Bringing your new puppy home
How do you prepare bringing your new puppy home? What do you need to get before you bringing your new dog home?
How to prepare your home for your new puppy
At the time of this writing, it’s about six months since we first met Alfie. I hardly remember the few weeks we were waiting to pick him up. I remember being very excited. I wondered and worried about what we needed in advance: What food should he eat? What about sleep space, toys, and treats?
Would I be a good dog mum???
There were so many thoughts. This was my first dog, and although Dan had dogs before, this was still a first for us together.
Even just considering what we needed in our car for his journey to his new forever home. Our home.
Luckily Niki from Jack’s Giant Journey (the rescue centre) was always on hand and very quick to respond to any questions. We did video calls and lots of WhatsApp messages.
We had a steady stream of photos and videos from Jack’s Giant Journey and the foster carers with the puppies. It was all very exciting.
What you need for your puppy
When we picked up Alfie he had a few items with him:
The food he was already used to (Lily Kitchen)
Milk powder (as he had been bottle-fed and still liked a bit of milk powder in their water)
Some favourite toys
A blanket which had the smells he was used to
(There might have been other bits which I have now forgotten!)
He had been microchipped and had his first vaccines
The puppy’s journey home
Niki recommended a soft crate for his journey home. (We got this one and later updated for a larger size). We also used it as a little bed retreat den for Alfie.
We brought water and a bowl for his road-trip. And plenty of toilet-training pads.
While the husband was driving I sat in the back with him.
He was such an easy passenger falling asleep on the way.
We made a stop on the way so he could get some air - it was quite a long journey.
Preparing your home for your pup
At home, he had a little bed which could fit into the soft crate so he had a little den to retreat to. We had toys, treats, and more toilet training pads (you need a lot!). Our neighbour lent us a playpen and we got our own later which is still in use once in a while.
We investigated food choices for puppies and decided to transition to plant-based puppy food from OMNI. Plant-based is thought to be a healthy choice for dogs (and the environment) as they are omnivores like us. And we are both vegetarians ourselves. However, getting veggie treats for small puppies was not so easy so we got several other variations. What to be aware of is that not all treats are suitable for puppies.
I have a discount code for you if you want to try OMNI too for puppies or older dogs. Use ALFIEFRENCHIE to save.
He is still on OMNI Puppy kibble at 7 months (and we move through several of the treats and supplements too), on Butternut Box (use refer-a friend-code: Dan864)(both veg and meat) and so many other treats…
How to prepare your home for a puppy
Just like you need to baby-proof a home if you expect a baby you also need to puppy-proof (or dog-proof!) when you get a dog.
When puppies are tiny they don’t go that far… or jump up too high… Frenchie puppies are tiny and have a very small tail but other dogs are bigger and have proper tails. So you really need to be aware of what is on the floor: cables, trinkets, decorations, plants, rugs, decorative book stacks or magazines. Also, consider any open shelves and things (especially cleaning products) in the bathroom. If the puppy has a wagging tail then you need to be aware of coffee tables and anything that height too.
We were very grateful for the playpen as Alfie could still move about but was contained if we were nipping into another room - or working. It has been super helpful. This is the one we got (HERE).
We also used the playpen around his bed. If he woke up in the night we would know where he was, there were pee pads and he had a “safe space”. We still use it either to keep Alfie out of the way for any reason (like needing to do a quick hoovering!!!) or for a bit of “time out” as a teaching tool.
Accidents, peeing and pooing
There are several schools of thought on toilet training and every dog is an individual. We used pee-pads (or training-pads). But he didn’t always seem to get the message that that’s where he was supposed to do his business. However, they are great to absorb any accidents.
We loved the idea of Piddle Patch which is basically a patch of grass you can use indoors as a dog toilet. But Alfie didn’t seem to get it. He preferred simply eating the grass!
For any accidents, we have tried several sprays to clear and clean it up. The best one is the Bio Enzyme pet odour remover. The aroma is very light and not overpowering at all. Just clean. And it gets rid of any smells.
Because we have carpets we eventually decided to get a carpet cleaner. Not just for accidents but also for after muddy walks. And as we later discovered chews and treats are very messy! We got the Vax Dual Power Pet Advance Carpet Cleaner which seems to no longer be around but is similar to this.
Be prepared to do a lot of laundry when accidents happen on cushions, blankets and anything else!
Luckily we have a small garden so we were training him to go outside. And he arrived with us in the summer making it a lot easier to take him outdoors!
When can my puppy go for a walk?
Puppies can’t (or aren’t recommended to) actually be out and about on the ground for walks until a couple of weeks after their second vaccination. Depending on when they get vaccinated they can be out for walks at around 12 weeks old. However, they can be outside in your garden and potentially meet friends’ dogs who have been fully vaccinated and up-to-date with worming etc. But do check with your vet.
Can I carry my puppy outside?
Having said that, we did take Alfie out straight away. In a bag. This way he was safe, didn’t pick up stuff from the ground and there was a safe space in case we met other dogs.
We used this kind of bag (see video/phto below). But I would choose one with a flat sturdy bottom to support him. You could also get a dog/puppy stroller.
Having the bag meant we could still go out and about. We went to the coffee shops, the beach, and dog-friendly shops. Alfie got used to the sounds, noises and smells of the area we live in.
I highly recommend investing in a bag even if you only use it for a few weeks. And potentially longer if needed so get a size knowing your puppy will grow.
Now, the mental and emotional preparations are on a completely different level. And something that is ongoing with Alfie now being 7 months old. More on that later.