Knowing how to introduce a new puppy to your home is important to ensure the process is smooth and there are minimal reasons for your new family member to be stressed out. By preparing ahead of time, you can bring your dog back to a welcoming home that’s safe, comfortable and ready to welcome them.
While it’s exciting to bring your new furry friend home, preparing with the below steps can help your dog feel comfortable in their new environment and have the best start to their new life.
5 Steps to Introducing Your New Puppy to Your Home
1. Have a household meeting.
Having a household or family meeting can help bring your family together to ensure everyone wants this new puppy. A dog is a long-term commitment, so planning out who will be the primary caretaker is important to ensure there’s a schedule for feeding, walking and socialising the dog.
Also decide on house rules and ensure you and your family are on the same page. For example, decide if the dog is allowed on your bed and other furniture ahead of time, so you won’t come argue about it later on, which may confuse and stress out your new family member.
2. Get supplies.
Be prepared by buying pet supplies ahead of time so you can bring your dog home without having to go back and forth to the store. This will make it easier to settle in and exciting to bring your pup to a house that’s ready for them and dog friendly.
Supplies to buy for a new puppy:
- Food and water bowls.
- Dog food and treats.
- Collar and leash.
- Bed.
- Toys, including chew toys.
- Crate.
- Stain-removing cleaner.
- Possibly gates to section off areas or a pen for puppy-proofing.
Using a pen or gating off a section of your home can help keep your dog in a specific area where they cannot damage your home, any personal items or eat something unsafe. This can be great to ensure they’re safe whenever you’re away from them.
It’s best if they’re in a central room so they don’t feel isolated; make sure you pick a room with floors that are easy to clean. Kitchens can be a great option for puppies as they often already have easy-to-clean flooring.
3. Settle in with your puppy.
When you first bring your puppy home, it’s important to take a few days off work to train and bond with them. If you can’t take work off, make sure you have another family member lined up to take care of them, otherwise find a dog walker, pet sitter or doggy daycare.
4. Research obedience classes.
Taking a new puppy to obedience classes is a great way to bond with your dog while learning new skills for how to train and communicate with them. This will also expose your puppy to socialising with other dogs and people, which teaches your dog to be friendly.
5. Getting your puppy home.
Plan your trip home with your new family member ahead of time. Being in a car can be stressful, so have someone go with you to calm your dog and ensure they aren’t hopping on your lap while you’re driving.
While it would be hard to drive with an excited dog on your lap, you can also end up with a costly fine.
Tips for When You Have a New Puppy
1. Keep it calm.
Keep your house calm for the first few days. While it’s exciting to have a new puppy, bringing new people over to meet and play with your puppy can stress it out, so make sure it has settled into its new home first.
If people do come over in the first week of bringing your puppy home, ensure your puppy has a safe, enclosed space it can go to if it feels overwhelmed.
2. Introduce your puppy to their crate or bed.
Ensure you introduce your puppy to its crate or bed, so they have a safe place to go and sleep.
Crate training your dog from a young age can help if you ever need to travel with your dog, especially internationally. By having a crate for your puppy in your home, it can also be a safe place for them to go whenever they feel anxious, making travel less stressful if they feel they’re in the safety of their crate.
3. Begin obedience classes.
The sooner you bring your puppy to obedience class, the quicker they can be trained with good manners. Your dog can learn how to walk next to you without pulling during your walks, walk off leash, sit, stay, drop, wait before being told they can eat and other commands and manners.
4. Get into a routine.
Get into the flow of a routine, which helps train your dog and bring them into your day-to-day life. Try to always feed, walk and exercise your dog at same time every day. This lets your dog learn when these events take place and promotes a healthy routine.
5. Find a vet.
Find a good vet to ensure your puppy has a good experience. Research, find a vet and schedule your puppy’s first appointment, as they may need vaccinations or a health check.
Looking to set up your pet’s first appointment? You can local vets on Localsearch.com.au!
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