It’s the holiday season and it’s a popular time of year for people to add a new, fluffy addition to their family! Here are some tips and advice to help you make sure that your home is ready, safe and secure for your new friend.
A lifetime commitment, not a gift
Before we go any further, it’s important to say that a puppy is not a gift. When you adopt a dog, it’s a lifetime commitment that takes a lot of energy and responsibility, from toilet training and socialization to daily exercise, love and care. If you do decide to get a puppy this festive season, make sure you’re properly prepared to give around 15 years of love and care to this little life.
Step one: Prepare everyone for their responsibilities
If you have kids and have been thinking about adopting a puppy for a while, take time to have a family meeting about everyone’s roles and responsibilities, and the rules about having a puppy. The puppy itself can still be a surprise, but everyone should be ready to take on their responsibilities from the first day. This means deciding how chores like feeding, walks and cleaning up will work, whether you settle on roles for each member of the family or a rotating chore wheel. Your new puppy will need love and acceptance from everyone in the house, so now’s the time to make sure everyone’s onboard and ready to act as a team.
Step two: Buying the puppy’s belongings
Your puppy will need:
- A travel crate or carrier: This needs to be appropriate for the size of your dog and should be seat-belted in to the car. This makes traveling with your puppy easy and safe.
- Collar, harness/leash: Look for walk equipment that is appropriate for your puppy and adjustable as he grows up. Also, have ID tags ready and waiting with your puppy’s name and your contact number. As soon as you get your puppy, organize to have him or her microchipped with your details so that you can be reunited quickly and easily if they get lost.
- Food and water bowls
- Food and treats: Start with a quality brand of puppy food or with the food your puppy is already on. You can slowly wean him or her onto the food of your choice over a couple of weeks. Puppies need very specific nutrition, so get advice from your vet and follow the feeding instructions closely. It’s a good idea to stock up on plenty of tasty treats too – these will be invaluable for training your puppy, teaching him or her to respond to you (and their name), and bonding!
- A bed: Choose a bed that is warm, snuggly and – importantly – easily washable. It’s a good idea to put a blanket or item that has the scent of your puppy’s mom and siblings into the bed for comfort, if possible.
- Toys: Puppies love to play and chew, so they need plenty of safe, hygienic toys that they can focus their attention on. If your puppy runs off with your slippers, you can use a fun squeaky toy or tug-of-war rope to redirect their attention and hopefully save your slipper!
- Toilet training materials: Puppies can take a while to become toilet trained, so get ready for some mess. Have plenty of toilet training pads and newspaper on hand and direct your puppy there every few hours for a wee (reward with a treat when he or she gets it right!). If any messes are made, clean immediately with a cloth and cleaning spray that is designed for pet messes. These have the right chemicals to remove the scent properly, preventing your puppy from going back to that spot in future. Also, it’s a good idea to keep a slightly dirty toilet training pad on the floor rather than cleaning it immediately, as this will reinforce to your puppy that it’s the right spot to go.
- Secure your yard: Your yard should be safe and secure so that your puppy can’t get injured or lost – and this includes putting on a pool net! Make sure you keep an eye on him or her when outside while they’re getting used to their new space. Check out some parks, puppy schools and socialization groups in your area so that you can start training and exercising your puppy in a safe, fun environment as soon as possible.
Step three: A calm and loving atmosphere
Although the day your puppy arrives is one of incredible excitement and happiness, remember that your puppy is having a very different experience. It’s the first time he or she’s left the only home and family they’ve ever known, and they’re often overwhelmed by all the new and unfamiliar smells, sights and sounds. It’s a bit like your first day at school… except your puppy is only a few months old!
Keep this in mind when you bring your puppy home. Make sure everyone knows that they need to be gentle, calm and loving to help him or her stress-free on this new adventure. Hold the new puppy gently, give them plenty of opportunities to go to the toilet, keep loud noises and music to a minimum, let him or her sleep quietly when they need to, and keep your puppy safe and secure indoors until he or she becomes familiar with their new surroundings. Make sure he or she has time and space to eat quietly and keep your puppy close to you at night with a few plush toys to keep him or her company.
Step four: Get ready to change your life
A puppy will change your life, so get ready! They’ll get into things, eat everything and chew everything else, so don’t leave grocery bags, purses, shoes or containers on the floor. Keep their food in a secure container and use baby gates to keep them out of rooms that may be dangerous to them (for example, the garage) or rooms you don’t want them to go into (for example, carpeted bedrooms while they’re still toilet training).
Above all else, get ready for a life of adventure, loyalty and companionship with your new addition – we hope you love every minute of it!