Bringing home a new puppy

Owning a puppy is a rewarding and fun addition to your family, and is also a big commitment. Starting off on the right track can mean the difference between a well-mannered family member or an out-of-control dog.

The good news is that you are on the right path, and together I will show you how to set your puppy up for success to become the great pet you always imagined.

Your puppy has spent the first 8 weeks with her litter-mates learning very important socialization skills and when you bring her home she suddenly finds herself in a completely new and unfamiliar environment. She may be a little anxious at first and she may also want to explore. She does not know at this point what is acceptable or not in terms of behavior. This is our job - to show her through puppy management, training, exercise and affection. Doing this correctly will produce a dog that is both confident and obedient, no matter what the situation.

Below is a list of items that you will need before bringing your puppy home. Besides these items, take a walk around your home and make sure it is “puppy proof”. We don’t want her escaping out doors or holes in fences. We don’t want her chewing on loose wires, sharp objects or other items that could potentially injure her.

Crate.

You will need a crate for you new puppy. The crate should be big enough for her to stand and turn around in, but not too big that she can walk up and down. If there is too much space in the crate, your puppy may use one end of it to mess in, which we don’t want. In general, dogs will never mess where they sleep, so keeping it small in the beginning will help with accidents and crate training.

Look for a crate that comes with a divider. This allows you to section off the crate and as the puppy grows, you can make it bigger. A crate with 2 doors (one on the side and one on the front) is an added bonus. Depending on where you place the crate it may be easier to access from one side vs. the other. The wire on the crate should be good quality so that it does not rust over time or bend if the dog starts biting on it. The crate should also have a removable bottom “pan”. Most of them do.

Here is an example: Dog Crate

Bedding.

You will need a dog bed to place in the crate. Given that you are going to section off the crate, the bed should be small enough to fit in the required section. It is also okay to use a folded blanket as a bed in the crate. You should also get a bed for outside the crate. Don’t overspend on these items as your dog may land up chewing on the beds

Toys.

With regards to toys, we want to choose wisely here. Don’t get any toys that have buttons on them (bears with studs for eyes). Don’t get any toy that is so small that the dog will swallow it. Stuffed animals and squeaky toys tend to get ripped up rather quickly.

Recommended.

Food.

When it comes to food, there are literally hundreds of brands to choose from, ranging from cheap to over-the-top expensive. The cheaper brands generally consist of lots of fillers and grains that we don’t really want for our dogs. When looking at the ingredients of a dog food, a general rule is to check the first 3-4 ingredients. Make sure that they are real food (chicken/meat/fish, potato, etc.).

Make sure you select a food that is right for your dog's age. (puppy/adult/senior). Generally, grocery stores tend to carry the lower quality foods. You want to feed them “dry” food (Kibble).

An important thing to remember is that when switching from one brand to another, you must phase in the new food slowly to avoid an upset stomach.

Ask your breeder what food they have been using. Ask them if they can give you some food to take home for a couple of days if you intend to change the brand. Some brands that are recommended are: Blue Buffalo, Taste of the Wild, Natural Balance and Evo.

Buy a small bag of food even though the larger ones work out less expensive. Some dogs can be picky eaters and if your dog does not like the food you just bought, at least you didn’t waste money on the large bag.

Collars.

You will need a dog collar and tags. For now, get a regular buckle collar and dog tag. Also get a cheap puppy leash (6ft). As your puppy grows, you will need larger collars. You will need these items when taking your puppy out for bathroom breaks.

Cleanup items.

When your dog messes in the house (it will happen), it needs to be cleaned up properly. Wiping with soap and water is not good enough, because the dog can still smell it. Products with bleach or ammonia in them are not good as your dogs urine smells the same and the dog may think that’s where it needs to go next time.

Use a product like Nature's Miracle. It has enzymes in it that completely remove the odor and stains. White distilled vinegar is also good for cleaning up.

Well, that’s a start for now. I hope you find this helpful and if you have questions, please feel free to contact me.