Puppy Tips for first time dog owners
Planning to bring home a new puppy for the first time? If you are, then you must surely be thrilled! On the other hand, you also know that there are plenty of steps and preparations you need to make. They are important to help ensure that your puppy will feel safe and happy in its new home. You also know that you need as many puppy tips as you can get. They are essential in expanding your knowledge and understanding as a first-time dog owner.
Now if you’re feeling a bit anxious and stressed out because you’re somewhat unsure of what to do and whether or not you will succeed in taking care of the pup, you are not alone. There are countless first-time dog owners who feel the same kind of pressure. Here are some puppy tips that you can follow to help you in this special undertaking:
Gather the necessary items
Just like you would when you’re expecting a new baby, there are some essential puppy items that you need to gather beforehand, such as:
- High quality dog food. This helps ensure that your new pup gets the best nourishment it needs to grow healthy and happy
- Standard dog food and water bowls
- ID tags that include your pup’s name, you and your vets name and contact details. You can also try using a dog tracking chip GPS if you are concerned that your pup will wander off.
- A standard dog collar and leash. For extra convenience, you can consider using a retractable dog leash so your untrained pup can easily roam around with minimal danger. You also have the option to go with an extra small dog harness as an alternative to a collar.
- A dog crate that meets airline standards and caters your pup’s size when it reaches full maturity. It will become your pooch’s own refuge inside the house, during travels, or during trips to the vet.
- Home cleansers for unwanted stains
- A brush and comb that is appropriate to your pup’s coat. You can consult your vet or breeder on this matter.
- Doggy shampoo. You can consider using waterless dog shampoos if your pooch hates bath time.
- Tooth brush suitable to your pup
- Safe and durable chew toys that your young pooch can bite around. If you’re raising a pit-bull or a dog that’s an aggressive chewer, you can opt for indestructible dog toys.
- Anti-flea and-tick sprays
- Nail clippers. If your pup is not comfortable with it, you can try using a dog nail grinder
- Doggy Treats. You can use conventional commercial dog treat products or make your own. Just make sure that the ingredients are safe and healthy for your pup.
Additional Puppy Tips
A few extra puppy tips: Opt for stainless-steel, non-tip food, and water bowls as they are durable and are odor resistant. While dogs love squeaky toys, they can be hazardous once swallowed. To ensure that your pups’ collar is fitted comfortably, make sure that there is two fingers worth of space between the collar and your pup’s neck.
Making your home Puppy Friendly
Pups are incredibly inquisitive. However, similar to babies, they are unaware of the importance of safety and setting limitations. Keep in mind that a pup will most likely chow down on anything it can get its mouth on. For this reason, it is vital that you prep your home to make it safe and friendly for your new puppy. This way, you can safeguard your house from potential damages and help stop the development of bad habits. It also upholds the safety and well-being of your pup.
Tips to make your house puppy friendly:
- Inspect your house from the perspective of your pup. Try crawling down to make sure that everything is thoroughly checked. Look for potentially hazardous items such as household chemicals. Store them safely inside the cabinet or somewhere outside the reach of your puppy.
- Make sure that every electrical cord is properly out of range. Keep your valuables on high places. Gadgets and decorative items are free from any potential damage as long as they are properly stored inside cabinets or above tables.
- Store footwear items inside a locked cabinet. Remember that your pup will chew on anything and shoes and slippers are often prone to becoming chew toys since they are normally placed on the floor.
- Use garbage containers that have covers. Puppies are easily drawn to the smell of food thus it’s important to ensure that he has no way of getting inside the trash bin.
- Utilize barriers such as baby gateways or enclosures to make sure that your puppy stays inside the safe boundaries of your home. You can remove the barriers once your dog is older and is prepared for a higher level of independence.
- Inspect your outdoor areas for potential dangers. Make sure that there are no poisonous plants and insects in the vicinity or gaps in your walls that your pup can use to escape.
Bringing Home a New Puppy
The very first moments that you share with your new puppy will likely be inside a moving vehicle as you accompany him on his journey home. This is a great time to begin training your pup to become comfortable with his crate. Make sure that it has enough supply of treats, and in case it’s doable, a piece of cloth that carries the smell of his mom and his litter siblings. This will help a lot in ensuring a successful transition towards a new environment. Here are a few bringing home new puppy tips that you can keep in mind:
Potty train immediately
Once you reach home, don’t take him inside not until he potties. Complement your pup and offer treats after he potties. Put a leash on your pup when you bring him in – you don’t want to allow him to just freely run around without first establishing boundaries and limitations.
Let him know your always there
Make sure that your pup is always close at your side. Give him plenty of love and praise, so he becomes acquainted to your presence. This is the best moment to begin training him on becoming comfortable with his paws being touched, his ears examined, his stomach rubbed, and his coat brushed.
Let him out when necessary
Keep in mind that pups are still incapable of controlling their bladder and if they get excited, they normally won’t be able to stop themselves from peeing and pooping. Let your pup out following 30 minutes or so of playing and also following each meal. A trip outdoors to potty must be the first order of business every morning and the last order of business every night.
Give him enough time alone
Allow him to experience some alone time inside his crate so he can make sense of his new world. It is perfectly safe to leave the crate in areas where there are people although you must avoid irritating him while he is inside. If the pup begins whining or barking, simply distance yourself from him except if there is a need for him to poop. Never open the door until he calms down.
Get him examined by the vet
Make sure that your puppy gets checked by the vet no more than two days after you bring him home. This helps guarantee that your pooch is healthy and is free from any medical issues. If you don’t, the seller may become reluctant to take the puppy back once you find a severe medical condition or inherited physical defect.
Feeding your New Pup
Feeding your pup is not just about giving him the nourishment he needs to develop healthily – it’s also about forming a bond and establishing a schedule that helps you train him easily on how to behave properly inside the house.
Continue the kind of diet that your pup maintained during his time with the breeder or shelter. In the event that you wish to give him a different diet, slowly integrate the new food throughout seven to ten days to minimize the onset of an upset stomach.
It might not be a good idea to free-feed your pooch – the practice of making sure that his bowl is always filled. Scheduled feeding provides structure to your pet’s life, lowers the risk of obesity, and allows you to monitor his feeding patterns – eating less or voraciously can suggest an underlying health problem.
Hand Feeding Your New Pup
You might want to hand-feed your pup for the first 7 -10 days of its life inside your home. Make sure that every food is measured to avoid excessive eating. Hand-feed him with bits of treats if he remains sited calmly or is paying attention to what you are doing. Never feed him if he jumps around, barks, or makes unpleasant movements.
Carry the food bowl away from your pup; when he trails you, continue to feed him. Remain sited or standing inside the dining area. Eventually, he will respond to orders, like sit, down, or stay in exchange for treats. This practice requires just a minute or two every meal and can be done by all members of the family.
As you spend more and more time hand-feeding your puppy, he will continue to develop good eating habits. It also trains your pup to have a gentle mouth and stops him from nipping or biting once he grabs something from your hand – inculcating obedience and self-restraint in your pooch. This practice teaches your pup to refrain from gorging his meal and makes him highly trainable since he is always paying attention to what you do.
First Night with your New Puppy
Even if you are planning to allow your pup to slumber on your bed, don’t allow him the freedom just yet. Once it’s time to sleep, bring your puppy outside for a final potty and instantly place him inside his crate alongside some treats. Do not mind him if he starts to whine or bark. Eventually, he will calm down once he senses that you are just nearby.
Your pup may still be incapable of lasting throughout the evening without another round of potty. If he whines or scratches at the crate door in the middle of the evening, quickly take him outside and allow him to go about his business, and immediately return him to his crate once it’s done. Do not give your pup the impression that you intend to play with him late in the evening.
Play time with your new pup
There’s a big chance that you have already purchased some toys for your pup prior to taking him home. If you have a large puppy who loves chewing, ensure that his toys are durable. They must also be free from items that can be chewed away and swallowed.
If you brought home a pup that loves to gobble, make sure that his toys are something that can’t easily be torn apart to prevent him from swallowing pieces that he tears off from it. Opt with big, durable rubber toys, like balls that he won’t be able to tear apart.
Puppy Training Guide
Every moment you spend with your pup is an opportunity to establish trust and educate him on how he should behave and you can begin immediately while he is still young. Here are some tips you can consider when training a puppy:
Start potty training in the first day
It must be clear to your pup where you want him to leave his waste. This way, you are also ensuring that your pup is safe and won’t wander far from your vicinity. In case he does it in the wrong place, simply remove the waste using a standard cleanser.
Establish rules
For instance, make your decision on whether your pup is allowed to sit on the sofa and sleep in the bed and who should feed and walk him every day. So your new pooch won’t get confused, ensure that every member in your household is on the same page and reliable.
Your new pup must be well mannered
He should know how to sit or stay whenever you want him to. Through proper training that utilizes positive reinforcement, you can foster the right behavior regardless if your pup is still young. In case you are finding it hard to inculcate proper manners in your new pup, think about seeking help from the Good Dog Helpline.
Consider enrolling your pup in a training class
You can enroll your pup in some training classes to help him become more social and well-mannered. Trying searching the web for a dog training class near you.
Establish goals
Teaching your puppy fundamental behaviors can be a gateway to various types of exciting activities. One of the most crucial goals for any canine pet is the AKC Canine Good Citizen program. The program is an amazing institution for canine sports and is the benchmark of canine behavior in the US.
There are a lot more things you can do to ensure that your new pup will grow into a happy and well-mannered member of the household. If you fail with everything that you do and are left with no clear solutions, allow common sense and love to guide your decisions and you surely won’t regret it. Relish every moment you spend with your pup because it will pass by in an instant!
