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Japanese Language
日本語テキスト |
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Chinese Language
中文繁體字 |
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Preparing to bring your
new puppy home
Bringing
a new puppy into your home is a big
commitment. The following checklist
is designed to help new puppy owners
prepare for bringing their new puppy
home. You will need to purchase these
basic items:
- Puppy food - high protein varieties
- Water
and food bowls
- Collar
and a leash
- A
bed (indoor or outdoor)
Other
items you may want to consider are:
- Puppy-safe
chews and toys
- Carpet/upholstery
cleaner
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Puppy
Proof the house: Puppies
are bursting with curiosity and chewing is one
way they explore objects. Unfortunately, your
puppy will not come equipped with the ability
to distinguish between their chew toy and your
expensive shoes. Therefore, removing items you
do not want your puppy to leave a mark on is an
important step of puppy proofing your home. Some
tips for puppy proofing are:
- Remove unnecessary items from the floor of your
home throughout puppyhood (shoes, clothing and
children's toys are good examples).
- Cover,
remove or put away electrical cords that are
within your puppy's reach.
- Keep all household cleaners, insect poisons
and other chemicals safely stored.
- Pay close attention to potential hazards in
the outdoor area of your home. Be sure that
your yard is secure. You don't want your pup
to be able to get out and you don't want other
dogs to be able to get into your yard.
Stock
up on chew toys: The more chew toys your puppy
has access to, the less likely the puppy will
be to chew on your valuable possessions. Chewing
is a natural instinct for dogs, and especially
young puppies. Praise your puppy when they chew
on toys that are theirs and your puppy will soon
learn what is fair game and what is off limits.
Purchase
an appropriate sized crate: If you plan to
crate train your dog, puppyhood is the best time
to do so. Crate training allows your dog to adjust
to being in a crate so that they will exhibit
good behavior in situations such as being boarded,
flying on a plane and going to the vet, when being
in a kennel may be unavoidable. It is important
to instill a positive association with the crate
and never use it for punishment. Many dogs learn
to love their crates and use them willingly for
naps or sleeping at night.
Establish
rules to live by: Your puppy will understand
the rules of the household much quicker if they
are consistent from the start. Decide on the rules
by which your puppy must abide before bringing
the puppy home. For example, is your puppy allowed
on the furniture? Will they sleep in your bed
at night? What area will your puppy be confined
to during puppyhood? Instilling structure immediately
will prevent your puppy from developing bad habits
that will become increasingly frustrating as they
grow older.
Puppies
are wonderfully energetic and curious. Even if
you carefully check off each item on this list
and feel completely prepared for the arrival of
your new puppy, be sure to supervise your puppy
when they are roaming free in your home. |
