It is an exciting thought: bringing home a new puppy or service dog candidate. This may be your first dog or it may be one of many, but nevertheless, that doesn’t take away from the excitement of having a brand new best friend to nurture and train.
Before the first day of having your new pet in your home, make sure you have undergone the necessary preparations to welcome them properly. Just like having an infant home, puppies need much more attention, care, and support in their early years.
Here are some things you should do in order to make sure your home is puppy-proof:
1. Set aside their own play pen / crate / general area.
Their main living space should be fenced and furnished appropriately. They should be safe from anything that could possibly harm or injure them. The fencing also protects you and the other people in the house — puppies can get a bit too excitable when they see humans, so to avoid the rampage every time someone enters the room, it is best to keep them sheltered in their own room when guests come over, at least until they calm down.
2. Put your cleaning materials such as bleach, soaps, disinfectants, shampoos, and other home and even personal care products in their own storage.
Puppies are eager to put everything in their mouths without a second thought — so make sure all the chemical products are tucked safely away in high places, out of their reach. We don’t want them to get their hands on these and get poisoned when they try to get a taste. For now, put these items in places that only adults can access.
3. Schedule your visit to the vet as soon as possible.
Get your puppy examined as soon as you can so that you know if there are any physical or health conditions that need to be taken note of. Also ask your pet’s doctor what the best diet is for your particular dog, so that you can give them proper nutrition from the beginning.
4. Shop for your food supplies.
Just like a human baby, proper nourishment is vital for good development in very young dogs. Make sure you choose holistic puppy foods and supply them the best diet for their particular breed and needs.
5. Have your leash and collar ready for attachment when necessary.
It would be good to put some identification on your puppy when you start going out for walks. If for any reason they get lost or are set loose by accident, the humans they end up with can easily see who they are and who they belong to.
The leash is there, of course, to make sure they don’t veer too far away from you when you do take your daily walks.
These are some of the preliminary ways you can puppy-proof your home. Make sure you have these basics all ironed out so that you are ready when you welcome your new dog.
Learn more about voluntary, community-defined training and behavior standards for handlers and their Service Dogs at USSDR.org