One of the most common things people have turned to, during the coronavirus outbreak and the numerous lockdowns that came with it, have been pets. So, it doesn’t come as a major surprise that it is during this time, many have taken their first step towards becoming pet parents.
If you just brought home a pet or if you’re getting ready to go pick up your little fur-ball, you need to be prepared for the new experience of the pet life!! This also means taking enough time out of your routine to be ready to be at their beck and call for a while. This will allow you to frequently take them out to do their business and allow you to monitor behaviors that they might try to engage in when you are eventually away from your home.
Since puppies happen to be the go-to option for people while looking for their first pet, we have curated a list of things you need to equip yourself with for taking that step and welcoming a new member to your family and how to raise a puppy.
Raising a puppy is no less than raising a baby, and we know how big of a change it can bring into a responsible pet owner’s life. We will try to make this as stress-free as possible for you so that both you and the little puppy start this journey of fluff and lots of love on the right paw.
Puppy care to-do list
- Do your research about the breed of the dog you are bringing in and do some shopping for toys in advance. Here’s a list of items you might want to consider while shopping for your young canine:
- Good quality puppy food and healthy dog treats (consult your vet for the kind of food they might suggest for the puppy
- A dog collar with their name ID on it (a little care goes a long way)
- A leash and a sturdy dog harness for walking them would especially come in handy while leash training them.
- A Dog bed, if you want.
- A dog brush or comb for their at-home grooming sessions
- Puppy safe shampoo and toothpaste
- Nail trimmers
- A travel bag to keep his necessities when you travel
- Fido-safe home cleaners.
- Prepare their food and water bowls well in advance and assign an appropriate crate for sleeping, preferably with cozy and comfortable fabrics. Do not let them spend more than two-three hours in the crate by themselves as a young puppy.
- Get your local vet’s contact and then visit the vet hospital well in advance to see if it suits your requirements: At their first vet appointment, the doctor will check the puppy for parasites or underlying health problems that need to be taken care of and addressed in the long run. They will most likely recommend a control program for parasites such as heartworms, ticks, and fleas. The vet will also introduce the puppy to the vaccination schedule and advise you regarding when to neuter them to avoid behavioral problems as they grow older and reduce potential health risks.
- Maintain a book of vaccinations and deworming sessions of the puppy so that you don’t miss out on important dates, don’t forget to mark them on your calendar too
- Pup-proof the house: remove carpets or rugs around the house for the time until the puppy has grown out of their teething phase, where they tend to make any available object their chew toy. Puppies are driven to chew a lot, especially as their adult teeth start coming in, and they may find their special brand of teething rings in the living room rug, your favorite pair of shoes, cords, and cables around the house, or even your hand. It is vital to remember that this phase is only as temporary as their adult teeth grow, and you only need to be careful until then. Cable, cords, and small objects are also choking and strangling hazards for the little puppy who doesn’t understand better.
- Prepare a diet chart for the puppy by consulting with their vet and giving them food and water only from their bowl. Do not share your food with the pup because that habit is tough to eliminate once they learn to expect a share from your food. Always give them their food in their food bowl.
- Training and toilet training: get them accustomed to easy verbal commands by way of positive rewards in the form of treats and compliments. Establish a poop/pee routine spot, keeping in mind that the puppies typically need to relieve themselves once every couple of hours. However, do not punish them heavily for a few accidents since they are expected to grow fully. Whenever they successfully wee, make sure to shower them with treats and praise.
- Make them accustomed to a regular grooming routine from a young age because otherwise shedding season or not, their fur will follow everywhere they go.
Also read this: Why Should You Get Pet Insurance?
Raise Your Pupper Right!
Your perfect puppy deserves the perfect growing up, and we know you want what’s best for them, and so do we. While nurturing the little newborn puppy may come off as a scary idea, and you’re constantly worried that you might mess up, we would suggest you take a deep breath and let the art of raising a puppy come naturally to you.
Because let’s admit, when you set your eyes on those big, cute puppy eyes, your heart is going to melt, and there won’t be looking back!
