Have you decided to increase the family by adopting a puppy? Congratulations! When a new puppy comes home it’s an exciting time, but you may feel overwhelmed by all that needs to be done. For this reason, we have prepared a complete checklist with the tasks. It will help you to give the best possible welcome to the small animal and to start coexistence in a more harmonious way.
1. A new puppy in the family
The first 48 hours with the new puppy can be a lot of fun but also very demanding, because the little one will need a little time to adjust to the new house and the new family. When you bring home your new puppy, try to bring home (if possible) something from his old home, a blanket or a toy: it will remind him of his old home environment and help him get used to the new place faster.
In the beginning, set aside a space for your puppy in a safe area of the house so that it doesn’t get lost or hurt and has easy access to food, water and its bed. Gradually it will gain confidence and you can then let it explore larger areas. If you have a garden or patio, it is better that the puppy is guarded at first and that it is not exposed to the sun and weather for a long time. In addition, all veterinarians advise taking the puppy for walks and socializing only after all vaccinations have been completed. Establish a routine and a gradual adaptation of the diet following the advice of the veterinarian.
Buy the puppy a bed: dogs naturally look for a soft and protected place to sleep, therefore it is advisable to buy one, although you wouldn’t mind your dog sleeping in the bed with you. For outdoors dogs, it is important to have a kennel, which can provide shade on the hottest days and a shelter in case of rain or if it is cold.
2. Microchip and vaccines
There are specific regulations that indicate to the owners the process to follow to publicly register the pet as a member of the family. The moment we adopt a puppy, in fact, we become directly responsible for its health and living conditions. You must:
- Register it in the canine registry providing the necessary documents
- Keep the health booklet that the veterinarian will give you
- Put on the microchip that will have all the health and custody information on the inmate
- Follow the vaccination plan following the instructions of the veterinarian.
Remember that vaccinations can take several weeks to take full effect, therefore, unless your vet tells you otherwise, avoid taking your puppy outside for two weeks after the last vaccination, especially to the dog parks, the beach and in general to the street.
Do not forget to pay special attention to anti-parasitic prophylaxis and, especially during spring and summer, to fleas and ticks. In the checklist for a new puppy at home, this is one of the most important points!
You might also be interested in “What to do if a tick bites our dog?“
3. Lovely teeth
It’s never too early to start thinking about your pup’s dental health! Dogs start teething around 12 weeks. Most of the time, owners don’t realize when baby teeth fall out because they are often ingested by the animal, so don’t worry if you ever find a baby tooth lying around the house! During this phase your pup will probably start to chew on everything, so make sure you give it proper chew toys to save your shoes and furniture.
Until your puppy has all of its adult teeth, avoid giving him hard bones, as milk teeth are delicate and could broke by chewing on solid objects. Once all the adult teeth have come in (around 6 months), you have to start taking care of their dental hygiene. Veterinary dentists advise daily brushing of the teeth for cleaning and prevention of tartar. There are treats to nibble on that prevent the formation of tartar, giving our pet a hobby: the most recommended are those made of ox skin.
4. Feed and reward
Puppies begin to be able to eat solid food from 8 weeks, therefore we must consider this as the minimum acceptable age to separate it from the mother. What the puppy eats during the first year of life has a direct effect on its growth, bone development and its immune system. It also affects the risk of developing obesity as an adult. The specific food for puppies has the ideal balance of proteins, fats, calcium and phosphorus so that they develop correctly. In addition, they are usually highly digestible foods to protect the very young digestive system. Depending on the breed or size of your puppy, you will find different kinds of food: it is important to seek advice from the veterinarian and, in the case of changing food, make a slow and gradual change.
For their first “trainings”, you will be able to buy some snacks to reward good behaviour. But, ATTENTION! Avoid giving them our food because it could be harmful if not toxic to the dog.
5. Cuddles and baths
In the checklist for a new puppy at home, you absolutely cannot miss the bathroom box. Puppies have a tendency to get dirty, so you will have to have a delicate shampoo that is suitable for their young skin.
As a general rule, veterinarians advise giving your dog its first bath after 4 or 5 months to avoid dangerous colds which, together with an immune system that is not yet fully effective, could endanger health. Actually, with the proper precautions, you can start and after the vet’s OK you could even start earlier. In fact, from the point of view of behaviour, it is very important to accustom the puppy, from the first months, to the contact with water. The recommended frequency is once every 2 to 3 weeks, because more frequent bathing can dry out its skin and cause itching and flaking. Use our Puppy Kit which, in addition to having a specific formulation to protect the skin, is designed to keep your puppy’s hair smooth and shiny. Moreover, the kit contains an alcohol-free conditioning perfume, enriched with keratin, which you can use between washes to effortlessly detangle the hair and moisturize the dog’s skin.
Now that you have your checklist, you can finally sit down and enjoy time with your puppy between cuddles and games. You will see that the shoe bitten and abandoned in the garden will also steal a smile from you and gladden your heart. 😉
