Prepare Your Home for a Puppy

November 2, 2022

Congratulations! You’re about to bring your very first puppy home! You’re probably bursting with excitement, and you might even be overwhelmed. That’s natural. You want everything to go well when you bring your brand-new furry friend home, and so do we!

The more you prepare for your puppy’s arrival, the less stress you’ll experience during those first few days, weeks, and months, especially on the very first night alone with your pup. 

Many aspects go into ensuring that your puppy experiences a smooth transition from the pet store to your home. There’s puppy-proofing, preparing and strategizing your potty-training routine, and emotionally fortifying your heart when your puppy must adjust to sleeping by himself. The sounds of a puppy whining can really pull on the heartstrings, but you must be strong for the both of you!

With so much to think about and juggle on top of managing your excitement and anticipation, you wouldn’t want to overlook important steps or forget about buying crucial supplies. 

You can count on Petland Miami to make sure nothing falls through the cracks. We’ve put together this checklist for you to use as a guide. By thoroughly preparing and knowing who to call if there are any unwelcome surprises, you’ll be on the right track to experiencing joy instead of headaches with your new puppy. And years of happiness will follow!

PUPPY-PROOFING YOUR HOME

Puppies feel an irresistible urge to investigate the very things that tend to be the most dangerous to them. Complicating matters is the fact that puppies “investigate” with their mouths by licking, chewing, and even trying to swallow whatever item they happen to be curious about. This tendency, in large part, goes away with age, and your puppy will outgrow trying to literally “digest” whatever he’s hoping to “figure out,” including your stinky gym socks! But for the first 8 months, you’re going to have to really watch him. 

Even more to the point, you’re going to have to make sure that there are zero choking hazards in plain sight at home. This cannot be overstated enough. You may even have to reconsider the bins and containers in your home, and if they have tops that are easy for a puppy to pry open, we recommend you invest in bins that close securely with a snap lock or twist-on cap. 

The most common around-the-house choking hazards include coins, marbles, paper clips, rubber bands, string, yarn, ribbon, pantyhose, jewelry, hair elastics, scrunchies, hair accessories, screws, nails, nuts, bolts, toolkit items, and the list goes on. Even a balled-up, used paper towel that isn’t properly disposed of can wind up in your puppy’s throat when you aren’t looking.

That brings us to the next important step in the puppy-proofing process—using trash receptacles that close and stay closed. The complex aromas of a typical garbage can, while repulsive to humans, are downright irresistible to puppies. Your puppy will naturally associate most of those smells with food, which means that if he gets into the trash, he’s going to try to eat what’s there.

Best case scenario, this will make a huge mess. But the worst case scenario could be fatal for your puppy. Many human foods are poisonous to dogs. You might be aware that chocolate is poisonous to dogs. But did you know that the list of poisonous food items includes grapes, avocados, onions, garlic, sugar-free gum with Xylitol, and most nuts? If you spit your gum out into the trash and your puppy gets in there, it could mean a trip to the doggy E.R. and no one wants that!

So, again, make sure the trash bins that you keep in the kitchen, bathrooms, tool shed, and any other area are mechanically able to close and stay closed. If not, then investing in new receptacles that stay closed is in high order. 

To elaborate on the serious topic of foods that are poisonous to dogs, we would like to take a moment now to mention that once your new puppy is home, you’re also going to want to be mindful when you eat your meals and snacks. 

Never feed your puppy scraps, because this will only cause him to form bad habits that will be hard to break later. But even more importantly, if your plate of food is out and you get a phone call or have to answer the door or go to the bathroom, do not leave your plate unattended. If you do, your puppy will definitely jump up and taste if not eat the meal. And if that meal has ingredients that are poisonous to dogs such as grapes or avocados, then again, it’s going to spell trouble! 

While we’re on the subject of choking hazards, it’s important to note that some dog treats can pose a danger, such as rawhide chew treats and other “chewy” foods. It’s fine to let your puppy have a chewy treat, but always monitor him while he’s chewing until the food treat is gone. Don’t leave the room or else you’ll run the risk of him choking when you’re gone. 

If your puppy does begin coughing, scratching at his mouth and neck, choking, gagging, or struggling with a chewy treat that gets caught in his throat, don’t panic or hesitate to act. 

First, try to remove the object by hand by opening your puppy’s mouth and looking down the entire esophagus cavity. The object could be visually present, and if so, use your fingers to remove it. 

If you’re unable to remove the object using your fingers, you can try using gravity by holding your puppy upside down, so that their head is facing down, and pat their back. You can also go a step further and perform the Heimlich Maneuver by kneeling behind your puppy, wrapping your arms around them and placing your fingers against the soft area just beneath their lower ribs. Then apply pressure in an “inwards and upwards” motion to that area of their stomach. This will cause your puppy to cough and retch and possibly vomit, all of which should dislodge the object. 

If you cannot remove the object by using these methods, or if you cannot see anything in your puppy’s throat, then take your puppy to the vet right away. Never try to use a tool like pinchers, thongs, or pliers to remove a difficult object. You will risk injuring your puppy! 

Important Warning Signs that Your Puppy Is Choking:   

• Gagging sounds
• Excessive drooling
• Repeated swallowing
• Vomiting or regurgitation
• Restlessness
• Pawing at the mouth or throat
• Hacking cough
• Apathy or listlessness
• Loss of appetite
• Trouble breathing

Pay particular attention to the less obvious warning signs. If your puppy seems apathetic or loses his appetite, take him to the vet straight away. He could have a small object caught in his esophagus.

As you can see, it’s extremely important to thoroughly puppy-proof your home so that your puppy doesn’t end up choking or getting poisoned. 

Beyond that, be sure to keep your doors and windows closed at all times, and make sure that the perimeter of your yard is fenced in so that your puppy can’t escape when he’s outside. 

We also recommend that you reassess your house plant situation. Double-check to make sure your plants aren’t poisonous to dogs, and if they are, find new places for them to sit that are out of reach. Also, if you have standing potted plants in the house, be warned that your puppy might try to play in the dirt—or poop there!—so you might want to move those plants to another location until your pup has matured. 

IMPORTANT ITEMS TO HAVE AT HOME

We’ve put together a literal checklist for you to reference at each step, from your pre-puppy shopping list to the list of vital contacts you’ll need on hand!

Before You Bring Your Puppy Home, You Need These Items:

• Adjustable collar
• Comfortable leash
• Dog tags with your puppy’s name and current contact information
• An understanding of how to register and activate your dog’s microchip, and if your puppy won’t come microchipped, then you’ll need to buy this item
• Food and water bowls
• Healthy puppy food
• Wee wee pads
• Poop bags and holder

Additional Items to Have on Hand:

• Puzzle toys
• Puppy-proof chew toys
• Pooper scooper
• Harness
• Crate
• Dog bed
• Brush
• Grooming wipes
• Dog treats
• Dog toothpaste and toothbrush
• Dog shampoo
• Enzyme spray for housebreaking accidents
• Carpet cleaner, also for housebreaking accidents 

Important Contacts to Have On Hand:

• Veterinarian 
• Dog trainer
• Dog walker 
• Pet sitter
• Pet insurance information
• Dog groomer
• Emergency contact friends and family members

PETLAND FLORIDA’S PUPPY TRAINING & PERKS

We know how important the first six weeks with your new puppy is. This is a critical time when good habits are formed, during which puppies learn commands and learn about when and where to go to the bathroom. To help assist new puppy parents navigate their furry friend’s puppyhood, we offer puppy training, as well as other perks to anyone who brings home a Petland pup!

6-Week Puppy Training

• We offer all customers with access to several premium perks that help them train and own well-mannered puppies.
• Every puppy has access to a puppy kindergarten. These are in-store, one-hour classes held once a week that help guide you with owning and training a new puppy. Our licensed puppy trainer will teach you essential puppy training lessons such as potty training, socialization, crate training, and more!
• We host a weekly Q&A session on Zoom with one of our licensed trainers. Each person will have 5 minutes of private 1-on-1 with our trainers.

Puppy Perks & Extras

• Each puppy comes with a microchip for lifetime identification with AKC Cart and Help Me Find My Pet (Amber Alert).
• We give a Lifetime Membership to our store that provides various discounts. We also offer a 50% discount for any nail trimmings and ear cleanings of your pets. 
• Three generation pedigree on most breeds.
• We provide our customers with a boarding day at store-selected veterinarians.
• Our puppies are socialized with children, adults, and other dogs prior to being place in their forever homes.

ONE FINAL TIP

That about wraps it up for how Petland Miami recommends that you prepare your home for your new puppy. Once your puppy is safe and secure at your home, that’s when the real fun begins. Yes, there will be challenges ahead in terms of successfully potty training and housebreaking your puppy. Our best advice is that you remain firm and consistent in your efforts. And if you get a Petland puppy, be sure to take advantage of our 6-week puppy training program! 

Our final tip has to do with getting your new puppy to fall asleep all by himself. After being weaned with his brothers and sisters and after getting used to snuggling up to the other pet store puppies, your puppy might be scared or sad to have to learn to sleep alone. That’s understandable, but it’s important not to cave and let your puppy sleep in your bed. 

For one, you could accidentally hurt your puppy if you let him sleep in your bed when he’s so little. And two, the habits that he forms as a puppy will be virtually impossible to get him to break later on. If you aren’t prepared to let your dog sleep in your bed with you carte blanche, then don’t let him do it when he’s a pup! 

Instead, here is our tip for success: 

• Many new puppy owners wonder where their puppy should sleep during those first few nights. We recommend that you prepare a cozy crate next to the dog bed where you would ultimately like your puppy to sleep. Cover the crate with a blanket and line the floor of the crate with blankets so that the area becomes a secure den. You can even place puppy-friendly stuffed animals inside the crate and one of your worn tee-shirts. This is where your puppy should sleep for about three full weeks once you bring him home. Then when he’s comfortable, you can move him to sleep in his dog bed.

Are you ready for your very own Petland puppy? Check out our adorable breeds or stop in one of our Florida locations.