Now that our little guys are close to going home to their new families it is time for those families or anyone bringing home a new puppy to think about what they need to do in order to prepair for the new arrival.
The biggest purchase and probably the most important is the kind of kennel you will provide for your puppy. If you can, look around for the best price, because you will need a larger kennel they are not cheep. Even though your puppy is not large yet you will not want to get a small kennel. This will be his new room and a place you want him to enjoy and feel safe and something he can grow with. For Abe and I we purchased a large wire mesh kennel that came with a divider. We used the divider while our dogs were small so they did not have a huge kennel all to themselves and be more likely to make messes. As our pups got bigger then we were able to just remove the divider to the full size of the kennel. We also put in old blankets and towels so they had a comfortable place to rest. One great suggestion we got was to let your puppy eat in the kennel when they are first introduced to it so they become familiar with the new space. You will want to leave the door open so he knows he can come and go. Also as a note even though we purchased a large kennel, it worked great for awhile, but now that our dogs are full grown it is on the small side to were they can not stand up all the way without hitting their head on the top. So it may be better to go with an extra large size unless you want to purchase another kennel down the road.
Next make sure you have a vet in place to take your new puppy to. You will want to get your puppy checked out soon after you get him home. They will require further puppy vaccinations and that is a good time to get them established with their vet.
You will also need to get them a dog dish for their food and water. We really like the stainless steal dishes, they hold up great. Just be prepared for lots of water on your floor, it gets everywhere. Crombie as he has gotten older likes to take his food out of his dish and then lay down and eat it or lay down and eat out of his bowl. We have also gotten holders for their dishes so the food sits up higher and they do not have to bend down as much.
Make sure you have a collar and leash for your puppy and tags. It is also highly recommended to get them a microchip. You can register this with the AKC and your vet so if your puppy or grown dog get out of the yard or lost they can get back home to you. Most vet offices will do this or you can check with your local Humain Society. Our Humain Society of Utah was the cheapest and charged $25.
Puppies also love to chew so you will want to provide him with plenty of toys for entertainment. Most toys are great but you will want to make sure they don't have anything the puppy can chew off such as buttons etc. were they could possibly choke. Be careful of toys with stuffing. Crombie loved to de-fluff all those toys or took it as a challenge to get the squeaker out which can also be a chocking hazard. I have read a few times that plastic milk bottles are great toys so we gave it a try and that is Nessie's favorite thing to chew on. She loves to get the cap off and chew on the handle. Just make sure once it is really chewed to throw it away so they don't get any bits they could choke on. Be mindful that puppies loose their baby teeth and that is one reason why they love to chew. We also really like the Kong toys were you can put peanut butter or cheese in for a treat, it also gives them a good challenge. Be watchful that they are not chewing on things you don't want them too such as furniture. Crombie even tried to chew on the corners of our walls! You can purchase sprays that are bitter to the dogs which can help deter them from your furniture. Rawhide is not recommended since once they go soft the puppy may be able to get some off and choke or it can cause stomach and digestive problems.
Your puppy will be hungry when you first get him home so make sure you already have the puppy food you are going to be giving him. Currently we are feeding them the Costco puppy food brand with some wet food mixed in and a little water. This helps soften the dry food so they can handle it a bit better. We are currently feeding the puppies three times a day. You will want to watch how much he eats to make sure he is getting enough. Your puppy will most likely gain 10lbs a month after you get him home for the first few months.
I hope this helps our new owners as they prepair for their new puppies! We are very happy to answer any questions before or after your get your new puppy home so don't hesitate to email or call:)
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