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Bringing a new puppy into your home is a wonderful thing, but it certainly does come with its fair share of responsibilities and things that you’ll need to think about. When it comes to puppy parenting, there are similarities between this and parenting a child in that you’ll need plenty of love and patience, and you’ll need to prepare well in advance, which is crucial to get right for everyone’s sake, including the puppy.
With this in mind, here are some ways to prepare your home for your new arrival; read on to find out more.
Preparing your home for a puppy
Make your home safe
The key to a happy and healthy puppy is to prepare your home in advance with safety in mind – in fact, safety should be a priority at all times. That’s why it’s important to puppy-proof your home and remove any potential hazards, such as toxic plants, chemicals, and small things that your new puppy might accidentally swallow or chew on.
Other things to do include:
- Securing electrical outlets and wires
- Locking cabinets and cupboards that contain chemicals
- Putting up baby gates to keep your puppy in areas where you can keep an eye on them
It’s also important to buy perfect pet insurance for puppies before you bring your new puppy home. No matter how safe you make your home for your puppy, it’s still possible for an accident to happen, and your puppy could still become unwell, so having insurance in place just in case is a great idea.
Give them their own space
Ideally, you should give your puppy its own space in your home; dogs like to have a place to call their own where they can go if they need some rest and to be by themselves, which they might if they’re tired or stressed in any way.
The space could be a whole room (which has to be puppy-proofed, of course), but it could just as easily be a crate or a playpen—it will depend on your preferences and how much space you have. Not only will this area help the puppy feel safe and protected, but it can help with toilet training, and it helps to keep your home and your puppy safe even if you’re not able to be there all the time.
Stock up on essentials
Before bringing your puppy home, make sure you’ve already bought all the supplies you’ll need for the first few days – in this way, your puppy can settle in more easily, and you’ll feel more confident in taking care of them.
Some of the things that you’ll need include food, bowls, toys, grooming equipment, and perhaps a collar and lead (although you should remember that your puppy can’t go outside for walks until they’ve had all their jabs). If all this is in place, your puppy can get to know their home a lot better and be happy in their new surroundings.
Make a vet appointment
Of course, you’re not making a vet appointment for your puppy because you’re assuming they’re going to be unwell in some way, but it’s wise to make one anyway, just to get them checked out to be on the safe side. Plus, as mentioned above, they’re going to need their vaccinations, so it’s a good idea to schedule these as soon as possible.
Your vet can give your puppy a check-up and let you know about its overall health, as well as offer plenty of advice for taking care of your new dog in the future.
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