible for what? ie. Bathing, walking, feeding etc. Discuss this with your family so that everyone has clear expectations as to what’s expected of them.

Puppy Safety: Finally, Do a clean sweep of your home. Remove plants, breakables and other items so that they are not accessible to your puppy. Take care to secure electric wires and other items that puppy might decide to chew on and you can be sure that if it’s in his reach, Mr. Puppy will mostly likely think it’s his! Call us at Trusty Tails, let us tell you how we can help you prepare your home and life for a new puppy! We can help with new puppy visits and will step in and follow your training plan while you are away or at work!