Spring Will Soon be Here | Preparing for Puppy – Puppy Parenting 101 By Caley Morris

Adding a new member to the family is exciting, but it can be easy to forget the essentials and create a chaotic environment. Aside from the essential things you need to buy for your puppy like food, bed and toys, here are some things to consider before bringing your pup home:

Educate Yourself:

Be prepared. Read about puppy behaviour and training. Some excellent resources are: Before and After Getting Your Puppy by Dr. Ian Dunbar and The Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey. Educate yourself about typical puppy behaviours and the training that goes with them such as: Bite inhibition, house training, food bowl exercises, jumping up, staying home alone, and manners.

Vet Visit:

First things first, visit your vet to ensure your puppy is healthy. As part of a physical check up your vet will look for internal and external parasites. Discuss preventative health care, such as nutrition and inoculations against infectious diseases. Have your questions ready. Find out the appropriate age to get your dog spayed or neutered, how to tell if your dog is in need of medical attention, and information on necessary licences and identification.

Choose A Trainer:

Sign up for puppy classes. Even if you’ve had a puppy in the past, the training will teach you (or remind you) how to interact with your dog. It’s also a great opportunity to have your pup socialize with others the same age and size. Look for trainers that use positive reinforcement training methods. Sit in on training classes before you enroll, and talk to the trainer and participants. Choose a trainer that is respectful to both you and your puppy; make sure you feel comfortable with their methods.

Socialization:

Puppies have a small window for optimal learning without fear. It is critical that they are carefully socialized from the time they are born until 14 to 16 weeks of age. They should experience new events, sights, sounds and environments including all types, sizes, sex and ages of people and other animals. Be mindful of building a foundation of positive experiences.

Being prepared for your puppy’s arrival will help to make the transition smooth. It will also help to build the foundation of your relationship together.

CALEY MORRIS is the owner of Metro DogStop, providing dog daycare, walking, grooming and boarding services in Toronto since 1995. Metrodogstop.com