We just picked up our new puppy, Bayley yesterday! It has been a crazy first 24 hours with our sweet pup! We had spent the entire past week preparing for our new puppy. We did a huge clean up all around the house to ensure that she was coming into a safe environment. Since we have not had a puppy for 15 years this means it’s the first time with kids and a puppy! Boy has it been a learning curve for all of us including Bayley.
Princess did a ton of research for what a new puppy would need and how to train a puppy. She even researched toys, treats, leash training, potty training, and basic puppy socialization. We found out about Puppy Playdates each Saturday held at our local Petco, we searched out Obedience classes. After talking to our vet he suggested NOT going to public dog parks or playdate until after two puppy well visits.
New Puppy Must Have List:
Collar
Leash
Crate– size big enough for the breed you have
Food and Water Bowls
Chew Toys
Treats
Puppy Food– check with your vet
We were blessed to be given a crate from another homeschool family whose puppy had outgrown it’s crate! We were given Bayley from a 2nd homeschool family. It just so happens that this family also has a three year old and a thirteen year old so our new puppy is used to kids of all ages.
Be sure to have a collar and a leash.
Find out the size of your puppy or the breed in order to purchase the correct size. Since we have a mixed breed we bought both a small and medium collar in the color that we wanted from Walmart. They were pretty inexpensive less then $4 each.
Have your food and water bowls bought.
You will want to be able to provide your puppy with food and water right away. We just used some old Dora bowls that Princess used as a toddler but we plan on buying actual pet bowls. Pet bowls would help prevent from tipping over so easily and spilling water everywhere!
Remember puppies like to chew
Puppies like to chew A LOT! We have bought 3-4 different types of raw hide chews and also provided a handful of toys. Rope toys either store bought or homemade can provide a comfortable chewing surface. A sock stuffed with crinkly snack bag (empty and washed) is a fun noisy toy that is sure to engage your puppy.
Be consistent in discipline and potty training
We take Bayley out to go potty on a leash in our backyard even though it’s fenced. We are trying to train her to go potty in a certain area which makes for easier clean-up. She is also very distracted like most puppies and if not told to go potty and taken to her potty area may forget and play. Then when she comes in may have to go and not be able to make it back outside!
Princess and even Lil’ Red have been working with Bayley to teach her sit. We are also trying to be consistent with saying “Off” when we want her to get off the table or off someone’s leg.
Choose an area in your house for your puppy
We have the intention to crate train our puppy but have fallen short in this department. She was such a tiny and cute thing that we let her sleep with one of our family members. Now she sleeps on my bed at night. I have had to keep a few chew toys on the bed to give her something to chew on in the middle of the night instead of a family member, lol. We do put her in a crate while we are gone and will need to get her used to it for a longer day trips or install a dog door.
What are your tips for a new puppy?
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