How to Prepare for a New Puppy at the Holidays

It’s the stuff that holiday dreams are made of – an adorable, fluffy little puppy under the tree. Shrieks of delight and loads of cuddles will welcome your furry new family member. But love and cuddles aren’t the only things that your new puppy will need. To ensure that your fuzzy friend is safe, comfortable, and secure in your home you need to be prepared. Here is a checklist of puppy supplies to have on hand and things to do before your family unwraps one of the greatest gifts of all.

Provide a Haven in Your Home

• Crate – Be sure and have an appropriately-sized crate available for your dog for rest and sleep. Crates can also be useful for house-breaking. Buy a crate that will fit your puppy as he grows. Many crates have a movable divider that allows you to adjust the size of the usable space as needed.
• Dog Bed – Put a cozy, warm bed inside the crate for a comfortable place to rest.

Feeding and Chewing Time

• Small bowls for water and food
• Nutritious puppy food
• Small, soft treats (very useful for training)
• Chew toys – puppies have a natural urge to chew. Provide plenty of acceptable options.

Time to Go Out

Your new puppy will need to go outside to use the bathroom….a lot! Supplies to have on hand:

• Adjustable collar – put on their new collar to get them used to it.
• Leash
• Sweater or Jacket – consider getting a sweater or jacket for your puppy to keep him warm in the cold weather.

Puppy Proof!

Puppies are as curious and mischievous as they are adorable. Your new friend will want to explore, and likely nibble on, every inch of her new home. Prepare to protect your pup from hazards in your home and protect your home from the hazards of puppy teeth!

• Gates – For safety (puppy’s) and peace of mind (yours) use baby gates or barricades to contain your puppy to certain parts of the house.
• Get items off the ground – Be sure and scour the floor where your new puppy will be and move or remove any items that could become a choking hazard – or that you don’t want the puppy to chew. Puppies love to gnaw on, well…everything. Shoes, towels, socks, pillows, blankets, toys, cords, wrapping paper – nothing is off limits – unless you make it so.
• Remove mistletoe and poinsettia plants – these are highly toxic to dogs if ingested.
• Bitter Spray – have this on hand to spray on items that you cannot move, but do not want puppy to chew on. For example, a spritz of bitter apple spray on the legs of your kitchen chairs will deter puppy from using them as a chew toy.

Miscellaneous

• Shampoo and brushes – be ready to give your pup a bath with a luxurious, gentle dog shampoo or creme rinse to keep his or her coat clean, soft, and shiny. Then brush out his coat with a  high quality brush to leave a beautiful finish.
• Paper towels
• Deodorizer/pet stain remover

Extra towels – keep an extra stack of “dog towels” near the door to dry off your little pooch after he or she has been outside.