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What to Know When You Bring Your Puppy Home
What to Know When You Bring Your Puppy Home

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Puppy Essential for Welcoming Home a New Puppy

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Bringing home a new puppy is a fun and exciting event for a first-time dog parent. Congratulations! If you have recently brought a cute little puppy home. We know the joy that comes with welcoming a tiny furry pup into your family; however, with a newborn pet comes new responsibilities. And the most important responsibility as a dog parent is being prepared with the right puppy essentials. These essentials will help you ensure that your four-legged angel feels comfortable in its new home. 
 

However, if this is your first time being a pet guardian, you might be nervous about getting the right items for your floof. You might even get overwhelmed with the items that you need to buy for the health and safety of your fur baby. Therefore, you must be prepared with all the essentials well in advance. Since this is your first time, you must also learn basic skills like how to pick up a puppy. After all, you don’t want to make your pooch uncomfortable.
 

How to pick up a puppy?

Puppies are cute and cuddly, which makes it impossible for new pet parents to not have the urge to pick and hold them at every instance. But before you rush to pick up the cuddly fur baby, you need to know how to pick a puppy in the correct way. Since its body is still developing, you must know how to hold your pooch without hurting its body. Given below are a few steps to follow for picking up a new puppy after bringing a puppy home.

  1. Step 1: Puppy’s body is fragile, so gently place one hand under the puppy’s rump, and the other hand under its chest.
  2. Step 2: Lift the pup with both arms. You can use this technique to lift small dogs. For larger dogs, wrap both arms around its legs, draw it to your chest, and lift.

Puppy essentials to get before your dog comes home

Before you bring home your dog, make sure you have all the things needed for the puppy at home. Welcome your little one by keeping the new puppy checklist ready:

  1. Premium pet food: Puppies need food that is specially formulated for their needs. Since these little angels need more calcium, phosphorous, fat, and protein, their foods contain more calories per bite. With IAMS™, you can rest assured that your little pooch receives right nutrients in right quantities for healthy growth and development. Moreover, our range of dog food is made with highest-quality ingredients for better digestibility.
  2. Treats: There are two kinds of treats – healthy treats and training treats. Healthy treats include chews and dental snacks. Training treats are commonly used for teaching puppies to accept commands.
  3. Bedding: Every dog deserves comfortable bedding to snuggle in after a long session of being cute and adorable. Consider the size of your dog when buying a bedding. Also, get cushions and a blanket to keep it cosy and well-rested.
  4. Bowls: Food and water bowls are an important part of the list. Get at least one set of each according to the pup’s size and eating style. Use stainless steel bowls as they neither break easily nor absorb odour.
  5. Puppy crates: Handy crates are great options while travelling or driving with your pup. Get a crate according to the size of your dog. Buying airline-approved crates is better as it makes travelling easy. Its scent in the crate will provide comfort and a sense of security during stressful times.
  6. Clothing: Select the best pair of clothing for the puppy’s first day in its new home. Get a fit jumper to prevent the dog from getting cold. You can get protective clothing for long-haired dogs to keep them dry and clean during winter. Make sure the clothing does not irritate the dog.
  7. Collar and leash: Choose the right collar and leash to help your pup move around freely without any discomfort. Pick an adjustable 'breakaway' collar made with plastic clips that will unsnap in case your puppy gets stuck up on something. Select collars with two fingers of adjustable space to the growing size of your dog. A nylon leash of 6-feet that is around ½ to ¾ inch wide should work well.
  8. Toys: To keep your puppy entertained for long hours, get chew toys, snuggle toys, and puzzle toys. These toys will also keep them mentally active and fresh. Do not get small toys that pose a risk of swallowing or harm.
  9. Poop bags and holder: You wouldn’t want your puppy to take all the blame for roadside poo, right? Using a poop bag and holder for cleaning after the dog has pooped in a public place is a civil duty of every pet parent. Hence, you should get a poop bag and holder to pick up its excrement.
  10. Grooming equipment: Put together a little grooming bag for your dog. Include items like dog shampoo, brushes and combs, nail clippers, dog toothpaste and toothbrush, stain remover etc. for cleaning.
  11. Identification tag: Make cute IDs for your pup that attach to their collar with your information. Mention your pup’s name, your name, your phone number, and your veterinarian’s phone number.
  12. Fencing: Another element that makes to the list of puppy essentials is fences and gates. After all, you don’t want the dog to run or be disturbed. There are several types of fences – privacy fencing, chain link, kennels etc. If you have little children, make sure you get the fencing done to safeguard them from each other.

Things needed for the puppy to feel cosy in the new place

You need to arrange for a few things as your puppy is cosying up at the new place. The following are a few things you can do to make your puppy feel at home in its new abode:

  1. Step 1: On the puppy’s first day at home, make a designated potty area for it. Installing a peeing pad is suggested. If the puppy pees in the right spot, make sure to offer a treat to it. Follow the same steps for potty training.
  2. Step 2: Keep the puppy’s crate and bedding in one specific place. If possible, create this area away from the usual commotion so that the puppy gets to rest in peace without getting distressed at least during the initial days.
  3. Step 3: Allow the fur baby to explore its new home and get familiar with its surroundings. Puppy-proof the house to avoid any possible accidents around sharp corners and slippery floors.
  4. Step 4: Introduce everyone to the new member on the puppy’s first day. Invite it to play without annoying or stressing it. Puppies are ideally very excited and will try to mingle with everyone around. However, if it tries to hide, then allow it some alone time. Offer treats and pet it to try and ease the new fur baby in its new home.

Cozying up new puppy to children

Ideally, take your kids along when adopting a puppy. This way, the children will feel more connected to the newest addition to the family. Once you get the puppy home, it is natural that your kids will want to play with the new family member. However, don't let them play together for longer durations as both puppies and babies need a lot of rest. Limit puppy-children play sessions to a maximum of 15 to 30 minutes twice or thrice a day. However, you should constantly observe them as both kids and puppies need constant guidance for safety.
 

Introducing new puppy to other pets

Puppies are curious and clueless. They need constant observation to avoid accidents and clashes. You need to be vigilant and alert when introducing your new puppy to other pets. It is best to introduce the puppy to other pets once they have settled in the new place. Take the puppy to the senior dogs and allow them to mingle. Do not worry if they sniff or lick each other as it’s a normal way of greeting. However, you might need to intervene if they start biting or barking at each other.
 

Although bringing a puppy home is a joyous occasion, do not forget to get all the puppy essentials to welcome it to its new home. Make a new puppy checklist consisting of all the essential items that you need to get for the fur baby. Food, grooming kit, bedding, and treats are some of the most essential things you need to arrange for the new fur baby. However, along with arranging for materialistic things, you also need to create a safe, secure, and nurturing environment for your dog to grow in.

Frequently asked questions

  1. Why does a puppy need a checklist?
  2. New puppy checklist is important to keep a track of essential items that you should buy before the pup comes home. This checklist covers all important things ranging from food, leashes, crates, and more.

  3. What do puppies need the most?
  4. There are many things needed for a puppy from time to time. Along with nutritious food, rest, and regular training, they also need a secure and enriching environment to grow in.

  5. Where should a puppy sleep on its first night home?
  6. On your puppy’s first night home, it should sleep in a dog crate. Add blankets and cushions to ensure that the crate is cosy.

  • Puppy Basics: Health Care Essentials
    Puppy Basics: Health Care Essentials
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    Puppy Health Checklist

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    Puppies like human babies need additional love, care, and support in their growing age. The first month of a new puppy is critical as it needs the best healthcare, nutrition, and love to grow into a healthy and cheerful dog. Puppy health becomes the primary responsibility of pet parents during this stage. They must ensure preventive care and medical support alongside providing proper nourishment. To know more about the puppy health checklist, read the following.
     

    Puppy health essentials

    Maintaining puppy health is the foremost important duty of every pet parent. Consulting a vet, vaccinating, neutering, and availing regular healthcare check-ups are a few duties of puppy caregivers. Similarly, other puppy preventive care includes:

    • Veterinarian visits: Taking an appointment to see a vet is the first thing puppy caregivers should do. Consulting the vet helps the pet parent understand their fur baby’s healthcare and behavioural requirements. The vet also conducts a thorough health check-up to diagnose the puppy’s allergies or health concerns. Besides, vets also give helpful insights on puppy preventive care and grooming tips to pet parents. Prepare for your puppy's first vet visit by making sure you're ready and well-informed about the experience.
    • Deworming: Worm and parasite treatment is necessary for puppies. Veterinarians often recommend a stool examination on the puppy’s first visit to diagnose worms and parasites. Worms are very common among puppies; hence, vets recommend a deworming session on the puppy’s first visit.
    • Vaccination: Like humans, puppies too need immunity to fight harmful viruses, bacteria, and diseases. To keep your puppy’s health in check, it is important to get them vaccinated against harmful diseases like hepatitis, distemper, rabies, parainfluenza virus, parvovirus, and Bordetella. Make sure that you go through the puppy vaccination guide before consulting your vet. This will help you jot down any questions regarding the vaccination process and schedule. However, as a pet parent, you must know that vaccination is not limited to puppies, adult and senior dogs also need booster shots to fight back fatal diseases.
    • Flea treatment: Ticks and fleas are extremely common in puppies. Getting your puppy treated for fleas and ticks is important for their hygiene and well-being. These parasites treat your fur baby as a host to feed on its blood and suck away all essential nutrients away from its body. Besides, fleas and ticks also cause a lot of irritation to puppies. So, frequent ticks and flea treatment is recommended for the puppy’s health.
    • Health and exercise: Puppies are playful and energetic. Pet parents can build a healthy routine for their fur babies by dedicating a fixed time for walks and playtime. Doing so will keep the puppy entertained and healthy. Spending playtime with the puppy will also help you to establish a strong bond with it. Besides, this also aids in observing the puppy to gauge its development, health, and mood.
    • Balanced diet: Puppies need more energy as they are constantly growing. However, their anatomy is way smaller than the amount of energy they require. Therefore, pet parents need to ensure puppies are fed a well-balanced, nutrient-dense diet. Protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates are some essential nutrients required for a puppy’s physical well-being. Moreover, puppies should be fed at least 3 to 4 meals a day to support their nutritional requirements for healthy growth. With IAMS™ puppy food, you can provide your pooch with a nutritionally balanced meal for healthy growth and development. Thanks to our best-quality ingredients, you do not have to worry about digestibility.

    Puppy medical care

    Medical and preventive care is extremely necessary for puppies. Younger puppies are too small to understand what is good or bad for them. Besides, they are also very curious, playful, and energetic during their initial years. This playful and curious nature can sometimes lead to harmful situations.
     

    Puppies often play and munch on random objects, which can sometimes result in toxication. In fact, accidents are also common in puppies as they lack cognitive skills to measure the consequences of their action. Hence, pet parents should pay more attention to their puppy’s growth and development. Some essential puppy health recommendations are as mentioned:

    • Finding a vet: Taking your pup for regular health check-ups is essential for a its adequate growth and development. Consulting a veterinarian will provide useful insights and health tips for the puppy’s well-being. However, before visiting a vet, you should check important details like the doctor’s experience, speciality, and location. You need an experienced vet in or around your vicinity.
    • Health check-up: On visiting the vet, request a few tests to diagnose and treat any abnormalities or diseases. Stool test for internal parasites and head-to-tail examinations for inspecting the puppy’s fur, eyes, ear, mouth, and body are conducted by the vet during your initial visits to diagnose and treat health issues.
    • Feeding medicines: Veterinary doctors prescribe medication or supplements for treating any underlying illness and replenishing vitamin deficiency in puppies. However, feeding medicines to puppies or dogs is not an easy task. Follow the steps given below to learn how to successfully feed medicines to puppies.
    1. Step 1: Start with a play session to relax the puppy. Praise it for good behaviour and sit nearby once it calms down.
    2. Step 2: Keep the pill ready in one hand and gently open the puppy’s mouth using your free hand.
    3. Step 3: Place the pill at the far end of your puppy’s tongue and remove your hand. Now, quickly hold your puppy’s mouth shut and blow gently on its nose. Blowing air on the puppy’s nose will force it to swallow the pill.
    4. Step 4: Offer the fur baby a treat for good behaviour and resume playtime.

    Apart following puppy health checklist, pet parents also need to ensure their fur baby is provided with other basic facilities for their overall growth and development. Training and socializing are as important as providing the best healthcare.
     

    Besides, potty training and command training establishes hygiene and good behavior in them from a young age. To conclude, puppy health, fitness, and training are some of the most essential aspects for the overall growth and development of puppies.

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