BEFORE PUPPY COMES HOME
One of the most important things you can do for your own peace of mind and to protect your puppy is "puppy proof" your home before you bring home your new puppy or older dog. This is basically the same as "baby proofing." Make sure electrical cords, plants, poisonous substances are all out of reach. Keep valuable or antique furniture out of harm's way and restrict your puppy's living area. The same advice goes for carpet and draperies. Use gates or play pens specifically made for pets to confine your new puppy to safe areas until he is through teething and housebroken. You can buy chew repellents for cabinets you can't move. Providing a few chew toys or bones may help also.
Outside, make sure gates are closed and secure and all fences are without escape holes. Check for missing or loose boards or bent wire. You may also wish to invest in a small fence to put inside your full yard fence. This way the puppy is not deprived but restricted from flower beds or other forbidden areas. If you have a swimming pool you must exercise the same caution you would with a small child. Either one of the previous mentioned restraining methods mentioned would probably serve to keep the puppy away from the pool. (Yes, dogs can swim but they often can’t get out of a pool by themselves and they subsequently drown.)
You might want to consider installing security lights and/or security systems to help protect you and your pet from theft or from nocturnal creatures in the air and on the ground. Make sure your puppy is never outside alone day or night; nocturnal creatures will scoop them up and off faster than you can turn around to save puppy.
Before the puppy comes home it is also a good idea to have your home and yard sprayed by a professional exterminator to make sure there are no fleas and/or ticks. You will find it is much easier to prevent fleas and ticks then it is to get rid of them!
Some older homes and furniture may have lead paint or use lead compounds in plumbing. In some areas of the country, lead is also in high concentrations in the soil. Lead is especially toxic to growing children and pets. Water filters or bottled water can help with the drinking water. You will have to investigate whether or not old paint is safe. Door jams, window sills and cupboards might pose the most risk to young teething/chewing puppies.
Call your vet and make an appointment for a "new puppy exam". Find a vet familiar with your breed, a related breed or at least small breeds in general. Plan on setting this new puppy exam within 5 days of picking up your puppy. Your vet can check for parasites and overall health.
A groomer is as important to puppies health as a vet, and someone puppy will see more frequently than the vet. Set up an appointment to visit and let them meet the puppy as soon as they are able to get acquainted and then stick to a regular schedule for their grooms. To neglect a groom can cause serious problems and can lead to a shaved down pet.
One of the most important things you can do for your own peace of mind and to protect your puppy is "puppy proof" your home before you bring home your new puppy or older dog. This is basically the same as "baby proofing." Make sure electrical cords, plants, poisonous substances are all out of reach. Keep valuable or antique furniture out of harm's way and restrict your puppy's living area. The same advice goes for carpet and draperies. Use gates or play pens specifically made for pets to confine your new puppy to safe areas until he is through teething and housebroken. You can buy chew repellents for cabinets you can't move. Providing a few chew toys or bones may help also.
Outside, make sure gates are closed and secure and all fences are without escape holes. Check for missing or loose boards or bent wire. You may also wish to invest in a small fence to put inside your full yard fence. This way the puppy is not deprived but restricted from flower beds or other forbidden areas. If you have a swimming pool you must exercise the same caution you would with a small child. Either one of the previous mentioned restraining methods mentioned would probably serve to keep the puppy away from the pool. (Yes, dogs can swim but they often can’t get out of a pool by themselves and they subsequently drown.)
You might want to consider installing security lights and/or security systems to help protect you and your pet from theft or from nocturnal creatures in the air and on the ground. Make sure your puppy is never outside alone day or night; nocturnal creatures will scoop them up and off faster than you can turn around to save puppy.
Before the puppy comes home it is also a good idea to have your home and yard sprayed by a professional exterminator to make sure there are no fleas and/or ticks. You will find it is much easier to prevent fleas and ticks then it is to get rid of them!
Some older homes and furniture may have lead paint or use lead compounds in plumbing. In some areas of the country, lead is also in high concentrations in the soil. Lead is especially toxic to growing children and pets. Water filters or bottled water can help with the drinking water. You will have to investigate whether or not old paint is safe. Door jams, window sills and cupboards might pose the most risk to young teething/chewing puppies.
Call your vet and make an appointment for a "new puppy exam". Find a vet familiar with your breed, a related breed or at least small breeds in general. Plan on setting this new puppy exam within 5 days of picking up your puppy. Your vet can check for parasites and overall health.
A groomer is as important to puppies health as a vet, and someone puppy will see more frequently than the vet. Set up an appointment to visit and let them meet the puppy as soon as they are able to get acquainted and then stick to a regular schedule for their grooms. To neglect a groom can cause serious problems and can lead to a shaved down pet.