Guess what?! It’s spring time! The most perfect time to get a puppy! Right?!
In January, our 16 year old Shih Tzu passed away. It has actually been a tough couple of years of losing pets. So losing our 16 year old pup was extra hard. Our other dog, Sila, and I have been feeling pretty lost. Many years ago, I started finding all of the North Dakota animal rescues. This actually resulted in us adopting Sila from the Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue based out of Rolla, ND. Fast forward to this spring, I found the cutest puppy looking for his forever home! And surprise to me, Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue was going to be doing their first ever road trip to the area where we had just moved. Fortunately, that was just what my husband needed to convince him that it was meant to be! Two weeks later and a lot of anticipation, we met up with the founders of Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue and picked up our new puppy!
Maybe you are looking to add a new puppy to your family. Before welcoming a new family member, we want to prepare our hearts but also our homes. What all is needed before bringing home your new family member? I hope this checklist helps you get prepared.
New Puppy Checklist:
- Puppy Food: Try to get the same food the puppy is currently eating – either from where you are getting him/her or by purchasing the same food. This will be one less change the puppy has to go through right away therefore making it a smoother transition. Then once the puppy is settled, you can begin transitioning the puppy to the food of your choice.
- Food bowl
- Water bowl
- Bed: This can be an actual dog bed or some blankets, something that can be theirs.
- Crate: This is personal preference but in my experience it is nice having a crate and having a puppy be crate trained. If the puppy is not crate trained, you can begin the crate training process. Crates should never be used as a punishment. Treat it like you would your bed or your ‘safe’ place. If you have young kids as I do, it’s a place where the dog can go to sleep or just take a break from everything else. It is also nice when you have to leave your puppy, they will be in a safe, confined area.
- Puppy toys and bones: Puppies love to play and chew. By having these items, it allows the puppy to get some energy out appropriately.
- Puppy treats: It helps to have some positive enforcement especially if you are potty training. You can use puppy treats or puppy food kibble work great as well.
- Clean home: No, your home doesn’t need to be perfect by any means but you want to have things picked up off of the floor so the new puppy doesn’t get into anything they shouldn’t. As the puppy adjusts to your home and family, you will learn more about them. But to start off, it is nice having your home tidied up so you have less to worry about.
- A game plan as far as potty training if you are getting a puppy that isn’t house trained yet. Confine the area the puppy will be able to roam so that you can keep a better eye on them. Too much space sets them up for failure. I have used puppy pads in the past but the new thing I am hearing is alfalfa pellets. They smell like grass so it is easier to transition them outside. This is something I definitely want to try! If you have experience with these, comment below! I would love to learn more about this process.
Remember:
When you get your new puppy, their whole world has just changed. Research shows the first 3 days can be extremely stressful and the puppy’s true personality won’t show through. By 3 weeks, a puppy will be much more comfortable in its’ new home. Some puppies adjust faster than others so remember to allow time and remain patient. Being the pack leader will help your new puppy the most.
These are the most basic things to have ready prior to bringing home your new puppy. Remember to give both of you time to adjust. It may take a little while but you are creating a bond that will last a lifetime.
Side Note:
When I was a senior in college, I did my internship at a Humane Society in my hometown. Since that time, we have adopted or rescued all of our pets. However, during my early college days, my parents bought me my first Shih Tzu because I was extremely sick. I had always wanted a Shih Tzu as well as the experience of raising puppies so I did breed her. We had two litters of puppies and I was able to keep one for myself. I raised that puppy from birth until he passed away at the age of 13. And I raised his momma till she was 16 years old. While this was a great experience, it is not for everyone. Most animal shelters and rescues are full with animals that need loving homes. Many are there due to no fault of their own either. Unfortunately, many animals are put to sleep because shelters and rescues have their resources maxed out.
There are times when purchasing a purebred dog is what is right for your family. You will know deep down what animal you are looking for. For us, our last two dog adoptions have fit us perfectly. Sila is a German shepherd/lab mix dog who is an intimidating lover with a deep bark. Our puppy Timber, who is new to our family, is a Rottweiler and possibly Pyrenees mix. He is far less energetic and has a calming effect on Sila. We have talked about doing DNA tests on both of them to find out what breeds they are but ultimately, it doesn’t matter. We love them just the way they are.