Preparing for a Puppy: Everything You Need

Getting a new puppy is exciting, a new being in the house, lots of fun, laughter, and happiness. With a new puppy comes lots of preparation. Here is a quick guide on how to puppy-proof your home and to make it a puppy safe environment.

The essentials

When bringing home a new puppy, there are a few things to consider. Where is your new bundle of fluff going to sleep, eat, and spend most of his time? Puppies are known for chewing furniture and expensive shoes; if your dog is not stimulated enough, your furniture might become a chew toy. You must puppy-proof your home as you would baby-proof it.

There are a few essential items that you should invest in when bringing a puppy home.

• At least two food and water bowls – Consider weighted bowls that cannot be pushed around by an eager and hungry pup. Some pups love tipping their water bowls over.
• A quality bed – even if you allow your pup to sleep in your bed, it is a great idea to have one of their own.
• Collars, leads, and harnesses – Possibly one of the essential items to get is an identification tag and a collar for your new furbaby. A collar should be choke resistant with a clip that can break free if snagged. When shopping for a lead, try investing in one with a bolt clip that cannot break free of the harness or collar. Harnesses are an excellent choice for walking your pup without risking harm or hurting them. The lead attaches to the harness instead of the collar, making it dog friendly and a lot easier to walk your pup.
• Grooming equipment – Whether your pup has long or short hair, they need a good brush and a grooming session at least once a week. Start training your dogs when they are puppies to get them used to it. If your breed has medium or long hair, then they will need a detangling session once a day to prevent matting and dreading. A quality pair of nail clippers is also highly recommended. White dogs might also require sunblock for their ears and areas around the eyes.
• Ramps – If you are like most dog lovers and allow your puppies to sleep on the furniture or climb onto the couch, consider a ramp, especially for the long breeds such as dachshunds that are prone to back injuries. Dogs that are known to have hip problems, such as St. Bernards and Staffies, are known to struggle with climbing stairs. A ramp from an early stage will help with training your new puppy to climb onto furniture safely and without risk of injury. (You can find ramps at https://chasingtails.store)
• Poop bags – Arguably not the most glamorous part of having a dog; however, poop needs to be picked up and disposed of properly. A quality poop bag shouldn’t break open easily. If you are concerned about the environment, it is easy to find plenty of eco-friendly and bio-degradable poop bags on the market.
• Food storage  – Storing your puppy food in an airtight container is an excellent way to make sure that your puppy cannot get into the food when unsupervised, as well as keep it fresh.

Sleeping arrangements

All dog lovers remember the first time they bring their puppy home and exclaim, “This pup won’t sleep in my bed!” until they realize that there is nothing better than sharing a bed with a puppy. Every family has had arguments over whose bed the new puppy sleeps in.
Whether or not your pup shares your space, your new dog should have a quality and washable dog bed of their own. Every puppy needs a bed to nap in, a safe area of their own to escape to when feeling tired. Some puppies might benefit from a crate with their beds; this will also help with potty training your pup.

Toys galore

Puppies LOVE to have fun and play. Young dogs and puppies tend to have short bursts of energy and require lots of playtime. Keeping your puppy happy and healthy requires dedicated family members and a fair few chew toys. Your puppy should have a safe puppy-proofed place to play. Many dog owners use baby gates and playpens to contain their pups in one area while allowing them to play with toys. Puppies that do not have enough stimulation and toys can become destructive and start chewing up furniture. All dogs need to have fun and learn how to do this in the best way possible.

Pooch potty practice

House training a dog is a lot simpler if you start from a young age. Dedicated places to go potty with the help of puppy pee pads are a great idea. You should take your dog outside after feeding and drinking—first thing in the morning and just before bedtime as well.
Talking to your dog when they do their business helps to enforce good behavior. Dogs learn pretty fast where they should and shouldn’t do their business. Your pup will soon learn how to communicate their potty needs with a little time and effort in their training.

Puppy love

From puppy kisses to playful snuggles, a puppy is the best investment for any family. They teach you to love and care for an animal while keeping you young at heart. With a few puppy hacks and tricks, your home will be a doggy haven!