Have you recently become a proud owner of a puppy? Congratulations! You made a wonderful decision. Your life will change for the better because you now have a true life companion. Puppies bring a lot of joy to your world but you also need to do your part. You need to learn a few things so that you know how to take good care of your new best friend. So, let’s jump right in!

Get your home ready

Safety is of utmost importance! Before you bring home your beloved puppy, we advise you to make sure that your home is as safe as possible. Just like toddlers, puppies like to explore and check everything out in the house. That’s why you need to protect your belongings from being destroyed by an adventurous puppy. Many call this act of preparation ‘puppy-proofing’. It is similar to toddler-proofing, but there are some differences. Place electrical cords, potential toxins and breakable items out of your puppy’s reach. Do know that ‘child-safe’ latches don’t work on curious and determined puppies. Secure lower cabinets and drawers with locks or metal hardware. It needs to be chew-proof. Invest in pet gates in order to keep your puppy away from certain rooms in your home. We believe that keeping your puppy away from the kitchen and the trash can is a good idea. Your puppy will be safe and you’ll have your peace.

Puppy essentials

Your little pooch will need various items from the very beginning. Some of these items are essential while others are quite helpful. The most important items include a leash, a collar with identification, food and water bowls and chew toys. A comfortable dog bed is recommended and a crate or kennel. Some of these items last for ages but as your puppy grows older, they will need to be replaced. Collars are adjustable but only up to a certain point. When it comes to chew toys, don’t be stingy, since it’s better for your puppy to chew those toys than your furniture. It would also be a great idea to get some chewables from NexGard for dogs, which prevent flea infestations and deter ticks. Considering that your puppy will be quite active and brimming with energy, walks and runs at the park will be common. Of course, your puppy will play on the grass and that gives ticks a chance to strike. So take every necessary measure to prevent infestations. Last but not least, brace yourself for the expenses associated with dog ownership. You’ll want to create a budget and stick to it. Have some extra cash in your budget for unexpected costs too. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

The puppy’s health

Since you’ll want to take good care of your puppy’s health, you have to find a good veterinarian. Within a few days of bringing your new puppy home, you need to take him to your vet for a general checkup. Make the trip to the vet’s office a good experience for your puppy. You don’t want your pooch to be scared of vet, since you’ll be paying quite a lot of visits during the first six months. Firstly, a puppy vaccine is obligatory. If you believe that your puppy should be spayed or neutered, make sure that you do that during that six-month period, too. A vet can identify any potential health issue early on, so establish a good communication with them. Another good idea would be to purchase pet health insurance. In some cases, pet health insurance covers up to 80% of your dog’s health care costs. That way you’ll keep your puppy’s expenses down.

Good food

Just like you choose only the best food for yourself, the same should apply for your puppy. Especially when you consider the fact that your puppy’s diet makes all the difference in his future health and well-being. Firstly, do your research before deciding on which dog food to buy. Consult your vet and fellow dog owners. You can always switch to another food if the food you initially bought does not fit your puppy the best. Fortunately, nowadays the choices seem endless. Some proud owners opt for premium foods while many other go for natural diets. Popularity-wise, homemade and raw diets are on the rise. Take into account the quality of the ingredients, the inclusion of proper nutrients and the taste while you are looking for puppy food. Choose a food appropriate for growth! The food needs to be healthy but your puppy also needs to enjoy eating it.

Follow our guide and you will be ready for the challenge. Just like you take good care of yourself, you need to do the same for your beloved pet. After all, you won’t find a better friend.