Expert Advice
Tips for bringing a puppy home
bringing a puppy home is a very beautiful and wonderful experience.
However, many families forget to take into account how difficult it can be, especially in the first days after they arrive home.
Receiving a puppy at home is a great joy for the whole family, but it is important that the puppy feels good, comfortable and that all its basic needs can be met.
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What should be bought before bringing a puppy home?
- Dog houses:
Although it is a puppy, it is important that it has its own space inside the house.
Therefore, it will be important to have a dog house, where the dog can feel safe and sleep peacefully. Finding dog houses at a good price is not difficult, but it is very necessary.
Why a house? Because the puppy will feel more protected and secure than on a blanket. A house, for a puppy, is a perfect den. Check out https://murshidalam.com/tips-for-choosing-a-suitable-bed-for-your-dog/
- Feeder and drinker:
A puppy also needs its own space to eat and drink.
It is recommended to purchase the trough and trough made of a resistant material, as well as stainless steel.
In addition, it will be very easy to clean them to maintain proper hygiene after each meal.
Another recommendation is that they be ceramic with a heavy base to prevent them from turning it over.
Puppies are very playful, and if you don’t buy them from a sturdy material, they will become your toys.
- Your own toys and something to chew on:
A puppy enjoys playing, running, and chewing very much, so they need to have their own toys for fun.
In this way, you avoid taking objects such as socks or shoes for this purpose.
Puppies, while their teeth are coming out, will want to chew everything.
The adopter must ensure that the puppy not only has his toys, but something to chew on.
It is important that they are not toxic, that they are not so hard or small and that they can be used for a long time.
- Products for the general hygiene of the puppy:
Puppies should be bathed from three months of age, but regardless of the puppy’s age, having all the products that will be needed for hygiene is important.
It is necessary to have: comb or brush according to your skin and coat type, nail clippers, nail scissors and, of course, a dog shampoo.
- Puppy food:
When a puppy comes to his new home, everything is new for him, it is a total change.
Something important that should be taken into account is that, at first, the dog eats in the same feeder that he has been eating before his arrival home, so he will feel more comfortable and calm.
Also give him the same food.
As the days go by, the changes of the new feeder and the new food can be made.
The puppy may put up a bit of resistance at first, especially to the new food.
For this, a recommendation is to go little by little mixing the usual food with the new one, until leaving only the new one.
Note : Puppies, from eight weeks of age, can start to eat solid food but, little by little, so as not to affect their digestive system.
- Collar and leash:
In order to go for a walk with the puppy, it is necessary to have its collar and leash, but you already know that you must be very careful if it does not have all the vaccines.
Having the collar and leash, even if it has not yet been vaccinated, will gradually get the dog used to its use.
It is a perfect time to familiarize your dog with wearing a collar and walking on a leash, practicing indoors and outdoors, while socializing with other healthy puppies or dogs.
Many doubts of adopters is knowing which necklace to buy. Adjustable or soft nylon collars are recommended, because they grow with the puppy, are comfortable and safe.
The collar should not be too tight. If the collar is put on at the time of the walk, it will be easy to see if it needs to be adjusted better or not, but if the dog is wearing it at all times, it is necessary to check it frequently. Puppies grow super fast.
Note : Even if the puppy does not have his vaccinations yet, it is recommended to go out with him in your arms from time to time, so that he gets used to different smells, noises, people and other animals.
- Your own bed:
The puppy will also need a bed. It must be a comfortable bed and according to the size of the dog.
The best? A padded home / den where you feel safe and secure.
If it is a large breed dog, the adopter may be tempted to purchase a large bed to keep for many years, but the puppy may feel unprotected.
A puppy needs a warm and cozy space, where he feels safe.
The puppy has come home, what to do?
Once you have everything you need, it is time to welcome the puppy into the house, but what to do at that time?
- Let it sniff
When the dog arrives at the new house, the most normal thing is that it arrives sniffing everything that surrounds it.
The adopter should allow him to sniff as much as he wants, but under supervision.
You could get into a small place or get close to something that could hurt you and that is why it is important to be aware and not leave you alone in your exploration.
- Socializing with other dogs and people
When the dog has all his vaccinations, it will be time to go outside without having to see who he socializes with.
If there is another dog at home, it is important that they get to know each other from the first moment the new one arrives, always under supervision and little by little, without forcing the approach.
- Give you your own space
When the puppy arrives, he should already have his own bed, but also the place where the bed will be and also the place to eat.
In the same way, it is advisable to have their toys in that same space, so that the puppy associates it with something pleasant and also fun.
The puppy, most likely, is that he has been with his mother until the moment of reaching the arms of his adopter, so, even if he has his own happy, happy and calm space, it can be difficult for him to adapt.
For this reason, the adopter must have patience and a lot of love.
The puppy must be comfortable and that is achieved by being a little next to him at bedtime, while he gets used to it.
Also have a comfortable and warm blanket.
Note : It is important not to overload him with caresses that, instead of helping him adjust, could make him feel overwhelmed.
The puppy will come closer whenever he wants.
- Space for your needs
As we have mentioned, the puppy cannot go out without its vaccines, so it will need to have a space to be able to relieve itself. Undoubtedly, that space must be cleaned every day.
However, it is not enough to have the place, but to teach him to use it.
To help you in learning, it is recommended that when you relieve yourself, with a newspaper, transfer what you do to the site that was implemented for that purpose.
So the dog can sniff and associate.
It is necessary to clean the place very well so that the dog does not do it there again. If its smell is not removed well, it will return.
- Care and attention
Being a puppy, he may feel scared or lonely, if so, the adopter should be there to give him attention.
In this way, little by little the affective bond between the two is created.
After he adapts, the adopter can teach him the rules of coexistence, but at first, they need attention and avoid bad times or experiences; for a quick and happy adaptation.
Basic and important care with a puppy at home
Puppies do not know the dangers, while it adapts to its new home, learns, and grows a little more, the adopter should not leave it alone and take good care of it.
- Avoid leaving cables within reach.
- Move glass objects away where the puppy is used to playing or jumping.
- Do not leave dangerous objects such as needles or scissors in a place that the dog can reach.
- Place household cleaning products in a high and remote place.
- Keep small objects away.
- If there are stairs in your new home, take the precaution of placing a protection while the dog grows and learns to go up and down safely.
Other important cares are:
- Visit to the vet:
The visit with the doctor, not only to take care of your health in general, but to schedule your vaccination.
It is also important to manage the treatment for internal and external parasites, when the veterinarian indicates it.
- Place the chip:
All dogs must carry a chip with all their identification.
This is done with the vet, after the rabies vaccination.
Chip placement is super fast and the dog does not feel any pain.
It is certainly important, in case the dog gets lost. The chip is placed from two months of age.