Bringing a new puppy into your family is a very exciting time. Once the puppy has arrived things can become a bit chaotic so here are our top tips to help you prepare for your puppies arrival.

1)   ID tag and Microchipping

Legally dogs must now wear a collar with an ID tag that displays their owner’s name and address however adding a phone number too this helps. Collars can slip off or break which could result in your dog not making it home.  Another form of identification is via microchiping. This is a small microchip that is injected into the back of your dog’s neck and holds all of the owner’s information.  Vets have scanners which they can pick up the information from the chips.

2)   Water Bowls

These are a great source of fun for a young puppy as well as being a potential toy for chewing if they are plastic or knocked over if they are not weighted in someway. The choice of water bowls is vast and you can even choose one suited to your chosen breed of dog now. A heavy bottomed metal bowl, which can easily be cleaned, yet is less likely to tip over or be chewed is the ideal bowl.

3)   Toys

Toys are a great way for puppies to have fun and also keep them selves occupied. There is a wide range of different toys on the market today, from balls, Frisbees, tugs and so much more. Toys can also be used primarily for training purposes, which help your puppy associate training and fun together. Teething Puppies will get their mouths on anything they can possibly chew, whether it is going to cause them an injury or just mess up your home. This is a very important time to have toys for your puppy to chew on.

4)   Stair Gates

Many people just associate stair gates with children, but puppies can be even more trouble than young children at times.  Having stair gates in places to prevent your puppy from going into parts of the house they may not be allowed to also protect things they may chew.

5)   Insurance

Pet insurance can be a very important factor when buying a puppy, especially if they are the sort that can get into trouble.  Your vet would be the best person to talk to about how much basic treatments can cost, as any treatments could be costly.  It is a great idea to compare many different insurers as with any insurers you may get more cover for your money with certain companies.

6)   A Crate

When you first brought your puppy home you may have been given a travelling crate.  They are great for putting in the back of your car to show your puppy new sights and also get them used to travelling in case they do need to go to the vet. You must ensure the crate is big enough for your puppy to move around comfortably before using. Crates can be great ways to toilet train your puppy, as they do not like to go to the toilet in their own bed. At night, you can put your puppy in the crate to seep as long as they are let out at suitable times to prevent them from messing.

7)   Who will look after your puppy when you are not able to

Many people do not think who will look after their puppy whilst they are out at work or just going out for the day. There are companies that provide a service where someone can come in and either walks your puppy for you or just a quick toilet break and play to break up their day. For information on what Friends for Pets can offer please take a look at http://www.friendsforpets.co.uk/dog-walking-services/

8)   Choosing a vet

Its important that you trust the vet you have chosen, so ask a few neighboring dog owners which vets they may use. In a case of an emergency it’s great to know that you are not too far away from your vet. There are many different tools that can be used on the interest to search for vets in your area, as well as their client reviews. Taking things along to the vets with you such as treats or toys is great as it may make the puppy calm down and not associate the vets with bad experiences.

9)   Training your puppy

Training is one of the most important aspects of bringing up your puppy. Socialization would e top of the list, to ensure they will get on with other dogs and people. There are many puppy classes, which can be a great idea for your puppy to interact with others, and you can share experiences with other owners.  Dogs that had hardly any socialization when they were puppies re more likely going to be badly behaved around others. It is important that you do have control over your dog as it just makes your life and your dogs life much more enjoyable and less stressful.

10) Collar

When you first get your puppy depending on their age they may not be able to go out for walks until they have had all of their essential jabs. It’s a good idea to put a lead and collar on your puppy when they go out in the garden or just around the house within this period. When it comes to going for walks there will be no issue of putting the lead on. There are so many different collars and leads you can but today, in many different materials.  Collars can be adjusted depending on the width of your puppy’s neck. For a comfortable fit you should be able to fit a couple of fingers between the collar and your puppy’s neck. Its amazing how quick they grow so it is important you check the fitting very frequently.