Make sure you are getting the right breed of puppy for your lifestyle. It is important to consider any other animals that you have, and how you would go about introducing your new family member. Once you have decided on the puppy you are going to bring home, you need to prepare yourself for your new arrival.
Insurance
Pets can be expensive, so it is important to make sure that you insure your puppy before they arrive at home. It is often easy to forget to do this, especially if this is going to be your first puppy.
Puppy-proofing your house
Puppies are full of energy and have a very inquisitive nature. They explore the world with their noses and mouths and have a habit of getting into areas that they shouldn’t be. Or they could damage your belongings when they are just trying to learn and have fun.
In order to avoid as much damage as you can and keep your puppy safe, you might want to install baby gates throughout the house. This will help to keep them out of certain areas, and allow you to store food and expensive belongings where they can’t be found. Generally you want to make sure that your puppy wouldn’t be able to get at anything that you don’t want them to.
Registering at a vet practice
As soon as you get your puppy, you need to register them at a vet. They will need their vaccinations, worming and flea treatment for when they are allowed to go outside, so it is best to visit as soon as possible.
The vets can be a stressful place for animals. If you make their first experiences as positive as possible by bringing treats and asking your vet to play with your puppy, you can set them up to have calmer visits in the future.
Your vet may also be able to recommend puppy socialisation classes to take your new arrival to.
Possessions
Buying collars, beds, toys and essentials for your new puppy can make the process even more exciting. Make sure that you have toys that the things you buy for your puppy are of a suitable size for them – you don’t want to buy a toy too small so that they choke on it, or too big so that they can’t enjoy it.
It may also be a good idea to buy them a suitably sized crate – you may wish to have a crate in your car, or make it their bed, so getting them used to it and enjoying it as their space is easier from a young age.
Food
Puppies have increased nutritional requirements compared to adult dogs due to the amount of growing they need to do in such a short space of time. Choosing which diet is best for your dog is one of the most important things to consider as it will set them up for the rest of their lives.
See our feeding guides for more information.
