For those of us who have experienced owning a dog before, we understand that little comes close to the unconditional love that our family pets can give us and the enjoyment that they add to our lives.
Dogs get us out and active every day, giving us a sense of purpose and countless days of fun. If you have decided that it’s time for your family to add a dog into the mix then you might well have already started looking around at the various breeds and puppies available. Adding a puppy to your family is a big step and a huge commitment for everyone in your household.
You shouldn’t underestimate the effort and work that can be involved. It can be compared to bringing home a newborn baby, but with no nappy and added teeth. With the right steps in place, it can all go smoothly and you will have a lovely, confident dog as they grow up within the family.
Have a look at this guide to help you through the early days with your new puppy:
Research Breeds Before You Decide
Whether you’re considering a bouncy chocolate lab or an adorable beagle, you need to make sure you take your time and research the breed that you’re thinking about. While the training that you put in, leads to the dog that you want them to be dogs tend to inherit traits from their breed, it’s from hundreds of years of breeding and is completely natural. You will find that Jack Russells have a burrowing urge and Border Collies have a strong herding instinct, you need to become familiar with this traits so you can decide if it’s something you can contend with and provide the right atmosphere for them.
Some breeds require more exercise and some are known to be better with kids. You also have specific health concerns that are related to different breeds. Do some research and if you have any questions speak to the breeder. You want to make sure you’re making the right choice. Once you’re happy you can start your search for a breeder.
Prepare For The Arrival
There is plenty that you can do to prepare for the arrival of your puppy. You need to think about safety as a priority. Think about puppy proofing both your garden and your home. You should ideally be keeping your puppy in a small enclosed area when they first come home. It makes it safe for them and it gives them space where they can relax and become used to the smells in their new home.
Puppies will chew anything and everything so it’s best to remove anything that you don’t want them to, to be proactive think about placing their area near to the back yard, so they are familiar with the place you want them to use the toilet. Always try to make it in a wipeable area, as you are most definitely going to have accidents.
You will need to get items that include:
- A bed
- A crate
- Food and Water bowls, you should always give them to the same food as the breeder, to begin with.
- Collar and Tag
- A leash
- Toys, particularly chew toys
It could be a good idea to read a few puppy guidebooks so you can gather an idea of what to expect further. It will also help you to teach the family how to train your new friend. It’s advisable to arrange a trip to the vets in your first week and also think about insuring them.
Your Trip Home
It’s going to be a very exciting day, the day you bring them home, however, you should bear in mind that it’s likely to be a very scary one for your new puppy. Try to keep this in mind and work to create a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. If you have children make sure you explain the importance of this to them as they may be rather excited themselves. It might be a good idea to have them go to friends or a relatives house while you make the journey just to ensure it’s as relaxing as possible. Some items to take with you include:
- Blankets or towels
- Bags and wipes
- A Toy
- Maybe their new bed
- A Crate for the trip
The First Day
The first thing you need to do when you get home with your puppy is taking them to their designated toilet area. This is the best way to show them where they should be going, it’s likely that they will need the toilet after the car journey. That’s if they didn’t go when sitting on your lap. You can then introduce them to their own space in the house and then slowly introduce family members.
Some puppies jump right in and explore their surrounding but others are quiet and take their time to become familiar first. You need to recognize how your puppy is reacting if they’re finding too much move them back to their quiet area for some alone time. Puppies are similar to young children and need a lot of rest so make sure you allow time for this. When it comes to night time, your puppy is most likely going to settle faster if they’re near to you. He’s going to be in an unfamiliar place, away from his mother and littermates so he is going to be upset if he is left alone for the night.
If you don’t want him to sleep near you in the future you can move him further and further away in the next few days and weeks. However, having him nearby will help to form the bond that you need to integrate him into the family successfully. He will likely follow you around and want to be near you for quite some time.
This is just a short guide for helping introduce your new puppy to your home safely and smoothly. What other advice that you could share in the comments below?
