Preparing for a New Puppy? Here is what to Expect

Bringing home a new puppy is exciting, but there’s lots you need to do to prepare! Get ready for the excitement (and hard work) of puppy ownership with our guide.

Preparing for your new puppy is such an exciting time. Pretty soon you’re going to have a small ball of fur (and joy) running around the house and you’re already thinking about all the fun times you are going to have together. But are you also prepared for the hard work and the time-consuming, sleep-depriving part of welcoming a puppy into the family? Very few puppy owners realise just how much their life is about to change. This might all sound a bit scary – but don’t panic! There are also plenty of amazing moments only a dog owner can experience.

9 things you need to know before bringing a new puppy home

Here are some of the things no one tells you before preparing for a new puppy, plus a few things to look forward to.

1. The puppy sleep learning curve

Puppy sleep can turn out to be quite an adventure. First of all, like human babies, puppies will not sleep through the night, and for a while, neither will you. They have small bladders and digestive systems and are not yet toilet trained which means they will need to go out to the toilet in the middle of the night (sometimes more than once). And you will need to go with them.

There is actually some good news (although you won’t be thinking that at 4am while you are standing outside in your dressing gown). This gives you more chances to reward them for going to the toilet in the right place - and the more chances you have to do that, the less time your puppy’s toilet training will take.

A puppy can’t sleep if they need to go to the toilet – so this will help their sleep training as well as their toilet training.

Having your puppy sleeping beside you, in a crate or a restricted area, will help the puppy settle, bond to you and make sure you know when they wake up. As long as you are prepared and don’t expect anything different, you will find that managing nights with your new puppy is straightforward and simple – and before too long, you will both be sleeping soundly through the night.

2. Puppy walking

In the early few weeks, your puppy will not be fully vaccinated and so will be at home - and all their exercise will be in the form of games, play, training – and fun in the garden. However, it won’t be long before you are going to be exploring further afield together.

Dog walking is important for keeping your puppy happy, healthy and well socialised – and giving them a change of scenery and experiences. It’s also something you have to do every single day – and depending on your dog’s breed and activity levels, these outings will build up to being long and active. Preparing for a new puppy means you have to be ready for all those early mornings, going for walks whatever the weather. 

3. Puppy-proofing your home and garden

Sometimes it is easy to forget that your puppy is still in the process of growing up. Just like a human baby, puppies can get into all kinds of trouble when your back is turned. And when it comes to chewing and eating things, puppies learn by putting things in their mouth, so everything is fair game when it comes to tasting, chewing and biting! This is them being naughty or ‘bad’, it’s just totally natural behaviour and you need to manage it appropriately – both for your puppy’s sake and also to keep your belongings and furnishings safe. 

Make things easy for your puppy by picking items up off the floor, by not leaving things lying around within puppy reach and by watching your puppy all the time. Make sure your puppy has plenty of their own things to gnaw so they are less likely to chew yours.

When it comes to puppy-proofing your garden, everything from fences to the type of plants within easy reach have to be taken into consideration. Make sure you fence off your favourite plants and remove the ones that pose a risk of intoxication or irritation for the new puppy. These are some of the least dog-friendly plants to be aware of: Lily, Azalea, Daffodil, Tomato, Foxglove, Yew and Hydrangea.

A puppy is just like a human baby. They have the whole world to discover, and the best part of it is that you’ll be there to experience it all by their side. 

4. Puppy games

You’ve heard it said that the couple who play together stay together – and that is the same with dogs. While dog walks are an ideal bonding time when you get to explore the great outdoors together, one of the greatest ways to bond with your puppy – especially in the early weeks – is through play and games.

To start with, all your games are going to be gentle and about teaching your puppy to trust you – but you will begin to discover how they like to play and what kinds of toys they like. Sometimes this could be soft toys – especially when they are young – but they can also include balls, kongs, tug toys, puzzle toys – and even handmade enrichment toys. 

Toys aren’t interesting to dogs when they don’t do anything! Play is a social event and so all your dog’s toys should be interactive toys that you can play with together. 

 

5. Puppy training

Puppy training classes are another important part of being a dog owner – and if you find a good training class, they can be fun for you both.

A training class will start with basic and well managed socialisation for your puppy and will move on to help you learn how to train your new canine companion. This will include everything from basic life skills to more advanced exercises that will give your dog more freedom when you are out and about and help you be able to keep them safe.

Not only will a good class give you and your puppy training and socialisation opportunities but will also give you access to a professional who can help answer your training questions as your puppy grows up. 

Having a support network for the fun stuff too can add a new dimension to both of your lives. Having friends, you can meet for dog walks and canine outings will give you and your dog a chance to be around different people, socialise and talk all things dogs.

Ask around friends, family and local dog owners to find a good class – or talk to your vet practice

Training is something that you will need to work on all through your dog’s life – and a good training class will give you the skills to be able to do that. 

6. Puppy day care arrangements

Another thing to consider when preparing for a new puppy is that now you have an extra member of the family to include in your plans before you leave the house. 

If you work and need to leave your puppy, choose who is going to look after your them at these times very carefully. They are at an important developmental stage in their life and so you need someone who has the experience and knowledge to be able to enhance their confidence, teach them important life-skills in a positive manner – and know what to do if anything goes wrong or in an emergency.

You may need to arrange day care or a dog walker. Dogs are a social species and do not do well on their own. A puppy needs constant attention to grow up healthy and happy, avoid behaviour problems – and to stay safe - especially in the early months.

If the puppy is too young to go doggie day-care, sometimes family and friends can be the answer. Involve them in your puppy’s life from the very start – maybe even when you’re deciding your choice of breed. After all, these aunts and uncles are going to be part of your puppy’s family. These are also great people to have on standby for those emergencies that we can never predict! Having someone who can take your puppy on a moment’s notice can help you out in times of crisis.

If you don’t have family or friends that can help, you are going to have to look for a professional pet sitter. Ask your vet and other local dog owners for recommendations. Make sure whoever you choose has experience, they are fully insured and have relevant qualifications (behaviour, training, veterinary nurse etc).

Check to see if your dog would be allowed to come to work when they are older. More and more employers are allowing well-behaved dogs into the workplace and this may be the best long-term solution for you and your dog.

7. Puppy vet arrangements

There are a few things that can be taken care of before your puppy’s arrival. One of them is registering the new puppy with the local vet practice. 

Your vet is someone who is going to be important throughout your dog’s life. After all you will be trusting your dog’s health and wellbeing to them, and you may need their help in times of emergency or crisis. So, find someone you like and feel comfortable with. Ask around dog-owning friends and family, use the internet, come up with a shortlist – and then visit.

Make sure you can get to the practice easily and you know who to contact and where to go in an out-of-hours emergency. Some practices do their own emergency cover while others get someone else to do it. This isn’t something you want to be trying to work out in the middle of the night when you really need them.

8. Parasites, fleas, ticks, mites

There are all sorts of nasty little creatures that can cause serious health problems for your puppy. Worms, fleas, ticks and mites are unfortunately part of a dog’s life and it’s up to you to keep an eye out for them. The unpleasant part is that you’ll have to familiarise yourself with all of these parasites, but the good news is that your vet will have a solution to all these problems and will devise a schedule to make sure your puppy and your home stay free of unwelcome visitors.

9. Puppy costs

Preparing for a new puppy also means getting ready for all the significant financial implications of owning a dog. From vaccinations, vets bill, food, toys, training, coat care, insurance, day care, and much, much more – there are significant expenses to keep in mind – with some charities suggesting that it costs around £2000/year to look after a dog. That’s £24,000 over an average lifetime! 

New puppy checklist

Put together the puppy checklist and go shopping. This part of preparing for a puppy is so much fun that it will take lots of willpower to stop you buying the whole shop! Although it can be tempting to buy lots of new things for your new dog, you should make sure you buy the essentials first and remember that the things you buy now will be quickly outgrown (or chewed!).

• Food: Check what type of food your puppy has been given by the breeder or rescue centre and continue with that same diet for the first few weeks until they have settled in. You can swap their food, gradually over a period of time later if you like, or if there are health reasons for doing so.
• Bowls: Buy one for food and one for water (for every room your puppy will spend time in). Choose ceramic or stainless steel so they can be properly cleaned.
• ID Tag: Ensure you have an identification tag ready before bringing your puppy home.
• Walking Gear: Get a soft puppy collar, lightweight training lead, and a puppy harness.
• Crate or Playpen: Use this for them to sleep in beside your bed, and to keep them safe when you are distracted with something else.
• Beds: Buy comfortable dog beds – or veterinary bedding – for every room your puppy will be spending time in.
• Safe Toys: Prepare a range of safe toys for chasing, chewing, or tugging.
• Grooming Equipment: Ask your puppy’s breeder for advice based on their specific coat care needs.
   

Puppies are hard work, especially in the early weeks – but anything worthwhile is. Dogs enrich our lives and give us so much pleasure and unconditional love from the moment we bring them home. Puppyhood is one of the most magical times you can spend with your dog. You are forging a bond that will last for life and with some preparation and realistic expectations, it really is simple and fun.

Knowing what to expect and being well prepared for your puppy will set you both up to succeed and make your first few weeks together a joyful voyage of discovery as you get to know and trust each other.

Read more useful tips on your puppy’s first day home and make sure you start puppy training early on and you’ll be set for a great start to your lives together. Have fun!

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