How to Prepare for a New Puppy

589

It’s true that you need to organize a lot of things before you bring a puppy home. You need to transform your home into a puppy friendly paradise and get all the essentials to accommodate it. But, even though the preparations can be overwhelming there’s nothing more exciting than adopting a puppy that can change your life for the better.

Get Puppy Toys to Make Playtimes Fun and Exciting

Small puppies have a lot of energy and they are very curious and adventurous. You shouldn’t be surprised if your new furry friend turns the house upside down playing around with everything and anything and exploring every single corner. A toy for dogs is the ideal way for you to keep your puppy occupied, happy and prevent it from feeling bored.

dog with his toy
source: people.com

Puppies also form an emotional connection with their toys meaning that you can use them to make your puppy feel less alone or abandoned. It’s common for puppies to suffer from separation anxiety, especially ones that are very attached to their owners. So, if you’re wondering how do you help a dog with separation anxiety, the toys are the solution.

Although it won’t be hard for your puppy to find something fun to play around with, it is best if you get special puppy toys that are specially designed for that. Puppies are inexperienced and they can easily get hurt, but you can prevent that if you get safe toys for puppy dogs. They are usually made of rubber or soft fabrics and your puppy will be completely fine playing with them, chewing them and throwing them around.

The choice of toys for puppy dogs is endless. They come in different shapes and sizes and are surprisingly durable considering how wild puppies can go while playing with them. You can pick rubber balls to play fetch with and get a set of rubber animals as well. Rubber toys are also great for the puppy’s teeth. By chewing the rubber toy for dog it can make its teeth stronger and at the same time reduce build-up.

puppy with his toys
source: people.com

The soft fabric dog toys are usually shaped like animals although you can come across soft rope balls too. They too are beneficial for your puppy’s teeth and 100% safe.

Dog Bed to Keep Your Pet Comfortable and Well-Rested

Ideally, you should get your puppy a special dog bed in which it can relax, sleep and hide away from the rest of the world. Again, when it comes to dog beds, the choice is endless. You can go for a faux fur super soft dog bed, an orthopaedic bed, a pet futon (pillow-like bed) or an elevated dog bed.

Despite being impeccably designed, dog beds are made from the strongest materials and can withstand chewing and scratching. Also, they are very easy to clean and maintain which is another very important feature because puppies are prone to making a mess and leaving hair all over. They usually have removable covers that can be washed in a washing machine while the base is something that you’re going to need to clean right on the spot if there are any visible stains. And the best thing is you can buy a comfy dog bed online and get it delivered to your house. No need to stress over it.

dog laying in bed
source: dogtime.com

Is buying a dog bed a good idea? Absolutely. It’s not just about the comfort, it’s also about teaching your dog discipline. Instead of having it sleeping everywhere around the house, it will learn that the dog bed is its own place and there’s where it should sleep and relax. Plus, dog beds are specially designed to answer the needs of a dog. They offer support in all the right places and are especially important for small puppies that need to grow strong as well as older dogs that have mobility problems. There isn’t anything that’s a good replacement for a dog bed, so you shouldn’t doubt whether or not to get one.

The only thing you need to pay attention to though is the size of the bed, especially if you’re buying a dog bed online. Measure your dog and compare it with the dimensions listed by the seller. You want a bed where your dog will have enough space to spread out, but not one that’s too large because dogs want the feeling of security that a snug bed provides.

Not All Bowls Are Created Equal

When it comes to dog bowls, make sure you’ve chosen ones made of strong materials that don’t break or crack. And make sure they’re easy to clean. Preferably get bowls made out of stainless steel which is a durable material that doesn’t retain odours. You can go for something ceramic or glass as well but keep in mind that they are fragile. Plastic bowls are a definite no because they aren’t hygienic and lose their quality (which is low, to begin with) very fast.

dog and a bowl
source: robbreport.com

You should treat your pet to necessities you can actually use. For instance, you can wash the stainless steel bowls in a washing machine which is very convenient. So, when you think about it, stainless steel is the best option both for your dog and for you.

Food for Growth, Energy and Health

Growing puppies need all the nutrients they can get in order to grow strong and healthy. That’s why you need to make smart choices when puppy food is in question. You have two options – to buy special dog food from the store or to prepare food at home.

If you go for option B, you need to do it the right way. It’s not only about reaching a certain calorie count but also about including all the necessary nutrients in the food you’re preparing. Your puppy needs proteins, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins. You can get that from meat (chicken, turkey, beef) and vegetables (rice, potatoes, peas, carrots). You can try different recipes and see what your dog likes most. If this doesn’t work though, you can always go back to option A.

dog food
source: nymag.com

Puppy-Proof Your House

Aside from getting all the puppy essentials, you need to puppy-proof your house as well. As I mentioned before, puppies are little explorers and you need to make sure that your little furry friend doesn’t get hurt from some item in your home. You should put away the chemicals and medications, make sure the bathroom door is always closed and hide the electrical cords. Also, get rid of all the small objects lying around your house and make sure you’ve covered all the rough edges. After all, the last thing you want is for your puppy to choke on something miniature or chew on an electrical cord. That’s why you need to be thorough.