PREPARING FOR PUPPY

A New Puppy

Bringing home a new puppy is one of the most precious joys of life. Thoughtful preparations before you bring the puppy home will give you and your bundle of love a perfect homecoming.

Before the Big Day

Even though a puppy is usually much more fun than work, there are a few things to research, and roles of responsibility to establish to ensure that all runs smoothly.

Below are a few helpful ideas.

• Research to find a local vet and establish a puppy care plan.

• Research and schedule a reputable trainer.

• Determine who will take the puppy to potty, and where.

• Determine who will oversee feeding the puppy two to three times a day.

Also, take time to create a vocabulary list that everyone will use, preferably from the instruction of your trainer. If Mom says "down" when the puppy climbs on the couch and Dad says "down" when he wants the puppy to lie down, this will be extremely confusing to the dog! Putting the schedule and vocabulary list in writing and placing it where everyone can easily see will prevent unnecessary confusion. This will help nannies, dog walkers or others involved in raising and caring for the puppy.

We strongly recommend that you puppy-proof the area where the puppy will spend most of their time in the first few months.

Ideas:

• Taping loose electrical cords to baseboards

• Storing household chemicals on high shelves

• Removing plants, rugs, and breakables

Once you think you've entirely puppy-proofed your home, lie on the floor and look around once more to get a puppy's-eye view. Did you miss anything?

At Almond Blossom Doodles we like to use plastic or wire exercise pens while keeping the crate, food, water and toys in one area.

Please try not to overwhelm the puppy the first day that they arrive at their new home. This will be a stressful transition time for the puppy and it would be best to take it slowly at first. However, we do recommend that the puppy meet many new faces and his new furry friends (that have been vaccinated). This is an essential element of socializing your puppy.