Ten things to prepare your home for a puppy

We love all things dog. In our endeavour to bring education to pet parents, we collaborated with Anand Vishwanath, Founder & Pack Leader- Anvis Inc and spoke about the top ten thins to prepare your home for a puppy. Anand Vishwanath had been associated with dogs for over 30 years in various spaces – Training, Behaviour modification, breeding, participating in various dog competitions, counselling pet parents etc. Read on more insights.

 

 

Once your little hurricane pup is home, you will have absolutely no time for planning and getting your house ready. Most of our time goes into adoring the pup and playing with them day in and day out. This means we must do all the planning and preparation before we bring home our little pup.

We are often overwhelmed by some important questions such as what to feed the pup; what to keep away from reach; how to make food transitions; how to save your sandals; and which toy will be the best for the pup. Luckily, we have experts with insightful tips and answers to all the BIG questions before we bring home a pup. These first few days define the overall well-being of your pup and set the trend for the life you will have together.

To make the most of your time with your pup, be sure to always have a good support system of friends and nearby vets to always rescue you during the trying times. Never let yourself feel lost and always know that there are experts to always guide you into having a healthy approach to your pet’s upbringing.

Here are some FAQs on how to prepare the house for a new puppy:

1. What should I feed my new puppy?

Make sure you know what the puppy was eating before you picked them up. Find out exactly what the previous humans were feeding, how many times they were feeding in a day and what was the quantity per meal. Make sure the food is not given dry. Puppies’ overall development will be better when they consume food that is healthy and promotes bone and joint development.

Starter food is recommended by the reputable brands. Do not make any sudden change to the diet. Slowly change with appropriate proportions to acclimatise the pup to the new food. Don’t experiment with homemade food just yet. There is no need for additional supplements with a good brand starter food.

2. Why is protein important in my pup’s diet?

High Protein Diet is extremely crucial as it determines the overall growth of the pup. Most of the nutrients in a pup’s food is drawn through the protein quotient. Therefore, the diet should also be rich in protein (animal protein) to help development of the bones. It also keeps the fur soft and glossy. It is also important that your puppy's food is rich in DHA to help in the development of the nervous system, eyes, ears and brain. It also helps in increasing trainability and memory.

3. What is the right age to bring home a puppy?

Minimum 8 weeks to 12 weeks. Behavior issues are sorted in those weeks with their mother and siblings. Potty training is also done by the time you bring the pup home. Biting issues are also solved beforehand if the pup stays longer with the mother dog.

4. What are the important puppy accessories to get before bringing home the puppy?

Some important and effective accessories are food bowls, collar & leash, and a crate.  You will also want to buy a few toys to engage your puppy and indulge in playtime.

5. What should I keep in mind before buying a food bowl for my pup?

For a food bowl, you will go through a few bowls of different sizes before the pup grows up. Depth and size of the bowl should be very comfortable for the pup to eat their food. Don’t let your dog face difficulties in terms of the bowl being too big to awkwardly drown the pup while consuming their food. Try to look for a bowl with a rubber base as it is convenient to eat in. Keep at least 2 bowls at home at any point in time. They must always have access to clean water in their bowl.

6. Why do I need a collar and leash for my young pup?

It is important to use a small collar and leash so that they get used to the collar around their neck. This will save them from the shock of wearing a collar when they grow up to go out for walks. Choose nice colors that are visible so that people passing by know that a dog is crossing. You may also go for reflective leash and collars for early morning and late-night walks.

7. Why is a crate important? How valuable is crate training?

Puppies should have little home for themselves. Crate training is recommended because they should have a safe spot to rest. Animals are used to going under surfaces like beds, tables and chairs. This crate is not for any kind of punishment and should not be used as a punishment corner.

A crate keeps the puppy safe and away from access to dangerous items lying around the house. This is also useful for potty training. As a pup will never poop where they sleep, you must take them out to poop at regular intervals. Pick a good size so that there is enough space for your pup to move around. There are many crate sizes available in the market.

If you wish to avoid a crate, you may also go with a puppy bed. Beware of the accidents that may happen during the initial weeks of bringing the pup home. Take aid of towels as well so that washing, and cleaning is smooth during the growth phase.

8. Which toy should I pick for my pup?

Pick toys that induce interest and mental engagement. Always play with the dog. Don’t give soft toys with eyes, nose and other plastic components. Pups will easily break and swallow the parts they break away from the primary toy.

Choose toys in which you can fill something inside it such as frozen treats in balls. And other toys that will engage your pup and treats will drop out when they play with it.

9. How can I puppy proof my home?

Please remove your carpet! It is important to ensure your pup does not walk over the carpet and poop or pee on it. The scent will stay, and they will get used to using that area for their business. It is very difficult to clean and get rid of the smell.

Keep away all kinds of disinfectants, gardening items, kitchen hazardous tools, mosquito repellants, and any other dangerous items that must be out of your pup’s reach.

Stock up on newspapers as they are very convenient for cleaning and don’t leave any scent.  To learn more about puppy proofing your home, click here.

10. Will my pup chew my footwear and what should I do to manage this behavior?

First, just keep your expensive footwear away from reach. Don’t allow your pup to chew any footwears. Even non-expensive ones. Make sure you engage with them through other means and they are never tempted to play with footwear.

Dogspot.in went live with Anand Vishwanath, Founder & Pack Leader- Anvis Inc. Anand Vishwanath had been associated with dogs for over 30 years in various spaces – Training, Behaviour modification, breeding, participating in various dog competitions, counselling pet parents etc. Subsequently, he got certified as a Canine behaviourist under the very experienced John Rogerson of ‘Northern Centre for Canine Behaviour, UK’

Anand has been featured in many Indian and International media articles and publications including an interview with BBC on Indian Pet Industry and International Pet Relocation Services in specific.

Anand's company Anvis inc is a pioneer in providing courses to Pet Parents and Pet Lovers who want to learn better pet keeping and/or make a career in the pet industry.

Transcribed by: Monalisa Banerjee