Why You Need to Prepare for Your New Puppy
When you bring a new puppy home, there’s quite a bit to do before he can sleep comfortably in his crate, enjoy his new toys, and eat on his own. The transition of bringing home a new dog is often stressful and can get overwhelming quickly, especially if your dog has not had experience in a new home or environment.
Because of this, you should take the time to prepare for your new puppy so you’re ready for the transition and can get your puppy settled in comfortably.
Preparing for Your New Puppy Structure and workflow with your pup will encourage consistency with your new additions, which will make things easier for your dog and for you.
Below are some things to keep in mind as you prepare for your new pup.
Think About Your Puppy’s Physical Needs
What size is the cage or crate you will need for your new puppy? Will your puppy need a waterproof bed, cedar bedding or straw in his home? How much space will the bed and toys take up?
Also, ask yourself if you have enough floor space for your puppy to play.
The amount of space you have or will need will depend on the type of breed you get, not to mention on the size of the puppy he will grow into. Do you need to expand your fence for an escape artist that doesn’t seem to want to be trapped while on his own? Do you have enough energy to walk your puppy each day?
The space you need for your puppy will also depend on training, whether he’s going to spend a lot of time in his crate or will be spending lots of time in the yard.
Think About Your Puppy’s Emotional Needs
Babies in general just get excited about the world around them as they are exposed to it for the first time. And just like newborn babies, puppies can be a bit unpredictable. So think about your puppy’s emotional needs as soon as you bring him home.
If your puppy hasn’t had much social interaction prior to your homecoming, it’s best to hold off on walking him, playing with him and interacting with him until he has settled into his new home. Putting him through too much too soon could make him dizzy, confused, and agitated. Your goal is to help him become acclimated to his new home and help him adjust to his new family. Give him time to adjust and meet all the member in the family before you get him involved in any major activity (you wouldn’t want him to get tired so soon).
To make his introductions easier, your best option is to walk him in areas where there are fewer distractions. You should also keep a small fuss for the first few days and over time encourage him to become comfortable around other people, dogs, and animals.