When the pandemic began, adopting a puppy was all the rage. Unfortunately, many of them are now being rehomed for various reasons, and new owners must learn how to help those puppies adopt a new home and environment.
Bringing home a new puppy can be tricky but with the right puppy care, you can find that your puppy will start feeling like a member of the family in no time.
If you’re getting ready to be new puppy parents, here are 5 important tips you need to know.
1. Puppy Training
When it comes to knowing how to care for a puppy, puppy training should be a the top of your list. When your dog is trained well, you will feel more confident and they will be less destructive.
You’ll want to train your puppy on the basics like going to the bathroom outside, using a crate, basic commands like sit, stay, or leave it, and how to take a walk. A trained puppy will give you much peace and make ownership much more enjoyable. You can train your puppy or hire a trainer.
2. Dog Food and Treats
The type of dog food you choose needs to be adequate for your dog’s size and breed. You’ll likely want to start your dog on puppy food if they’re under a year old and switch to an adult brand sometime after their first birthday.
If you’re getting your dog from a breeder, ask the breeder what brand and type of dog food they’d recommend. With all the different brands and types available, it’s best to stick to a few choices and go from them. Training treats are also a necessity if you’re going to be training the dog yourself.
3. New Puppy Goodies
While chew toys are a good choice for puppies, because they may be chewers, you’ll also want other items like food and water dishes, a crate, collar and leash, and an ID tag or microchip in case your puppy gets lost.
4. Find A Vet
Your new puppy will need their first check-up as soon as you bring them home. If you don’t have a vet, do your research to find one that you like and that’s close to home.
A good vet will be knowledgeable, experienced, and have emergency hours available. You’ll also want to make sure you can communicate well with your vet since your dog cannot tell you what’s wrong or what they need.
5. Prepare Your Home
Puppies are notorious for getting into everything, so make sure all your valuables and dangerous chemicals are locked up or out of reach. If you have items that are valuable, consider moving them to higher ground so your puppy doesn’t think it’s fair game for chewing. Monitor your puppy closely so they don’t put anything in their mouths that could be harmful.
You’re Ready For Your New Puppy
Having a new puppy is exciting and should be fun and not completely stressful. By being prepared and planning ahead of time, you can bond with your puppy and enjoy them for many years.
Are you looking for more puppy tips? Visit our blog page today to learn everything about having a healthy puppy!
