A new puppy who would benefit from a checklist.

Before You Bring Your Puppy Home

Bringing home a new puppy is very exciting, but don’t let this excitement get the better of you. Take a look at this new puppy checklist and make sure that you are prepared for your new arrival.

Make Sure Dogs Are Allowed

First and foremost, you need to make sure that dogs are allowed in your home. Ideally, you should do this before you buy your puppy, especially if you are putting a deposit down on an expensive breed. French Bulldog financing, for example, can be costly, because of the high cost of these dogs. You do not want to be stuck paying on a loan you can not use.

If you rent, first check with your landlord or apartment complex and ask if you can have a puppy. There will almost certainly be a deposit required and often you will have to pay pet rent. Also, be sure to ask about breed restrictions. Some dogs, such as Great Danes,although gentle, are on the restricted list.

Own a home? You are not in the clear. Some HOA’s have strict rules about pets. You might be limited to a certain number of animals and there also might be breed restrictions.

Get All Of The Gear

Get All The Supplies

First, make sure that you have an appropriate puppy bed. Your pup will be stressed when they are taken from the only home they have ever known. Have a comfortable an warm bed waiting for them.

Next, you will need a collection of toys. You will want a few chew toys, some active ones and perhaps something to cuddle with. Avoid rawhide toys because they can pose a choking hazard.

Finally, you need food. Consult with your breeder about what type to pick. If possible, it is a good idea to choose the same food that your puppy is already eating. It will make them feel more comfortable and, more importantly, it will keep them from having digestive issues.

Be Prepared To Clean

Let’s face it, puppies are messy. If you are lucky, they will figure out the potty training thing in just a few weeks but it could be much longer.

Be prepared for those little accidents by picking up all of the cleaning supplies that you will need. Make sure that you have paper towels and a good disinfectant pray for hard surfaces. Also, if you have carpet, pick up an enzyme based cleaner.

Cleaning supplies are extremely important when puppy training. Removing the odor reduces your puppies desire to remark the same area.

Designate A Puppy Safe Area

The last thing that you want to do is give your new puppy a free reign of the house. For this nexr box on the new puppy checklist, you need to mark off a puppy safe zone.

Get gates to block doorways and keep your puppy contained in a small area. You can gradually give them room to roam, but start off with a small 200 to 300 square foot area.

Once you have your area marked off, puppy proof it just like you would for a human baby. Specifically pay attention to things that they would chew on such as electrical cords. Also, cover expensive furnishings and flooring. Accidents will happen, guaranteed.

Take Time Off

If you have some vacation days available, now is the time to use them.

The last thing that you would want to do is bring a new puppy home only to have to lock them up 10 to 12 hours a day. If you can take a week off, you would do yourself and your puppy a huge favor.

Sure, a weeks time is not going to be enough to fully train your new puppy, but it can go a long way. By the time the week is up, your puppy will be used to their surroundings and will be less destructive if left alone. They could also be well on their way towards being potty trained.

Set Family Expectations

Who is supposed to do what when the puppy gets home? If possible, sort this stuff out before you get your pet financing even. Make sure everyone is up to doing their part.

If this puppy is for the kids, are they expected to take care of it or are you? Set clear guidelines about who needs to do what in order to avoid any frustration.

Also, if you have small children make sure that they are straight about how they can play with a puppy. The pup will probably not be up for any aggressive play in the beginning, so make sure the kids have limits.

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