Welcoming Home Your Puppy – Top Tips to Prepare Your Home.

The day you pick up your puppy is, paws down, the best day ever! Endless cuddles? You got it. Silly shenanigans? Absolutely. A fluffy and loving companion? That’s the best part. Who wouldn’t be excited to bring a puppy home? Well… as exciting as it is for both of you, it can also be very overwhelming for your new puppy. Your pup has been living comfortably with their mom and siblings for the past few weeks. Naturally, there will be an adjustment period after saying goodbye to all they’ve known. That’s why proper preparation for their arrival is a great way to help them feel more comfortable in their new space. Here, we have all the best tips to prepare your home before you pick up your new puppy. 

Puppy-Proof Your Home
Bringing home a new puppy is a big adjustment. The first thing many new owners overlook is puppy-proofing, but it’s important to clear your floors from anything you don’t want your puppy to get into. The best way to start is to get on the floor at your puppy’s eye level. Do you see anything that could be a potential danger to your puppy or cause a big mess? This could be anything from cords to houseplants. If you don’t want anything chewed on – get it to a higher and out-of-reach location. Here’s a list of other things to check around your house:

• Unplug electrical cords and move them out of reach. These chewing hazards can cause burns to the mouth or electrical shock.

• Keep cleaning supplies in high cabinets or secured behind doors with childproof latches. When using them, ensure the puppy is kept out of the area so they won’t be affected by the chemicals.

• Put all medications away.> Avoid keeping medications, even pill bottles, on low tables, counters, or night tables where the puppy can easily reach them.

• Keep the toilet lid closed. No one wants their dog drinking from the toilet, right?

• Put away small items. This includes coins, paper clips, rubber bands, and jewelry – to prevent the puppy from choking on them.

• Secure trashcans.> Puppies are attracted to lots of smells that they may find in the garbage, which can upset their stomachs or be poisonous.

• Keep sharp objects out of reach. This includes knives, scissors, razors, and tools.

• Move poisonous houseplants away from your puppy’s space. These plants include Oleander, Peace Lily, Sago Palm, ZZ Plants, Snake Plants, Lilies, Areca Palm, and Weeping Fig.

Gather Essential Supplies
Puppies need a lot of supplies. They’re growing physically and mentally, meaning you will work together to establish proper routines, behaviors, and cuddles. You can expect to go through many supplies like blankets, toys, and even beds. We recommend stocking up on cheaper items in the beginning, and after your puppy has made significant progress in their training, you can invest in nicer products. 

Check out our blog post here for an itemized list of all our must-have product recommendations.

Create a Safe Space
Sleep, eat, potty, play! These are the essential pillars for a well-rounded puppy. Before bringing your puppy home, ensuring you have a designated space for each activity is a good idea. Creating this structure will help your puppy acclimate to their new home and routine faster, especially when their needs are met within a new space. Here’s how to create an ideal space for each of the puppy pillars:

Sleep

• Select an area that’s going to be quiet and peaceful. 

• Puppies prefer smaller spaces to sleep in, so get a crate that will help them feel more comfortable. 

• Provide them with a soft/comfortable bed and blanket that smells like you.

Eat

• Keep their food bowl in a safe place that they have easy access to.

• Ensure their food bowl stays in the same spot to create consistency and positively reinforce their routine.

Potty

• Choose an area that’s easy for your dog to access. You’ll want a place that’s close to the door. Or get a set of bells to hang on the doorknob that will allow your puppy to let you know when it’s time to go.

• This area should be peaceful and distraction-free.

• If you choose an area inside, make sure the surface is easy to clean and won’t trap scents.

Play

• Set up a playpen in an area that’s easy to clean and free of items you don’t want the puppy to chew on.

• Provide your puppy with toys that will keep them engaged and stimulated.

• Keep a blanket in the playpen for the times they want to rest.

Plan for the First Few Days
A new home is a lot to take in for a puppy, and your first day can set the tone for your time together. This is what all these preparations are leading up to. Now that you’ve puppy-proofed your home and set up your puppy’s space with everything they need, it’s time for the big day. Enjoy your time introducing your puppy to their new home and family. Make sure to take it slow and allow your puppy to take it all in on their own time. A great way to do this is by setting the ground rules early. Though a new structure will be a bit of an adjustment for your pup, they will thrive when you follow these steps:

Establish your routine

Most puppies are eager to learn and thrive under consistent routines. This helps them understand where their space is, when to eat, and (most importantly) when/where the appropriate place to do their business is. Establish rules early to set a consistent structure to help them thrive in their training. There are four critical factors to structuring a balanced routine for your pup, including:

• Mealtimes: Young puppies eat about three times a day. Put your puppy on a regular feeding schedule and stick to it. What goes in on a regular schedule will come out on a regular schedule (making potty training much easier for you).

• Potty time: Every time your puppy eats, drinks, wakes up, plays, or even sniffs around the room, give them a potty break. Take them to their designated potty area and reward them immediately when they “go.”

• Playtime: Playing with your puppy provides them with two essential things they need – exercise and interaction with you. Playing with toys, engaging in mental stimulation with puzzles, and running in the yard are great ways to achieve both.

• Sleepy time: Say it with us – a sleepy puppy is a happy puppy. It’s estimated that puppies will sleep 16-18 hours a day. Plan on many, many naps. Create an area in a quiet part of your house for sleep and set a bedtime for your puppy to help them get used to their space and routine.

Schedule appointments
Try to get into your vet within the first week of bringing them home. You’ll want to discuss:

• Vaccinations

• Deworming

• Diet

• Overall health

• Other monthly preventives

Prepare Family Members
Bringing home a puppy is a big responsibility, but it can be a great way to bring the family together. Everyone can pitch in with the care and reap the rewards of building a bond with a puppy that will love them unconditionally. 

Learn about your puppy.

So many kinds of breeds make each dog different from the next. Read up on your puppy’s breed to learn about their temperament, health conditions, behaviors, and personalities. Doing your research can help you anticipate what your relationship with your new pup will look like.

Set expectations.

Depending on your children’s age, you can lay out simple tasks for them to help with. Maybe they can help pick up their toys and feed the puppy dinner every night. As they get older, you can increase their responsibilities. All in all, it’s important to establish who is responsible for the different aspects of care. Together, you can all contribute to caring for a happy and well-rounded puppy. 

Puppy-proof your kiddos.

Puppies are little balls of energy that can often frighten young children. Puppies tend to jump and nip, which is an entirely normal behavior, but teaching your children how to respond to these behaviors is important.  It’s also important to teach your kids the best ways to play with the puppy and how to gently handle them. Show them how to pet your new puppy along their back. Teach them how to tickle behind their ears but never pull on them. After teaching your kids these important practices, they’re sure to start making memories in no time.

Are you ready to bring home a puppy of your own? Check out our available litters here!