Expecting a New Puppy?

These nine suggestions may help the transition from breeder or rescue to your home a little easier.

Using some equipment may not only help keep your puppy safe, but also save your belongings.

1.       Choose a crate that comes with a Puppy Panel. You can extend the Puppy Panel as your puppy grow and you will only have to buy oneIf the crate is too big, the puppy will likely eliminate in one corner and sleep in another. Also, the crate shouldn’t be so small that he doesn’t have room to sit up or stretch out.

2.      It is very tempting to buy a nice cozy bed, but try to hold off on that for now. A puppy will either pee on it or tear it apart. Of course, you can add some bedding, but use something old like sheets, T-shirts, or

3.      I recommend a wire-panel exercise pen, which can be configured to any size or shape you might need. They can also be used to block doorways to rooms you’d like to keep off-limits. Great for homes with open floor plans.

4.      Wee-wee pads maybe a solution for apartment dwellers. Remember it’s difficult, but not impossible, to transition a puppy to eliminate outside after they have been trained on a wee-wee pad.

5.      A new puppy will chew anything in his path including your shoes, furniture, or molding. Make sure you have plenty of toys to chew instead, and always offer a toy when you catch him chewing on inappropriate items.

6.      After puppy-proofing your home, there may still be a few items you can’t just place out of puppy’s reach, like your furniture. Bitter spray can be applied to most household items. It’s scentless for humans, but tastes nasty to dogs, and keeps their curious mouths away.

7.      Ask the breeder or shelter what they are feeding the puppy then have it on hand before you bring him home. This will prevent unnecessary accidents because of diarrhea. Use stainless-steel bowls (steel collects less bacteria than glass or plastic).

  8.      Even the best-trained puppy will have an accident at some point. Use an enzymatic cleaner! Avoid any cleaner that contains ammonia as it smells just like pee to a dog, and dogs love “going” where they’ve “gone” before.

9.   Register for puppy classes with a Certified Professional Dog Trainer that offers free puppy socialization.