Bringing your new puppy home Bringing your new puppy home is an exciting time! Whether you are an experienced dog owner or it’s your first time adopting a puppy it’s vital to properly prepare for their arrival. If prepared it will help to make it as stress-free as possible for the both of you. Here’s some tips to help you out: Firstly start with a puppy shopping list. Here’s the essentials: Puppy Food – Make sure you pick a mix specifically designed for puppy, as well as some small treats. Food and water bowls. Toys Poo bags – it’s vital to be a responsible owner and pick up after your puppy Dog crate Bed and or blankets Grooming brush You may also want to get: Puppy-friendly disinfectant spray to keep your home clean without using harmful chemicals. Flea and worm treatment designed to be suitable for small dogs and cats – your vet will be able to advise you on the best course. Make an area or designate a room for your puppy to explore initially Before welcoming your new family member, it’s suggested to “puppy proof” your home. Make sure to remove items around your home that your puppy could choke on. Set up a puppy room or puppy crate where their bed and toys will be. They will associate this as their safe place if they get scared, and is ideally in a quiet part of your home so they can adjust to their surroundings. Arriving home with your new puppy When you arrive home with your puppy, take them to a designated spot outside where they are to go ‘potty’ and let them relieve themselves. Once done, proceed to the room you have prepared for them, and allow them to explore when they are ready. Keep them in that room to allow them to become accustomed to the new sights and smells. Gradually let them explore more rooms over a period of time, as moving to a new home is a huge experience for a new puppy. Allow them the freedom to explore and they will come out in their own time. Take your puppy out regularly to ‘potty’ breaks in the same spot when you took them when you first got home. You will start to learn the signs when your pup needs to go out. It’s a great idea to use the same brand of puppy food that your pup was fed previously. This should help them adjust and encourage them to eat, but if you find you can’t find the same food that the breeder used, ask your vet for advice. Most vet practices offer a free puppy check, which help introduce your puppy to a positive experience of going to the vet along with the essential checks to ensure your puppy is happy and healthy. If you have children, encourage them to be calm around the new addition. Loud noises and screams will easily scare the puppy, so short supervised playtime is advised. The first night with your puppy It’s tempting to have your puppy sleep in your bed on the first night, but do not let this happen. Even if it’s just once, your puppy will expect it going forward and will be even harder to break the habit. Similarly, if you have children, make them aware not to disturb the puppy during the night. In the early stages of their life, your puppy should be kept in a crate at night so they don’t have access to the house and get into trouble. Get the right pet insurance for your new family member As part of being a responsible pet owner, having puppy insurance in place for your new family member is advisable. Remember not all puppy insurance is the same so look and different polices may offer your puppy different benefits. Our most popular lifetime cover protects your puppy for any ongoing conditions that may arise. And once you have the right puppy insurance in place to cover the cost of any unexpected veterinary fees you can concentrate on getting to know your new puppy!