Bringing home a puppy is one of the most precious—and challenging—moments of your life. Puppies are our friends when we need them the most. They offer us cuddles, unconditional love, and lots of kisses! Our furry friends also need lifelong dedication from their owners, such as regular visits to the vet, training, and exercise. Puppies […]
Bringing home a puppy is one of the most precious—and challenging—moments of your life. Puppies are our friends when we need them the most. They offer us cuddles, unconditional love, and lots of kisses! Our furry friends also need lifelong dedication from their owners, such as regular visits to the vet, training, and exercise. Puppies won’t stay small forever so you need to make sure that you’ll always be there for your cuddly friend.
To help you get started, we’ve come up with a list of things you need to know before ever buying a puppy. Let’s take a look at each!
Many puppy parents fall for their impulses. We get it. It’s hard to resist the charms of a cute puppy once you look at them for the first time. But it’s important to remember one key thing: raising a puppy is not easy. Just like with babies, you’ll need to devote a lot of patience and time to your furry friend. Your puppy does not know your rules or how the world around them works. They also don’t know what behavior will earn them rewards or praises. That’s where training comes in.
If you cannot dedicate time to train and socialize your puppy, they may not grow up to be well-mannered dogs. Puppies also need other essentials to live a happy life, such as food, water, bedding, grooming toys, leashes, and collars. Are you ready to commit to your puppy? Think about your life commitments and schedule before you decide to purchase a puppy.
One of the best steps to make before buying a puppy is to do research. Every puppy has a distinct set of traits that are inherent to its breed. This includes personality, size, looks, grooming, and even training needs. What works for one dog will likely not work for another. For example, a Bulldog doesn’t require a lot of exercise due to its physical structure. The same cannot be said for breeds like the Golden Retriever or the Poodle.
Without exercise, playtime, or any activity, these dogs can become restless, leading to destructive behavior. Other dogs are perfect for small apartments while others thrive in homes with large backyards. Some owners should also consider the sizes of their dream puppies. Smaller dogs are known to be slightly stubborn and bossy, which means you need to devote more attention to training. Larger dogs tend to be less aggressive but they usually need more food, exercise, and other essentials than smaller breeds. By researching each dog breed and their individual needs, you ensure you find the right dog for your personality and lifestyle.
When your puppy is finally home, they’re likely going to explore every inch of your house and backyard. You may not know it but your house and backyard are a dangerous place for little puppies! Whether it’s electrical outlets, medications, or poisonous plants, your home is full of serious hazards that can harm your puppy’s health.
Make sure you prepare your home before your puppy comes home. Put away any medications or cleaning supplies in an area that’s hard to reach. Lock up all rooms you don’t want your puppy to enter. Store all human foods, especially chocolate, grapes, and onions in your fridge. For your backyard, be sure to move toxic plants to a secure location. You should also check your fence for any spaces that your furry friend may crawl under. Most importantly, never allow your puppy unsupervised while exploring outside.
Food, water, toys, beds, crates—there are many supplies that every puppy needs to live a happy life. Welcome your puppy home by having all of their supplies ready. Now, you only need to start with basic supplies like food bowls, collars, leashes, and brushes. These are things that will help your puppy adjust to their new surroundings and life with you. As your puppy matures into a well-rounded dog, you can buy other supplies like toys or treats based on their likes and dislikes. You may also want to purchase another leash to help you leash train your puppy during walks.
Your new puppy needs to see a licensed veterinarian regularly. This is especially important during their first months at home. Throughout their life, they’ll need physical evaluations and vaccinations to keep up their health. That’s why we recommend finding a licensed veterinarian near you before you decide to buy a puppy. Do some research on what respectable vets are in your area. Review online reviews so that you know what to expect. Make sure that you can afford the prices. Once you have your puppy at home, you’ll have the best-licensed veterinarian you can count on to keep them healthy.
Buying a puppy should never be an impulsive decision. There’s so much that goes on with raising a puppy so think twice before you make the decision on the spot. If you’re ready to add a new puppy to your family, your next step is finding the best place! Our staff at Petland is committed to helping you find your furry soulmate!
