New Puppy Dos & Don’ts
In honor of National Puppy Day on March 23rd, we wanted to give new pet parents some easy Do’s & Don’ts to help guide them through the wonderful & wild world of pet ownership.
Establishing an owner/pet relationship comes with its benefits and challenges alike. Their new puppy breath, the sweet cuddles, mini barks, and clumsy playtimes are all the best but come with food snafus, potty accidents, and those costly visits to the vet.
Do:
1. Make a First Time Vet Visit
The health of your new puppy is top priority. Research vets in your area, call to make a consultation appointment to get to know your vet, make sure it’s a good fit, then schedule your first-time checkup. A relationship with your vet is just like any other doctor/patient relationship and should professional. But you are your pet’s only advocate so you should feel comfortable explaining any concerns or complications you may have with your vet.
2. Be Prepared
Buy everything you need in advance so when your puppy finally comes home you are able to focus on your new fur baby. Get an assortment of toys and a starter food kit. Make sure you have a puppy formula dry food, water and feed bowls appropriate for their size, and a feeding mat is great for all those first-time messes.
3. Create a Space
While your puppy is getting to know their new home, make them smaller spaces near you so you can monitor behavior and make sure they are safe! You can use baby gates or close certain doors to create a space in the beginning and gradually making it bigger as they grow and you both become more confident in their surroundings.
4. Make Time
New puppies require a lot of training in the beginning, so you need to make time to set standards of behavior like when & how to go potty and eating schedules. If you are training with an invisible fence or training collar, think about taking a few days off to really put in the work to set a good foundation for the future.
5. Have Patience
Having a new puppy is so much fun! But also, so much work. Do not go into pet ownership lightly. They are living creatures that need love, effort, and a great amount of care. And most importantly, pet ownership requires patience for yourself and your training abilities as well as patience for your puppy. Take a moment and breathe when you are cleaning up the fourth accident that day or when they have chewed up your favorite pair of shoes. They will get more trained, you will get better at training, and your relationship will be more established with time.
Don’t:
1. Be Nervous
Uncertainty naturally breeds nervousness. It is okay to feel nervous but try and not let that be the main emotion. Animals can pick up on our emotions and feelings and you need your new puppy to feel safe and welcome into their new environment. Remember they are going to a brand-new place with new smells and sounds and will be nervous enough for the both of you! So do both of you a favor and relax. You are going to do great.
2. Over Think It
Research is great and knowledge is power but try not to overthink the situation. Yes, be prepared but don’t buy five different foods or three different types of bowls to “see what will work”. Your new puppy won’t know the difference. In fact, letting go and going with the flow may be your salvation. Instead of focusing on what is “right & wrong” get to know your puppy’s personality and habits. When you learn the core of who your dog is, the better you will be able to accommodate their personality.
3. Be Afraid to Ask for Help
Have you a lifeline list of people to call when you are feeling overwhelmed. Save the vet for the medical and emergency questions. Talk to friend, family, maybe even some coworkers, or people that you have met out in dog populated places like daycare or the dog park. See what has worked for them and who knows, maybe you will come out with a playdate for your new pup!
4. Be Hard on Yourself
If they don’t eat the first puppy food you buy it is okay. If they don’t want to go outside or be around you for the first few days it is OKAY. Don’t be hard on yourself. Take a step back, realize you are giving this puppy a wonderful home, and don’t be so hard on yourself. They will get used to their new environment soon enough and everything will work itself out.
5. Don’t Give Up!
Creating a support system through some of the steps above will help you get through the tough parts of the puppy stage. Remember you wanted a puppy for a reason and there are so many people that will help you! Trust us anytime you feel like it is not going your way, just looking at them giving you the “puppy eyes” will melt you into mush in no time!
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Which Do or Don’t did you find most helpful? Let us know @pupcorntreats on Instagram.
