Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting time for the family, but can be stressful if you are not properly prepared. Some thought must be put into the puppys needs and requirements so that everything you need is on hand before the new addition to the family arrives. Follow our guide to advance preparation for your new puppy, and make the adjustment as smooth and stress free as possible for yourself and your new puppy.
There are many potential hazards for a new puppy around the home. Puppies are like small children; they will investigate everything, and learn through mouthing things as well as through smell. For this reason it is important to thoroughly "puppy-proof" your house before the new puppy arrives, to protect the puppy and your belongings! If you do not intend for your new pet to roam the whole house, then there is no need to apply all safety measures in every single room. These are the main things to do.
It is hard to constantly keep watch over your puppy and what it does. When you are unable to supervise put your puppy in a crate, if you have one. The crate should not be used as a form of punishment, but as a safe haven to protect your pup from dangerous items around the house, and to protect your house from your pup!
When it comes to introducing your puppy to the garden take care to ensure it is escape proof by mending any broken fences and filling any gaps the puppy could possibly squeeze through.
Just as indoors make sure that there are no cables or poisonous plants about. Make sure that any drains and buckets are empty of water and covered. Tidy away anything lose that a puppy may climb on such as timber or blocks as the puppy may fall into these and get injured or trapped.
Be sure that the yard or garden is clean and free from objects that the puppy can either step on or swallow. If you have a lawn be sure that there are no harmful chemicals that have being used before the puppy ventures out there.