Hey Ollie blog readers! We’re offering you an exclusive 60% OFF your starter box! Try now!
Welcoming a new puppy into your life and home is an exciting time filled with “firsts,” but this magical time also requires careful planning to ensure a positive transition for your pup. Preparing your home and ensuring you have everything you need—such as puppy food, a leash, a collar, food, and toys—will allow you to focus on bonding with your new puppy when the big day finally arrives.
This comprehensive guide will go over all you need to know to become the ultimate pet parent. We’ve partnered with dog trainers, veterinarians, behavioral specialists and dog nutritionists to provide you with this comprehensive guide.
Puppies aren’t born with good manners or any concept of good and bad behavior, so it’s up to you to ensure their new home is safe and free from household dangers.
Dog-proofing protects your curious puppy from harmful items or hazards in the surrounding environment. Common dog-proofing steps include identifying and removing, replacing, or securing potential dangers such as household toxins, harmful plants, choking hazards, electrical cords, and precious or breakable items, and installing barriers to limit your puppy’s access to certain rooms or doorways to prevent unauthorized exploration or escape. Don’t forget to address outdoor spaces where your puppy may be playing, as these can contain additional hazards.
Dog-proofing your home is essential to keep your curious puppy safe from potential hazards.
Key steps include:
Learn: Guide to Dog Proofing Your Home
Puppies shouldn’t have free range in your home, as this can make it difficult to supervise their behavior and maintain clear potty training criteria. Instead, set up a secure and welcoming space for your puppy with an exercise pen or gates.
Position this area centrally so your puppy feels included in family activities and can be easily watched. Make sure there’s enough space for your puppy to eat, drink, sleep, and play include their crate to offer a cozy retreat whenever they need some quiet time.
Vet Tips: How to Crate Train Your New Puppy.
Puppies need the right supplies to keep them healthy, safe, comfortable, and preoccupied! Have all your essentials on hand before you bring your puppy home, including:
Discover: How to Choose Safe Dog Toys
Your puppy’s list will likely grow with them as you learn more about their unique preferences and needs, so be prepared to do some extra shopping once you get to know your new best friend.
Making the best choices for your puppy’s health and wellness can feel intimidating and overwhelming, especially regarding what you’ll feed them. Understanding your puppy’s unique nutritional needs, and how they can change as your pup grows and matures, can help you make a confident and informed decision.
Dogs require specific nutrition tailored to each life stage.
Additionally, caloric needs vary between small and large breeds. It’s crucial that at every stage, a dog’s diet is complete and balanced to provide the necessary vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
Dog food is available in a range of formulations to satisfy dog and owner preferences. The most popular types of dog food include:
Your puppy’s meal portion size will depend on several factors including their age, current weight and body condition, and anticipated adult weight. While your veterinarian is the best resource for determining how much to feed your growing puppy, plan to feed several small meals throughout the day to ensure proper development and steady energy.
Ollie makes it easy to feed your dog with confidence. Our customized meal portions ensure you’re always serving up the appropriate balance of flavor and nutrition to support your growing puppy.
Your puppy’s early veterinary care and wellness sets them up for a lifetime of health. Assemble your puppy’s care team (e.g., veterinarian, groomer, trainer) to ensure their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
If you don’t already have a veterinarian you trust, research and interview several different practices before scheduling your puppy’s first visit.
Things to consider include:
Read: How to Find the Right Vet for Your Dog
Vaccines train your puppy’s immune system to defend itself against dangerous—often deadly—viruses and diseases such as parvovirus, canine distemper, and rabies. Although your veterinarian will provide detailed guidance, puppy vaccines are generally administered as a series with visits every three to four weeks until the puppy is 16 weeks old.
Review: Guide to First-Year Puppy Vaccine Schedule
Pet insurance lessens the strain of unexpected veterinary expenses and provides powerful peace of mind that no matter what happens, your puppy can receive the necessary care. Research pet insurance carriers and policies to determine the best fit for your budget and needs.
Low-impact exercise is key to building your growing puppy’s coordination and strength, but prolonged or intense activity can damage their fragile growth plates or cause soft tissue injuries. During your puppy’s development, focus on providing short, frequent play sessions to satisfy your puppy’s exercise needs, but avoid repetitive or concussive movements, such as jumping, sharp turns, or prolonged running. For a more in-depth calculation and ideas on types of exercise, check out our guide.
Read: Guide to Exercise for Dogs
Basic care tasks such as tooth brushing, ear cleaning, nail trimming, bathing, and brushing support your puppy’s overall health and keep them smelling and feeling fresh. Introducing these tasks early and positively will make future needs (e.g., professional grooming and veterinary care) a pleasant experience for your dog.
Learn: How Often Should I Groom My Dog?
Introducing your puppy to new people, places, pets, and things helps them learn about their environment, gain confidence, and become a well-adjusted adult dog. We recommend partnering with a positive reinforcement-based dog trainer who can walk you through socialization training.
6 Trainer Tips: How to Introduce Dogs to Other Dogs
Your puppy is a sponge for knowledge. Early training sets a strong foundation for your future adult dog’s behavior and will help them become a model canine citizen.
In addition to basic position cues such as “Sit” and “Down,” obedience training helps your dog learn life-saving skills and behaviors such as “Come,” “Stay,” and “Leave it,” and basic manners such as not jumping, barking, or pulling on the leash. However, there’s a whole world of types of dog training from puppy kindergarten training to advanced tricks classes.
Learn more: Choosing the Right Dog Training Program
Leash training is a crucial part of raising a well-behaved dog and ensures safe, enjoyable walks for both you and your puppy. Make sure to start early and choose the right gear for your new furry friend. Remember, leash training is also an opportunity for you to strengthen your bond. With consistency and positive reinforcement, your puppy will learn to view their leash as a sign of upcoming adventures together rather than a restriction of their freedom.
Trainer Tips: How to Leash Train Your Puppy in 7 Steps
Consistency is key to successful potty training. Establish a routine and stick with it. This should include taking your puppy to their designated area after eating, drinking, playing, or sleeping. When accidents happen—and they will—don’t scold your puppy. Instead, clean the area and take your puppy out more often.
Learn: How to Potty Train a Puppy
Crate training provides comfort and safety for puppies and can help accelerate potty training. Crate training also provides lifelong benefits as your dog will feel calm and safe when confined—such as during travel, veterinary stays, or emergencies.
Trainer Tips: How to Crate Train Your Puppy
As a new puppy owner, you’ll likely have a lot of questions about what to expect and how to ensure you’re making the right choices for your new friend. Don’t worry, this is normal! Here’s some expert advice on some of the most frequently asked questions about puppies.
Introduce your puppy to their potty area and praise them for any efforts. Then, allow your puppy to explore their indoor puppy-proof space, including their crate, bed, and toys. Although this is an exciting time, remember not to overwhelm your puppy with too many new people or things—they’re going through a lot of changes!
For your puppy’s safety and training success, they should sleep in their crate. Position the crate near your bed—ideally within arm’s length so the puppy can smell, hear, and see you and you can respond to their needs.
If your puppy cries or whines at night, first consider whether they may need to go to the bathroom. If the whining persists after taking your puppy to their potty area, try gently reassuring them by speaking in soothing tones or placing your hand against the crate.
Right away! Puppies can begin learning at any age. Usereward-based training to build the puppy’s trust. Early training should include potty training, crate training, socialization, name recognition, offered attention and life-saving skills such as “Come,” “Stay,” and “Leave it.”
Teething puppies attempt to relieve their sore gums by chewing on various—sometimes inappropriate—items. Offering your puppy dog-safe teething rings or rubber chews—many of which can be frozen for added relief—can help them safely express their need to chew.
Biting or nipping is often an excitement-based behavior that puppies engage in during play. Discourage biting and nipping by disengaging with the puppy when they begin to play rough. If the nipping continues after a brief pause, calmly take your puppy to their crate for a nap.
Although everyone will be excited to meet your new puppy, giving your new best friend a few days to adjust to their new environment is important. Conduct greetings in a calm and low-key manner, inviting only one or two people to visit at a time. Keep lots of tasty treats and fun toys on hand to distract or redirect your puppy when necessary, and ensure all visitors wash their hands before and after meeting your new pup!
The Ollie blog is devoted to helping pet parents lead healthier lives with their pups. If you want to learn more about our fresh, human-grade food, check out MyOllie.com.
Tagged As:
The nutrition your dog needs,
the food they want.
Enjoying our articles? Subscribe our Newsletters and get new articles directly to your inbox
21 November 2024
11 MINS READ
Your heart is ready for a new dog, but that’s not all you need to prepare! While it’s easy to say “Yes” to those endearing eyes and wagging tail, adding a dog to your life is an enormous r…
by Fable
22 June 2023
6 MINS READ
Fireworks may be summer’s soundtrack, but these loud and sudden noises signal terror for many noise-sensitive pups. Learn why dogs become so rattled by fireworks and how you can help your pup fee…
4 March 2023
2 MINS READ
Keep your pup’s mealtime routine neat and tidy with these organizing tips and tricks from the Ollie pack.
by Ollie Pets