So, you are on your way to pick up your new puppy…but wait! Have you prepared your home and family for your new arrival? Taking these first steps before bringing home your new pup can put you both on the path to a great relationship.
Covering the basics
You and your family most likely met to decide the type of dog you wanted and where you were going to look for him. Another meeting is now in order before you bring the pup home.
Some of the discussion items should include:
- Supplies
- Responsibility for potty training
- Meals
- Veterinary appointments
- Puppy-proofing
- Training words
Consistency is important in the proper training of a dog. O
ne of the first items to decide is what words everyone should use when giving commands. If the kids keep saying “sit” and Mom uses “down” while Dad uses “off” when your pup tries to climb up on the furniture, in the end you will have a dog who doesn’t know what to do.
Along these lines, a schedule and assignments of feeding times, potty trips, walks and veterinary appointments for vaccinations, DE worming, check-ups etc should be posted for all to see.
What supplies will you need? Your list should include bowls for meals and water; toys for playing and chewing; brushes, combs, and shampoo for grooming; nests, pads, and a crate for both travel and sleeping; a collar and leash along with an ID tag for walking and training; and of course, a good carpet cleaner and odor eliminator for those little “accidents.”
Planning your shopping before your puppy’s arrival will allow you to shop in stores and on the Internet for the best prices and availability instead of rushing out on the day you bring your bundle of joy home.
An important task is puppy-proofing your home and yard. A good way to do this is to get down on the floor and take in a pup’s eye view of the area. Look for electrical cords, plants, household cleaners and other potentially poisonous items, loose carpet or rugs, fragile items–basically anything that may be tempting to a puppy who, for his first few months, will want to put everything in his mouth at least once. Take a dog’s-eye view once a week to make sure you didn’t miss anything amidst the excitement of bringing a new pup home.
Just before picking up your puppy, hold a meeting with the family to set down a few rules. Don’t inundate your pup when you bring him home. Children shouldn’t clash over him or go overboard showing him off to friends and neighbors. Your family and surroundings are going to be overwhelming as it is. When everyone is on the same page, it is time to pick up Pup