Are you thinking of adding a new puppy to your pack?
There’s so much to consider because puppies are a huge responsibility, and bringing one into your home isn’t a decision to be taken lightly. They require a lot of time, money, and attention, but there’s no denying that they are totally worth the effort.
Today I’m sharing a list of 7 things to do before you bring your new puppy home; many of these tips also apply to adult dogs. If you want to make sure you’re ready for your new addition, keep reading!
7 Things to Do Before You Bring Your New Puppy Home
1) Talk it over with your family. Be sure that everyone in your household is on board and is willing to take on some of the responsibility of having a new puppy in the home.
Remind family members that while a puppy is cute and can be a lot of fun, it really “takes a village”, and everyone is going to have to pitch in with training, feeding, and walking the new bundle of joy.
2) Research the breed. If you’re considering a particular breed of puppy, do your research to make sure that it is the right choice for you, your family, and your lifestyle. Just because you like a certain breed does not mean it’s going to be the right fit for your family.
Whether you plan to adopt from a shelter or get your pup from a reputable breeder, it’s important that you understand the breed first.
3) Refresh your memory. If you have not had a puppy in a while, or if you’ve never had one, you’ll want to brush up on your knowledge by grabbing a couple of good puppy books. I’m a big fan of Perfect Puppy in 7 Days by Dr. Sophia Yin, and also The Puppy Primer by Patricia B. McConnell. Both contain great information to help with your puppy both before her arrival and after you bring her home.
4) Puppy-proof your home. Puppies have a tendency to get into things, so you’ll want to make sure your home is safe before bringing her home. My advice is to work through each room of your home, making it safe in much the same way you’d baby-proof your home if a toddler lived there.
Once the puppy is at home with you, you’ll want to do regular “quick sweeps” each day, especially if you have small children who might leave toys and food laying about. Puppies love Barbie shoes and Legos, so you will need to try and keep as much of that as possible out of her reach.
5) Set some ground rules. Plan for the puppy’s care by making sure each family member knows their role. Who will feed the dog? Who will walk it? Who’s responsible for cleaning up any accidents? If these details are clear before puppy comes home, it’ll save on the arguing and bickering later.
6) Have everything in place BEFORE puppy comes home. You’re going to need lots of supplies for your puppy, and it’s best to get everything ready before bringing your pup home. Don’t wait until you’ve picked up your puppy and are driving home with her to stop for supplies. Plan ahead and make sure you’ve got everything you need already in set up and in place upon her arrival.
Be sure to check out my Puppy Starter Kit for all the supplies you’ll need for your new baby.
7) Make a vet appointment. Your puppy really should see a veterinarian within 72 hours of coming home, so be sure to schedule an appointment with your vet. If this is your first puppy and you don’t have a regular veterinarian, ask friends and family for a referral.
I truly believe the most important thing to do before bringing home your new puppy is to realize that you’re making a 12 to 15 year commitment to a living, breathing creature who will come to love and depend on you. If you’re not ready to make that kind of commitment, please don’t get a puppy.
What other suggestions do you have for someone who’s adding a new puppy to the pack? Please share your experience by leaving your tips in a comment below.
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Tricia Clements says
February 17, 2016 at 9:52 amGreat list. Too often the decision to adopt a new fur baby is taken too lightly. It’s not always fun and cute and this is a great list for people to consider so they don’t end up adopting a family member that doesn’t quite fit. We certainly don’t want them to end up in the local shelter looking for another home.
Thank you!
CarmaPoodale says
February 17, 2016 at 10:53 amWonderful list. I have been in a pet store too many times to see a new pawent buying what they need for a pet they just adopted. When adopting a pet like you said, be prepared!
Spencer the goldendoodle says
February 17, 2016 at 11:03 amGreat post, my humans are talking about getting another dog and they are going through a lot of these steps as the talk continues! 🙂
Julie says
February 17, 2016 at 1:03 pmSo important to know the commitment adopting a puppy. I think it is so good to be prepared and this is so good to remember. I would love to add another furry member to our family but we are not ready right now. I forget how hard it was when Cocoa was a pup. Up lots during the night and potty in the house but it was so fun and totally worth every second.
the Daily Pip says
February 17, 2016 at 1:28 pmGreat tips! We tend to adopt older animals, but the commitment is the same.
Sharon, Lessons From A Paralyzed Dog says
February 17, 2016 at 3:45 pmLove the list. I especially like item #3. I adopted a puppy last Christmas and it didn’t take long for her to “refresh my memory” about all of the time a puppy demands.
Kevin says
February 17, 2016 at 5:22 pmExcellent points. It is important to have the entire family on board before adding the responsibility of a puppy. It can be much more work than even those who have gone through it before remember!
Puppies are so adorable that people often make a spontaneous decision, but it really needs to be thought through!
Groovy Goldendoodles says
February 17, 2016 at 6:04 pmSuch valuable information shared here. I’ve been seeing a number of posts with this blog theme. Can’t stress the importance enough (in my opinion) about how serious folks need to be BEFORE they bring a puppy into their home. Great post.
Dachshund Nola says
February 17, 2016 at 9:22 pmGreat advice! I think another important one for multi-dog owners is to truly, honestly assess the dog/s you have, and if they can handle and tolerant, and hopefully wind up enjoying, a new addition. That’s been a big one for me! I’m lucky to have dog tolerant and dog friendly dogs, but that’s not always the case!
sadie says
February 17, 2016 at 9:37 pmI wish more people would do their research before making such a big decision. Great post.
Beth | Daily Dog Tag says
February 19, 2016 at 11:10 amBeing prepared can make the transition so much easier! It is also a good idea to do most of these things when you add an adult dog to the family.
Jade Brunet says
October 25, 2016 at 7:51 pmI appreciate this article about what to do before bringing home a new puppy. It is good to know that one should schedule a vet appointment in advance. I did not know that a puppy should see a veterinarian within its first 72 hours at its new home. Something else to consider would be to select a name. It would be best to start training starting at day one.
Kyle Winters says
March 31, 2017 at 8:29 pmI do like that you encourage people to puppy-proof their homes. After all, puppies are very eager to explore new and unfamiliar environments. This unfortunately means that they chew on stuff and can get themselves hurt, so you have to prepare your home for that.