You have made the decision to bring a new puppy into your home. You have researched which breed will best suit your family and lifestyle and have chosen where you are going to get your puppy from. You’ve gone and bought some recommended chew toys and puppy food and now you’re just waiting for the time when you can bring home your newest member of the family.
However, before that time comes, there are still a number of things you need to do to make your home as pup-safe as possible, not only to save yourself a lot of time and money if you chew on something it shouldn’t, but also to protect it. your new hurt pup.
Outside: check all fences; make sure there are no holes big enough for him to crawl through or get stuck in.
Take note of where you keep your rubbish bins, etc. Can your pup get into them or knock them over?
If you have a garden shed make sure all harmful chemicals etc are off the ground and out of reach, just like a small child your pup will want to investigate as much as they can.
Coil up your hoses and pick up any other garden tools you might leave lying around unless you want to use it as a chew toy.
If you have a prized garden area, you may want to fence it off, as while your pup is young, they will most likely decide that digging up their favorite roses is more fun than digging up weeds.
Inside: If you have kids, remind them that the new pup won’t understand that their favorite toy shouldn’t be drooled over, so they’ll have to pick it up and put it away. Puppies don’t understand the difference between what they can chew and what they can’t.
Make sure all of your electrical wires are hidden.
Make sure all your cupboards can be closed properly, again like little children they have an inquisitive nature and will want to know what is behind that partially closed door.
If you have stairs or a room that you don’t want them to enter, you may want to consider purchasing a wooden door or similar that can be placed across the opening.
Be prepared for late-night accidents by making sure you have enough newspaper, etc. to cover floors where your pup may be sleeping.
Training: You’ll want to start training your puppy as soon as possible and there are plenty of tips to help you along the way, but one of the key things to remember is consistency and patience.
Plan in advance what key phrases you are going to use, eg sit, lay down or get on the ground, etc., and always use the same one. Stock up on some puppy treats to use as a reward and remember to keep training fun and for a limited time only, your pup will get bored reasonably quickly so keep it short.