Getting a new puppy sounds exciting, but some people get so caught up in the excitement that they forget to properly prepare for the arrival of a new pet. Having a new puppy is a lot of responsibility. New pet owners need maturity and responsibility as well as an income to cover all of the necessities for the puppy. Your income should be generous enough to cover needs that go beyond the basics of food and shelter. As I’ve raised numerous dogs and taken care of some litters of puppies, I developed a list of some tips most important to new pet owners. The following article examines some products most critical to the new addition to your family.
Determine How You Will Track Your Pet
Buying a microchip is an expensive investment that could be well worth the splurge. Puppies can escape from any yard. As a child, when I kept my dog in a fence, it could dig a hole under the fence in 20 minutes. Invisible fences can be more effective, but you should plan a way to track your puppy just in case. In my childhood, I had a puppy that leapt out of my car at a gas station. Your puppy could escape from your leash on a walk and could run off at the park. If you don’t want to splurge on a microchip, the very minimum you can do is get a dog tag for your pet’s collar.
Arrange For A Veterinarian Visit
Puppies need to visit the veterinarian to double check that shots are up to date. Vaccinations need to be scheduled every 3-4 weeks until your puppy is 4 months old to keep your pet healthy. Arrange for your pet to be spayed or neutered, unless you have a very specific and well-thought out plan to breed dogs. Discuss your pet’s diet with the veterinarian, and decide on the best brand of dog food. Your vet can help you choose the most healthy, nutritious pet food and explain why table scraps are unhealthy for your new puppy.
Purchase Puppy Products
Visit the pet store to window shop long before you get a puppy so you have some idea of how much you need to budget to have a pet. Make a list of products you want, write down the price, and evaluate whether you can really afford a puppy. As you budget for your new puppy, determine which products are unnecessary. Some of the best products to buy are a harness/leash, potty pads, carpet stain remover, and a crate. Hold off on buying a lot of chew toys. Some puppies favor a certain kind of chew toy, and some dogs refuse to play with some toys. Introduce chew toys one at a time to see how your puppy reacts. Treats and rawhide can be good to buy as puppies like to chew.