Once You Brought Your Puppy Home, Next Steps

Here are the next steps once you brought your new puppy home.

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Congratulation on your new Puppy!

Now that you have all the necessary items as I mentioned in my previous blog, your puppy is ready to make himself at home.

Here is how you can make your puppy comfortable and happy in his new home.

First Step

Let him smell around your home and get familiar with all the new smells.

Show him where his food and water bowl is located and where his bed is.

I know it sounds funny to “show a dog around the house”. But trust me, this is an important step to get him oriented in his new home.

Oriented meaning:

– find one’s position in relation to a new and strange surroundings.

Let him walk around your home and smell things. If you have other pets, this would be a good time to introduce them to each other.

The Walking Gear

Now that he knows your home, bring him with you to a Pet Store so you can buy him a harness and a leash.

Bringing your dog with you to buy his leash, collar and harness is important to make sure you have the right size.

So make sure to get the following:

Dog Collar with Name Tag

I recommend you buying him a collar you can attach a name tag to.

On the name tag (which you most likely have to purchase separately) make sure you have the dog’s name, your address and phone number. Or if you can’t fit your address at least have your phone number.

This way if he gets lost, whoever finds him has a way to contact you. (microchipping is also recommended but I’ll write about that later)

Make sure its adjustable as puppies grow fast.

Now to walk a dog I recommend you buying a harness.

Comfortable Harness

A harness is different from a collar. It loops around your dog’s front and chest instead of just his neck.

I recommend getting a harness to walk your dog as it’s safer and more comfortable for your dog.

A collar alone is not recommended to walk him as it can hurt a dog’s throat or even choke him. It can cause problems in puppies, because the extra pressure around the neck squeezes the dog’s windpipe and can make breathing difficult. It can even create respiratory problems in dogs as they grow older.

So don’t walk your dog with the leash attached to the collar!

Purchase an appropriate size harness and leash.There are many kinds, if you are not sure which one to get, ask an associate at the pet store.

Tip: to make things easier when you pick the poop up after your pet, I recommend you buying a poop bag holder and poop bags. This way you always have bags with you for easy clean up.

Now you are ready to take your puppy on his first adventure.

Veterinarian Visit

Now that you have everything you need for your puppy, I recommend you taking him to a Veterinarian (if he hasn’t already gone to one).

You can easily find a Veterinarian near you.

Tip: if you do a little research there are Vets who offer a free exam for new clients. This can save you money as most Vet exams cost around $50! Look up all the Vets in your area and visit their website or call and ask if they have such a discount. Also sometimes they’ll put free exam coupons in newspapers etc. so make sure to check them too if you have any at home.

This is important as you want to make sure he is healthy and has the necessary shots.

For example in most states Rabies vaccination is legally required for dogs. Check your State’s regulations or ask a Veterinarian for more information.

Also microchipping is a good idea in case your pup ever runs away from you. This way if someone finds him, and brings him to a shelter or a Vet, they can easily scan the microchip and return your dog to you.

Talk to your Vet, he will tell you what your puppy needs.

Tip: some Veterinarians have Wellness Packages (might have a different name depending on the Vet) you can purchase. This usually include the vaccinations, neuter/spay, microchip, basic exam fee etc.

I recommend you purchasing one as it will save you money at the Vet in the long run. Puppies need to go to the Vet a lot to keep up with all the shots and make sure they stay healthy, so I really recommend it to save money.

Ask your Vet if they have such a package and what it includes.

Insurance – optional

Also if you can afford it, I recommend getting a insurance for your puppy.

You never know what might happen and some procedures at a vet (such as surgeries or even visiting an Emergency Vet) can sometimes cost several thousand dollars. If such a thing is needed for your pup, an insurance can help you save a lot of money.

Socializing your puppy

Now that your puppy visited the Vet, got his necessary shots and he is healthy it’s time to socialize him!

Note: if your puppy hasn’t received his shots yet do not do this step.

Bringing your puppy to parks where other dogs go can be very dangerous. There are several diseases your puppy can get from other dog’s urines, saliva or poop.

Make sure to check with your Veterinarian first if your puppy is ready to meet other dogs.

It is important to socialize your dog with other dogs and people. A dog that is always isolated might become scared and/or aggressive towards other dogs and people later on.

This is very easy to do. Just take your puppy to a nice park where people and dogs hang out.

Let him smell other dogs and people (of course first confirm with the other dog’s owner that his dog is not aggressive). Don’t approach dogs that are off leash with your puppy as you don’t know how they might react.

Also let him smell other people if they are okay with it. Who would say no to a cute puppy right?

If you do this daily (even if just on your regular dog walks), it will help your puppy a lot. He will get used to other dogs and people and not be aggressive unless you train him to be.