Checklist for bringing home a new puppy

Everything you need to know as a new puppy owner!

Puppies are adorable. Puppies are fun! But puppies don’t come without their own set of special health and safety needs. This is where the New Puppy Checklist comes handy !
While all puppies need to be monitored as they grow and develop, some are more challenging than others. As a puppy owner, you’ll want to make sure your puppy is as healthy as possible.

New Puppy Checklist for 2022

Before you bring your puppy home, there is much information you need to know. It’s overwhelming to think about all the things your little bundle of fluff will need before it comes home. However, checklists to take you through the process can ease some of this stress. With these checklists, you’ll have everything you need for your puppy to have a healthy start at living with humans.
Be prepared for your new puppy’s responsibilities.

Checklists:

1. Take your time

2. Give them space

3. Buy the essentials

4. Feed Healthy

5. Socialize

6. Keep your lovely pups clean

7. Clean up after your puppy

8. Final Thoughts

   

Take your time:

New places can be overwhelming for puppies, so you have to ensure everything is in place at home on their arrival day. You may probably want to restrict them to one or two rooms in the house at first so they can quickly get used to everything slowly at their pace.

The American Kennel Club recommends keeping puppies in crates. This keeps them safe and also helps them understand the concept of personal space. Feeding them treats when they are in the crate encourages them to stay in the crate.
Make sure you are consistent with your puppy’s training, routine, and behavioral guidelines. Puppy confusion stems from inconsistent routines. Inconsistent incentives such as feeding times can prevent your puppy from becoming trained or used to a household system.
Set your boundaries from the start so that your puppy understands the rules. Whether it is not to go up on the sofa or not to act aggressive, set limits from day one and then stick to them.

Remember to start training classes with your new puppy! Classes run by certified or accredited trainers can be a great option. Make sure to work on basic commands, and pick a class that has vaccinated people and dogs so your puppy can learn in a safe environment. If you’re unsure which class to choose, ask your vet for recommendations.
You could also check out online training programs like Brain Training for Dogs that make your dogs more obedient and smarter too!!

Once you’ve taken your puppy to the vet and booked any remaining vaccines, remember to make a calendar with reminders for their annual check-ups. Keep their vet contact information up-to-date to ensure they are protected throughout their lives.

Give them space

If you bring home a new puppy, it may not be easy to give them the space they need, mainly if their needs and behavior are very different from your other pets. They may need time to rest or sleep separately or play by themselves for a few hours.
As a person that owns a new puppy, it is worthwhile to get them insured. This ensures your new puppy will benefit from coverage, just in case of any upcoming illnesses or injuries.

Buy the essentials

A great place to start when you get a new puppy is to buy the essential items needed for them. These will be things you will use every day with your new pup, so these items must come first in your shopping cart! Things like food bowls and bowls for water are essential at this time.
With bowls, there is no need to get very fancy. A basic food and water bowl should do it for your pet.
As you progress through potty training your pups, other items you might need are a big fluffy bed and a retractable leash to adjust the strap length accordingly.
Name tags are also an essential item for your puppy. Your puppy’s name and a contact phone number should be on it.

Feed Healthy

Another essential thing on the checklists is a good diet that your pup can grow up eating. Providing healthy food will frustrate many vet visits and expensive medication. We always recommend feeding complete, commercial puppy food to keep your new pup healthy. Puppies need a particular level of nutrients as they grow, so finding an appropriate food is essential to success. Commercial puppy foods are healthy for every part of their life — whether it’s newborn puppies or small breeds who have matured more quickly than their larger counterparts.

Before committing to anyone food brand, research all of your options, doing so will teach you what kind of healthy diet your pup should enjoy based upon their age and needs.
Keep an eye on the ingredients of your new puppy’s food and their treats. Try to avoid brands that have any by-products, corn, wheat, soy, or other fillers in the list of ingredients!
Your puppy should be born with a teething toy. You will also need to buy other toys early on, including tasty treats, chews, door stoppers, and crates.
Should you purchase a collar? The answer is no — there are many reasons why collars are harmful to your dog. Dog collars could injure your pet’s neck, cause medical issues and is also a strangulation risk. A dog harness could be a better option as it does not cause the kind of damage a collar could cause your pet.

Socialize

Puppies’ socialization period is a key time for them to learn their future life, and without essential structures, it is susceptible to the more undesirable traits. Start by socializing your puppy at home so they can get used to what life may bring them in the future.
New Puppy Checklist
There are several ways to socialize your puppy, as it is much easier than socializing an adult dog. When the time is right, introduce them to other canines and those who like to play with dogs. Socializing your puppy not only helps test out their newly acquired bite inhibition but also teaches them to make canine companions.
Puppies respond well by being given their own space, too: an area where they can chew on some new toys and cuddle up in bed. A puppy needs to meet and be socialized with new people as well. Bring them over to friends and family who are dog lovers, keep things diverse to meet various people, and make sure they have plenty of treats on hand.
These are some ways you can introduce your puppy to new friends. Giving your pup access to plenty of walks each day, changing up playtime routines, and a variety of other fun ways — such as temporary co-pilots on car trips or meetings with new bark buddies (beneficial for reassuring puppies about new barking environments)

Keep your lovely pups clean

You can do many things to keep your new puppy healthy and happy, but happiness starts with cleaning them. Brush the pup’s coat regularly, go with a brush that matches their size, and know what type of fur they have.
Save some time with a pet grooming service render to take care of the basics at home. Grooming should be done weekly, but beware if grooming is limited due to busy schedules or other missed opportunities; there is a risk of matting when brushing happens less often. Select a brush designed for your type of pup, and be sure it isn’t too big for the exact size of your pet. Puppy care is not easy, but you can keep it simple!

Puppies are sensitive and need a delicate touch. Ensure you pick products specifically for dogs, with natural formulas and gentle ingredients. Bathe your puppy every three months and avoid baths where accidents happen.
Puppies are a big responsibility, and they have their own set of needs. You need to be sure to check the new puppy’s teeth with a toothbrush. With a toothbrush with two different sizes of bristles, you can cover all the appropriate areas. Essential things to keep in mind when brushing your new roommate: remove any leftover food in their gums and brush regularly to avoid early gum disease and tooth discoloration!

Clean up after your puppy

Accidents are ascertained after getting a new pup. Although these moments can be annoying and tiresome, being prepared will lessen your frustrations. Ensure you stock up pee pads, stain and odor removal, poop bags, and a pet-safe disinfectant in response to unprepared incidents and circumstances.
Cleansing wipes are not just for grooming; and they are also handy for clean-ups. You can use the cleaning wipes to wipe your pups’ dirty paws, potty training cleaning, and spot cleaning. Another helpful tip is cutting pee pads into small squares and keeping them around the house. So, if there is an accident, they’d be available to clean it up in a tweak.
Keep an old towel or rag in your car so that your pet does not make a mess on your car seat.

Final Thoughts

We hope that we have provided you with great information. Remember that puppy training is not a short-term process. It will take time and practice; therefore, new puppy owners must use these checklists to reinforce the lessons learned through puppy training. The most important thing is to be patient!
As you are now aware, there are many things that you need to do when getting your new puppy. By completing each stage of the checklists, you will ensure that you and your new puppy will have the best possible start. We wish you all the very best with your new puppy!