Puppies 101: Everything You Need to Know For Your New Puppy
Tips from Our Veterinary Care Specialists
Whether you've owned many pets over the years or the idea of raising a dog is completely new to you, welcoming a puppy into your life is a big decision. It is something that will bring you great joy, but also comes with a great deal of responsibility. Making sure you're properly prepared will help set you up for success. Read on to learn about everything you need to know to care for your new puppy!
Prepare Your Home
Puppies often engage in destructive behaviors, meaning you will want to protect your belongings against their chewing and scratching. At the same time, it's important to protect the puppy against anything that could harm it. Scan your house for potential hazards and approach the search from a puppy's eye-level. Common puppy-proofing precautions include hiding electrical cords, locking cabinets that contain toxins, and placing breakable items out of reach. If there are stairs or entire rooms of your house that you want avoided for the time being, a baby gate is a good option.
Gather Supplies
It can be exciting to give your pet all sorts of fun toys to play with, but when starting off it's better to stick to a shopping list of the essentials. Your puppy will need a collar with ID tags, a leash, food and water dishes, and a bed. It is strongly recommended to have a kennel or crate for dog boarding
as well. Leave room to grow with some of these items and understand that others may need to be replaced over time. Creating a budget for future pet expenses may be a good idea, just be sure to pad it with some extra funds to prepare for the unexpected.
Find a Vet
Do your research on your local veterinarians and try to figure out the right one for you before you bring your puppy home. They should have their first veterinary care visit within a few days, and it will primarily consist of a physical examination. Bring any paperwork you have for your dog and plan to learn about the standard pet vaccination
schedule. You can also discuss other matters such as pet dental care
, pet insurance, and spaying or neutering. Taking steps to make these early vet visits good experiences for your puppy will help a lot down the road.
For quality veterinary care
in the Bryan, College Station, and Chapel Hill, TX area or additional tips for raising a new puppy, contact
Briarcrest Veterinary Clinic today!
