There are many things to think about when you decide to get a puppy and you may not immediate get used to taking care of one at first. It can be a lot of responsibility and it could take some time to truly adjust to figuring out how to look after a puppy. If you don’t know where to start, you can ask friends, family, veterinary experts, or the puppy's breeder for some tips on how to look after your new puppy. You can also do your own research about dog ownership using reliable sources like this blog.

One of the most important things to remember about understanding how to look after a new puppy is that it might be a group effort if you live with people. You may have already had a conversation with your roommates/family about a puppy, but they should understand that it could end up taking their time and energy, not just yours.

Here are some ways that you can prepare your house, or home, for a puppy.

Buy Everything Beforehand

One of the smartest things you can do to prepare your house for the new puppy is to purchase everything you need before you bring them home. Obviously, you should buy at least a week’s worth of food so that your puppy has enough to eat. You might also want to experiment with purchasing several different low-calorie snacks and seeing what your puppy likes the most. If you're unsure of what food to give your puppy, speak to your vet or the puppy's breeder who may supply you with a dietary plan.

Remember that treats can also help a lot when it comes to puppy training skills. Purchase treats with different textures so that you can find out more about your puppy and its particular preferences. Do some research to figure out the best diet practices for your puppy, as well.

Of course, your puppy will need a lot more than food. Consider purchasing different toys to figure out what your dog enjoys. It might take some research to find the best toys, and reading consumer reviews might point you in the right direction. Keeping a puppy mentally stimulated by using the right toys is one of the best ways to ensure you have a well behaved, intelligent dog in the future.

What kind of toys should you purchase for your puppy? One way to figure out what they like is to purchase chew-resistant toys so that they can chew on one or several toys, and they might also be drawn to plush toys of some kind. These toys are usually not that expensive, so you won’t have to drain your bank account as you learn how to look after a new puppy.

What else should you buy for your dog? There’s one thing that you might have forgotten: get food and water bowls made for dogs so that the puppy remains hydrated and healthy. Raised food bowls are great for a dog’s physical health, and you can elevate the bowl as your puppy grows.

Another way to make sure that your puppy remains hydrated is to consider buying a drinking fountain, which will provide them with a constant supply of fresh running water. These replicate the natural running water that dogs would drink in the wild, and it’s a smart and convenient purchase to make if you can afford it.

For those who are figuring out how to look after a new puppy, you must remember to purchase leashes, collars, a dog bed, and whatever might suit your puppy’s needs. You can always buy more items, but you should purchase the items that you’ll need right away before you bring them home.

Puppy Proofing

It doesn’t matter where you live, you have to think about the safety of your puppy at your home, whether you live in a small apartment or a mansion. This involves preparing for a puppy and making sure that there’s nothing that could cause them a significant amount of harm. Your dog will spend a lot of time where you live, so you will want to puppy-proof your home.

One of the first things you can do to protect your new puppy in your home is to unplug any electrical cords and move them out of reach; A puppy might end up chewing a cord and it could lead to them being electrocuted. Of course, you also don’t want your new puppy to destroy all the electrical cords for your expensive gadgets either.

If you take any medications, you will want to keep these out of reach of your puppy. If you or a roommate keep medication around your home in a place that your puppy can access, it could spell disaster. Remove them from easy-to-reach places, so that you can be certain your puppy can't get hold of them. If your prescription is usually kept on tables or bathroom counters, you may want to move them to closed cupboards to keep your new puppy safe. you will want to do the same with anything that may cause harm to your pet including cleaning products and harmful human foods like chocolate and raisins.

This might sound like common sense, but it’s important to mention for those who aren’t sure about understanding how to look after a new puppy - close your windows and doors! If you accidentally leave your doors or windows open, your puppy can run off, leading to a lot of headaches and stress and potentially a trip to the veterinary clinic. This goes for anyone, no matter where you live, but it is especially important for those who live near busy roads as the risk of an accident for an escaped puppy will be very high.

A puppy is often like a child, and this next rule applies to both: remove all sharp objects as soon as possible! This includes, but is not limited to scissors, knives, tools, razors, and more. Any choking hazards should be removed, as well. to reduce the risk of choking, puppy owners should remove jewellery, paper clips, coins, and any other small objects that your pet could potentially chew or swallow. Secure all bins in your home or apartment as well, because your puppy might be attracted to any food in the trash and not only will this cause a lot of mess, it could also mean your pet swallows something harmful.

Another important tip for knowing how to look after your puppy is to close your toilet lid so that your puppy doesn’t fall inside! You should think about securing your back garden, as well so they cannot escape.

Think About Your Back Garden

Part of looking after a puppy is ensuring that they spend a suitable amount of time outdoors for exercise and to relieve themselves. If you have a garden, this means that you need to ensure it is safe for your puppy and you may want to make some editions to make it a happier place for them.

First and foremost, you should designate one part of your back garden as a “bathroom area” for your puppy. If you can train them to do their business in one area, it will make your life a lot easier when it comes to cleaning up after them.

You may also want to keep your new puppy away from your back garden if you are constantly using fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides. The health of your new puppy has to come first, after all. Also, remove any toxic plants that could harm the health of your puppy. If you don't want to remove them, or you can't, then you will need to take precautions so that your dog can't get to them.

Always remember that too much heat is not healthy for any dog, especially a new puppy. If your back garden doesn’t have much shade, then it’s not a good idea to leave your puppy out for extended periods of time as they could become seriously ill with heatstroke. You should also scan your background from a puppy’s eye-level to find any dangerous obstacles and remove them.

Your lawn should also be trimmed and cut as often as possible. If not, then ticks and other insects will start swarming your back garden, and this could end up causing a lot of physical harm to your puppy. Ticks could latch onto your puppy, for example, which might lead to a situation that requires a visit to the vet and a claim on your pet insurance.

It’s still possible to make your puppy comfortable even if you live in the city and don’t have a back garden. The best thing to do here is to use positive reinforcement on dog walks to make sure that they understand when and where to go to the bathroom.

Gather Documents and Get Ready

There’s a lot of things to do when it comes to getting a new puppy, and it takes a lot of documents. First, you should find a veterinarian for a new puppy so that you have someone to contact in the event of an emergency. 

There are some situations where custody battles happen, so you may want to have proof of ownership for a puppy. Pets are viewed as property in the eyes of the law, so you should always have these documents when looking after a puppy. If you want more peace of mind, consider getting legalized or notarized paperwork for new puppy ownership.

It’s also important to keep photos of your new puppy. This isn’t just for nostalgic purposes, but it’s also a great resource in case your puppy ever goes missing and you want friends or neighbours to keep an eye out for your puppy. 

You should also keep a list of emergency phone numbers to help you with looking after your puppy. Make sure that you always have written down numbers for veterinarians or emergency, out of hours veterinary clinics. This is ideal in situations where you may have someone else looking after your dog, for example.

What other documents should you keep around when looking after a puppy? You should ensure vaccine records are up to date. This may come in handy in few situations, such as making a claim on your pet insurance. 

Conclusion

A new puppy is like a new child, so it can be a lot of work to figure out how to look after them, especially for first time owners. 

It might take some time for you to get used to the changes that come with dog ownership. This is especially true if you are used to living independently, have a party lifestyle, or you go on regular holidays.

You should also consider purchasing puppy insurance as soon as possible for added peace of mind. Consult with a veterinarian as soon as you can after bringing your puppy home for advice on nutrition and training. Finally, make sure that everyone in your household is comfortable with the puppy and knows how to take care of them. 

After some time, you will get used to having a puppy in your life, but make sure to always think about its safety and health before making any significant changes to your home and lifestyle.