Welcoming your new puppy home is an exciting time, both for them and for you. However, it’s important to ensure the transition goes as smoothly as possible. Remember – this is your puppy’s first introduction to a whole new world, so he may feel a little overwhelmed or scared at times.
If you want to ensure your puppy feels at home from the get-go, take a look at these top tips for welcoming your new puppy into your family…
1. Puppy proofing
If there is one thing every puppy owner needs to do before their new puppy arrives, it’s puppy-proof their home! In the same way you would prepare your house for a boisterous, inquisitive toddler, you need to ensure it’s safe for your furry friend.
Puppies are naturally nosey, so be prepared for your puppy to get into anything and everything. It’s essential that you store anything dangerous well out of reach, ideally up high and in a locked cupboard.
Many puppy owners use baby gates to keep their puppy in a safe environment. Installing an exercise pen or baby gate is a temporary way to restrict your puppy’s access to the rest of your home and can be a great way of preventing mishaps.
Don’t forget – there are many human foods that are poisonous to dogs, so you’ll need to ensure you don’t leave snacks where they are accessible to your puppy. This applies to trash cans too – you wouldn’t eat out of the trash, but your puppy isn’t so fussy! Make sure trash cans are fully sealed and can’t be knocked over, or you’ll find your puppy is most at home making a mess.
2. Register your puppy
As you might expect, welcoming a new puppy home involves a little paperwork. When you buy a purebred puppy, you will be eligible to register it with the American Kennel Club. Although you can do this yourself, reputable breeders, like Lucky Labs, will guide you through the process. However, the American Kennel Club isn’t just open to purebred dogs. If your puppy is a mixed breed, you can register them for the American Kennel Club Canine Partners Program.
In addition to registering your puppy, you’ll want to ensure you have a network of support in place. Before your puppy arrives, find a veterinarian you wish to use. Ideally, seek personal recommendations from family and friends but, if not, check out online reviews too.
It’s also a good idea to have contact information for reputable dog walkers, dog sitters, doggy daycares, dog trainers and puppy training classes. By building your puppy’s network before they arrive, you can ensure you’ve got access to any help you might need in the first few weeks of your puppy’s new life.
3. Prepare your family
When your new puppy arrives home, you’ll find that extended family, friends, and neighbors are excited to meet them. In fact, you’ll be surprised at just how many people can’t wait to make a fuss of your furry friend. However, meeting a large number of people at once can be overwhelming for a puppy, particularly within the first few days of arriving at a new home.
While you might be tempted to throw a welcome party, hold off until your puppy is more familiar with their environment. Getting to know their new home and immediate family members is enough to keep them busy for a few days or weeks, so let them acclimatize first.
Of course, you’ll need to ensure that you and your immediate family members are ready to welcome your puppy home too. If you have children, for example, you’ll want to ensure they understand how to interact with the puppy safely and what they can do to keep him safe.
In addition to this, it can be helpful to agree on a training program as a family in advance of your puppy arriving home. Once he arrives, some of you may be tempted to break the rules so having an agreed regime in place can make things easier and clearer for your puppy and your human family.
4. Hit the shops
Your puppy is going to need a few things to help them feel settled in, so you get to do a bit of retail therapy. Puppies need food that gives them the essential nutrients they need to grow, so you’ll want to ensure you’ve got tasty puppy food at the ready. If you want to continue with the same food your breeder uses, ask them for the brand in advance so you can stock up.
A collar and a leash are, of course, essential, and you will want to ensure your dog’s collar has your contact details on it too. Although you won’t be able to let your puppy off lead for quite some time, it’s always good to be prepared.
Many people choose to crate train their puppy, simply because it is an effective and safe way for them to adapt to family life. However, it’s important to ensure that you choose an appropriately sized crate. While crates that are too small could be harmful to your dog, a crate that’s too big can lead to training issues too.
As well as selecting a food bowl, water bowl and other essentials, you’ll get the exciting task of choosing your puppy’s first toys too. Puppy love to chew, so having some safe, puppy-friendly chew toys allows them to exercise their tendencies. What’s more, having chew toys to hand means you can redirect your puppy when they try to chew other things, such as your furniture or your hands!
Enjoying your new puppy
Welcoming a new puppy home is one of the most exciting times for any family. With the right amount of preparation, you can ensure the transition is easy and stress-free. While it might take a little time for your new furry friend to adjust to his new home, these steps will help you to create a fun, friendly and safe environment for them to enjoy.