A new puppy, like a new baby, requires a lot of stuff. If your friends haven’t already thrown a puppy shower in advance of your new arrival – and even if they have – you’ll need to be prepared with certain critical items well in advance of the big homecoming day. Sure, you’ve probably got your cute stuff picked out – your adorable collars and harnesses, stylish leashes, and designer puppy carriers – but have you given much thought to the more practical items? To guarantee a long and happy relationship with your new dog, now’s the time to do exactly that.
The first step is products to help you puppy-proof your home. Puppy-proofing works two ways: it involves making a home safe for your new pet and protecting valued belongings from pet damage. First, survey your home to make sure it is safe for a puppy. Try this simple exercise: get down on all fours and crawl around your place, looking for areas that could pose problems for an inquisitive pup.
Once you’re down at puppy eye level, you’ll soon see the hazards: that coffee table with the wrought-iron base might have ornamental curlicues ending in perilously sharp points; a glass-topped table can have equally sharp corners. One plastic bag left lying around can get tangled around a tiny dog’s neck, with disastrous consequences. Stray electrical wires can kill if left where puppy can gnaw at them. Insecticide trays, like everything else left lying around unsupervised – could be mistaken for chew toys; banish them.
You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how the simple exercise of seeing things from puppy’s POV will prepare you not only for the immediate daily challenges of living with a new dog, but for the ongoing work of training her and responding to her needs as she grows. All this begins with this important process of learning to respond to her needs, so you can be a more compassionate puppy parent.
Now, take stock of the cleaning products you have on hand, and replace wherever possible with natural ones. Puppies do a lot of licking – it’s all dogs’ way of exploring, and everything is especially new and exciting to a young dog – so it’s safest to invest in all-purpose household cleaners, as well as dish and laundry detergents, that are made of natural ingredients. Surprise: these products tend to perform better and smell much more pleasant than their industrial-strength counterparts. And that’s important, because you will be doing a lot more cleaning up and laundering than you did B.P. (before puppy). Besides, your puppy’s exquisitely sensitive nostrils will prefer the scent of, say, lavender instead of industrial-strength fragrance – and so will you.
In addition to regular household cleaners, you’ll need cleaning solutions formulated for people with pets. Accidents happen in every home with a puppy in residence, so keep a supply of products designed to neutralize – not just mask – unpleasant stains and odors, as well as a stash of paper towels and rags. Also, you’ll need a gentle, emollient shampoo that will protect puppy’s delicate skin, because just as you’ll be cleaning your home more often, you’ll be washing puppy more often than you thought - and you wouldn’t want to dry her out. Long-coated breeds will need a crème rinse or spray coat conditioner. Even if you plan to bring your pup to a professional groomer, you will need a brush or comb, or both – basic grooming is quality bonding time that’s not to be missed. For most young puppies, a soft bristle brush is the best first grooming tool. You will also need a toothbrush and paste made for dogs, nail clippers in an appropriate size, and for some breeds, ear wash (ask your vet how to clean ears safely).
Look on the bright side: By the time puppy is grown, you will be an ace housekeeping engineer, with the most ship-shape home on the block! Just be sure to store any and all cleaning products away from puppy’s reach, as anything plastic, from bottles to toothbrushes, present enticing gnawing challenges, and you wouldn’t want her ingesting their contents, no matter how green those contents are. And be sure to keep anything containing chocolate, especially dark chocolate, far away from puppy’s prying paws.
Now it’s time to investigate containment systems, whether it’s a low-tech option, such as a puppy gate, or a high-tech electronic one. A crate or kennel is a must - it may look like a mini-prison to you, but to your dog, it’s an inviting den; it’s home. Crates help enormously with housetraining and keep puppies safe and secure when they can’t be supervised. A puppy who learns to love his crate will grow up to be a well-adjusted dog with a sense of security in your home, as long as you don’t leave her in there for too long—no more than a few hours at a time.
When selecting your dog crate, choose an easy-to-clean crate mat or bed sized to fit in the crate. Berber fleece is cozy and comfortable for your pet. It can be thrown right into the washing machine. (You may want to invest in two, so puppy can use one while the other is in the wash.) Some dogs also love to have their own dog beds in addition to their crates, for comfy sleeping in multiple locations around the house. Make sure those are machine-washable too.
Eventually, your grown dog will share most, if not all, of the comfort zones in your home, but for now, you probably want to restrict puppy just to maintain your sanity and your prized household possessions. Don’t worry, the housebreaking stage will be behind you soon enough.
Starting off on the right paw with nutrition is key to a happy, healthy dog, so choose your puppy’s food with care. Don’t be overwhelmed by the many dog foods and slick marketing campaigns that promote them. Read the ingredients and select a food with as many natural ingredients as possible. If you know what your puppy’s been eating, start with that brand, then transition by mixing it with the new brand you select over a period of a week, gradually using more of the new brand. Switching food too suddenly can cause stomach upset and diarrhea. Always follow the feeding directions on the package, as each will be different; a half-cup of one food isn’t always the same as a half-cup of a different brand. Supplements will also help to maintain puppy’s health through the growth stage, so select ones formulated for young dogs.
It’s most economical to purchase dog food in large quantities. Scoops help avoid the mess of sticking your hand in the bag, and offer an accurate measure of food. Even so, don’t purchase more food than your puppy will eat in one month. Even the best, most airtight containers won’t keep food fresh for much longer. Buy a clean garbage can with a tight-fitting lid that you designated for dog food, or consider saving space in your fridge for opened kibble bags. Treats are important for training your puppy (remember not to use them for snacks or as a reward for being cute!), so keep a stash of bite-sized, nutritionally-balanced treats that are soft, high in protein, and free of additives or fillers. The fridge is a great storage place for these too.
The bowls you use to feed your puppy are as important as what you put in those bowls. Food and water bowls come in an amazing variety, from economical to designer. Style is up to you, of course, but also consider that many pups like to play with their food bowls, which can possibly spill the contents and make a mess. Choose a sturdy, stable dish with a heavy bottom that won’t tip easily and is easy to clean. Metal and ceramic bowls are easier than plastic to keep clean and bacteria-free. Some larger dogs and dogs with certain health issues may also benefit from an elevated feeder.
Food isn’t the only item your puppy should be chewing. Dogs have an instinctual urge to chew, and puppies chew to ease teething discomfort. Hard rubber and tough nylon chew toys and bones will help keep your pet from damaging furniture, rugs, shoes, and anything else in his path. There are even special chew toys you can freeze or refrigerate to soothe puppy’s gums during the teething phase, and toys that encase a treat the puppy has to work to remove. Hours of fun!
A puppy who’s kept entertained and occupied is less likely to get into trouble, so be sure to select a variety of sturdy, age-appropriate toys in different sizes and made of different materials. This will give puppy variety in his play. Avoid toys that resemble articles of clothing or shoes, unless you want to teach puppy that it’s OK to raid your closet for fun. Never give children’s toys to a pet, and make sure toys don’t have small parts that could break off and become a choking hazard. Interactive toys and toys that challenge the dog to extract food or treats from their cavities are especially good choices for active breeds.
Once all the bags are unpacked and puppy’s new home is ready, remember that the most important resource you’ll need for your new pet is an abundance of patience and love. And you can’t buy that in a store.
