How to Care for Your New Puppy

It probably goes without saying, but puppies are a huge responsibility. Getting a puppy means committing to up to almost 20 years of love and care. If you’ve decided to take on that commitment, congratulations! Now it’s time to talk about how to care for your new puppy. We’re going to go over things to do so that your puppy can have the happiest and healthiest life possible!

Stock up on all the essentials

This is a given, but puppies require lots of supplies: food, bowls, toys, somewhere to sleep, bedding, a collar or harness, a leash, cleaning supplies. And that’s only talking bare minimum! You may also want to invest in puppy pads, treats to use as training rewards, puppy-safe soap for bath time, a hairbrush, a toothbrush, nail clippers. Depending on how much of your puppy’s grooming and training you want to be involved in, you’re going to need different supplies. For a more extensive list of essentials, click here to see a new puppy checklist.

Schedule a vet visit

The first thing to do once your new puppy is home is schedule a vet visit. Being new to the world, your pup is going to need a checkup, vaccines, and their heartworm medicine. It’s also good to establish a relationship with a vet while your new family member is still young. It helps with socializing them, and they’ll trust the vet more with time. A vet can also give you guidance on what your new puppy’s diet should be, how to train them, and many other things. If you have any questions at all concerning your pet, go to your vet!

Socialize, socialize, socialize

One of the most critical things a puppy needs is socialization. Keeping in mind your pet’s comfort and stress levels, introduce them to lots of different people and situations. The sooner you do these things and the more often you do them, the more familiar your pet will become with them. If you know you want them to be friendly with strangers, take them to parks and friend’s houses. If you think you may want another dog eventually, try introducing your puppy to other friendly, well-socialized dogs. Not only does this make your puppy less likely to become aggressive in the future, but it’s a great way to engage and enrich their young puppy minds!

Spend lots of time together

This tip has multiple benefits. First, it improves the bond between you and your puppy. Trust building starts the second you two meet, so make a good first impression, and keep it up going forward. Second, it allows you to catch and correct any unwanted behavior. Puppies can get up to a lot of mischief alone, but if you’re their to correct them, they’ll learn much quicker than if you kept training to a few short sessions each day. The more time you’re around your puppy, the more chances you get to encourage the behavior you want to see!

Finally, puppies require tons of attention. Their boundless energy and innate curiosity mean that they need you to be with them pretty much all the time. You have to make sure they stay entertained and have positive outlets for their energy. If you need suggestions on things to do with your dog, check out our article on backyard activities. To prevent separation anxiety, though, you may want to include other people in your efforts. It takes a village!

If you’re properly prepared, a puppy makes a wonderful addition to a family. They’re constant energy and adorable faces could cheer the grumpiest of people up. Although they require a lot of work, the reward is more than worth it. There’s a reason dogs are man’s best friend! So if you just got a new furry family member or you’re planning to soon, we hope these points on how to care for your new puppy help you better prepare to welcome them home.

It probably goes without saying, but puppies are a huge responsibility. Getting a puppy means committing to up to almost 20 years of love and care. If you’ve decided to take on that commitment, congratulations! Now it’s time to talk about how to care for your new puppy. We’re going to go over things to…