So, you’re thinking about getting a puppy. First off, congratulations! Adopting a puppy is a hugely rewarding experience and a surefire way to guarantee a built-in best friend. Second, while adopting a puppy pretty much always sounds like a good idea, there is a lot to consider before making that decision.
We want to guide you through some of the big questions you should ask yourself before adopting a pup, and help you set yourself up for success once you do decide to adopt and bring a new member into your home.
Before You Adopt…
There are a few things you should consider. Adopting a dog of any age is a huge decision, emotionally, socially, and financially, but adopting a puppy is a lot like raising a toddler. There are a lot of upfront costs when it comes to adoption and a lot of expenses that can come up throughout your dog’s life. You want to make sure you can dedicate anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 a year to your pet’s upkeep, from vet visits to food to groomers. Beyond the cost, you will need to have a flexible enough schedule to help rear your new puppy. They need a lot more attention, training, and love while they get started in life.
If you can say yes to the personal preparation needed for a new puppy, then you can move on to the puppy search. You will want to consider what breed might work best for you, and adopt or shop from responsible breeders. A lot of breeders will have months-long waitlists so this will give you plenty of time to prepare for your new family member!
Bringing Home Puppy
Before you bring home your new pup you will need to puppy-proof your house, very similar to baby-proofing. Make sure electrical cords are secured, hazardous chemicals and plants are put away, and there aren’t any small or valuable objects in your puppy’s chew zone. Most importantly, you will want to create a dedicated space for your puppy.
Crate training is an excellent option, and as they grow their crate will become the bedroom they can retreat to and relax in. Make their space as cozy as possible with a soft bed, some new toys, and, as an extra tip, put one of your t-shirts or towels in there so your pup gets used to your scent. They’ll need food and water bowls, a leash, a collar, and tags at the very minimum. If you aren’t able to let them out as often as they need (an hour for every month they age is a good rule of thumb), then you should invest in puppy pads, though try not to keep them in their crate as you don’t want them to make a habit of going potty in there.
If you have young children, adopting a puppy can be an exciting time, but you want to make sure they are prepared as well and don’t overwhelm the pup. The best way to set your entire family up for success is by involving your kids in the puppy preparation process, whether that’s helping pick out toys at the store or taking a training class together at the local humane society. If you have younger kids, encourage them to gently play with the dog, or if you have older children they can help with training, feeding, and walks. Most importantly, you are providing your kids with a best bud to grow up with, so any time spent with their new pup is an excellent way to grow their bond!
Once they’re home…
First and foremost, establish a routine, and make sure they get plenty of sleep. Puppies will want to play when they’re awake, but younger pups can sleep up to twenty hours a day while they’re growing. Feed them breakfast and dinner at the same time every day and give them plenty of walks and potty breaks.
Often dogs shouldn’t interact with other dogs on walks or at dog parks until they’re fully vaccinated, so be aware of that while on those first walks with puppy. Speaking of vaccines, set up a vet appointment as soon as possible to establish care and get your pup on a schedule for vaccines and set up a timeline for getting spayed/neutered. The most important thing you need to do once your pup is at home is spend time together. You are a family now, and building that bond is paramount above all else.
If you’ve made it this far, let us be the first to congratulate you on your new puppy. You have made an important and wonderful decision and we wish you all a lifetime of love, laughs, and lots of tail wags!
When you’re looking for meals, we’ve got you covered. PetPlate is designed to feed pups at all stages of their life from puppy to senior citizen, so you can’t go wrong. They need more calories, so be sure to give us an accurate birth month if possible!
