Pet University
Bringing a Puppy Home
A Puppy-Proof Home
Puppies are extremely curious, and seem to get into trouble with great regularity. But making minor adjustments around your household can help prevent major catastrophes. One of the easiest ways to determine what changes need to be made is to crawl around on all fours to get a dog's eye view of the place. Look for items a puppy could potentially chew on, and more importantly, choke on.
This list of suggestions, while not exhaustive, will help to puppy-proof your home:
- Don’t leave electrical cords exposed where they are a temptation to chew.
- Block off stairs with a baby gate.
- Avoid feeding certain human foods to your dog, especially chocolate, onions, grapes, and macadamia nuts.
- Keep all trash cans behind closed doors.
- Keep all medications in a safe place, out of the dog's reach.
- Fence your yard.
Necessary Supplies
However you choose to introduce a dog to your home and family, you’re going to need to purchase some pet essentials.
Food and Water
Your dog is a living animal and he needs food and water. Use stainless steel or ceramic food and water dishes, and wash them thoroughly in hot soap and water on a regular basis. Plastic dishes should be avoided as they are a temptation to chew and some dogs are allergic to the dye that colours the plastic. Place these dishes in an easy access area for your puppy to get at 24/7.
Crate or Dog Bed
Dogs are “den” animals and need a place they can call home. This can be a crate, a room, or even a dog bed. Crates come in three different styles: wire mesh, fiberglass/plastic, and fold- up nylon mesh. Once you have decided which style of crate you want to purchase you then to consider the size. Here you have to strike a balance. Be sure your new puppy or dog can not only stand up in it, but have enough room to turn around and stretch. You want to discourage your dog from using the crate as a toilet and the best way to do this is by keeping it small enough that there is only room for him to sleep. Locate the crate (or bed) in an area with a lot of traffic, such as the kitchen or den. Dogs are also “pack” animals and this will keep your dog feeling like part of the family.
Collar and ID Tag
One of the very first purchases you should make is your dog’s collar. It should be equipped with an identification tag, which your dog should wear at all times. The collar can be used to restrain your dog in case of an emergency and the identification tag can be used to simply return him to you should he ever get lost. Many rabies tags worn on the collar will serve the same purpose. You may want to invest in a microchip identification device. All dog pounds and dog shelters will scan for a microchip which will help get him back home should he ever get lost without his collar. Dogs love to be taken for nice long walks, so you’ll need to purchase a 4-6 foot leash made of leather, waxed cotton, or nylon that can be attached to his collar. Many people like the retractable leashes that give him extra exploring room without losing control.
Toys
Choose toys that are interesting to your dog and entertaining while being safe and durable. Consider taking him with you when making your selections. Never give a puppy a toy that is small enough for him to swallow and resist the temptation of offering too many toys at once which can overwhelm your dog.
Medical Supplies
Being ready with a simple list of medical supplies is always a great idea. Some items you’ll want to consider keeping in your pet first aid kit include conform bandages, gauze pads and cotton batting, tweezers, petroleum jelly, antibiotic cream and hydrogen peroxide. Even if you are taking him to the veterinarian for emergency care, being able to apply some form of first aid before departing might help to reduce significant blood loss or prevent serious infection from setting in.
Grooming Supplies
Your choice of grooming tools will vary with the type of dog you have. Some standard supplies include a short haired-rake, a wire slicker brush, narrow-and wide-toothed combs, a bristle brush, nail clippers, dental supplies, and dog shampoo. Try to avoid using human shampoo as many products are designed to remove too many of the natural oils which help to keep his hair coat shiny and protect his skin from rain and snow.
While the purchase of those initial supplies for your new dog may seem like a big investment, take comfort in knowing that many of them will last for years.
