Preparing for your puppy

So you decided to get a puppy. But before bringing your new family member home, you want to know how to prepare for the exciting time that's about to come.

How to puppyproof your home?

First off it's important to know the potential dangers to your puppy. Everything they can swallow or bite through like electrical cables could pose a danger. Because many people don't have the possibility of removing all these potential dangers, the easiest solution is to limit your puppy's free roaming space. This could be a crate or a puppy pen. At moments when you can't watch your puppy or provide him with feedback, you can put your puppy in this space and be sure he will be safe.

What to buy your puppy?

Before bringing your puppy home, you'll want to visit a pet shop. Upon arrival however, you'll notice they have an enormous variety of toys, beddings, leashes, treats,...

There are a few basic things you should get before your puppy arrives.

• Leash: Make sure to get a leash in order to be able to walk your puppy outdoors. Also it can come in handy when teaching your pup both out- and indoors.

• Treats: Puppy training treats will be very useful when training your puppy. Giving your puppy a treat is a clear way to tell him you like what he's doing.

• Food: At first, it might be interesting to provide your puppy with the same food the breeder did (though this isn't obligated). There will be lots of changes in your puppy's life, so their stomach might get upset more easily. Ofcourse you can switch this up later on to a brand you prefer.

• Food & Water Bowl: Since you probably aren't going to feed your dog out of a plate, make sure to get these before your puppy arrives at home.

• Toys: In the beginning, it's kind of a guessing game to know which toys your puppy will prefer, but most puppies are happy with any kind of toy. This post contains information about the types of dog toys.

• Beddings: Providing your puppy with a place to sleep or rest like a pillow or blanket, can make it easier for them to associate certain spots as rest spots.

• Crate (optional): A crate can come in very handy both when potty training your puppy as well as in order to create a safe space for him to get some rest. If you're going to use a crate for a few months, make sure to buy one that's big enough for your dog do lie down in when he grows up. You can find some tips on crate training here.

Decide on house rules

If you and your family members all have a different idea on how to raise a puppy. It will get very difficult for the puppy to understand what he's supposed to do. On top of that it might create frustrations in the family.

This can be solved by deciding together on some basic house rules such as: Is the puppy allowed on the sofa? When will we walk the dog? What do we want to teach him? Who will feed him and when?

Though there are multiple good answers to these questions, it provides everyone in the family some structure.

Setting up a routine beforehand

Though you shouldn't set up big routines describing your whole day, there are some small routines that can help big time while raising a puppy. Since you'll still need to house train your puppy, using some routines will make it easier for him to get the hang of when you want him to go potty. One of these routines might be: After a nap, take him outside to go potty, then reward him with a treat and some play time. When he gets tired, put him in the crate with his food. This way he'll eat and then rest.