Although getting a new puppy can be a thrilling experience, it can also be a lot more work and responsibility than many people may realize. Because of this, it’s not uncommon for people to really struggle with the transition of owning a new puppy.
To help you to not be hit with such a steep learning curve, here are three things to understand before bringing home a new puppy.
Having A Dog Can Make Your Home More Prone To Pests
While you may like the idea of having another living thing in your home with you, what you likely don’t want to do is bring in any other living things along with your new puppy. But because puppies can track in bugs from outside and their food can lure other pests to your house, you’ll want to have a plan for how to combat this.
According to Ants.com, one way you can help keep pests out of the food that you’ll be feeding your puppy is to not free feed. What this means is that rather than always having a bowl of food out for your puppy, you only put out food during actual meal times. Otherwise, you should be keeping your dog’s food sealed in an airtight container so that the scent doesn’t attract any other animals to it.
Some Destruction Will Almost Certainly Happen
When bringing a new puppy into an unfamiliar environment, it’s almost inevitable that, in their exploration, they’ll destroy something in your house. But by having this expectation, you can better avoid this situation and manage your home.
To help you with this, Jenna Stregowski, a contributor to The Spruce Pets, recommends that you get down onto the level of your puppy and see what might attract their attention. Additionally, you should also move anything that could cause your puppy harm if he or she were to get into it, like cables, houseplants, small items that could choke them, and more.
Your Puppy Needs Firm Rules
Regardless of how much you might be tied around the little paw of your new puppy, it’s important that you set firm rules for your puppy to follow if you want him to turn into a well-behaved dog.
With this in mind, the U.S. Humane Society recommends that you think about how you’ll handle things like feedings, walkings, sleeping arrangements, discipline, and more before you even bring your new puppy home. Then, when something like this comes up, you and your family will be able to all follow the same rules of your puppy, which will make it easier for your puppy to learn as well.
If you’re going to be bringing home a new puppy soon, consider using the tips mentioned above to get ready for your new housemate.
