Before the puppy comes to our house – part 1

The long-awaited day of the puppy’s arrival in a new home is approaching. Do you know how to proceed?

Many people focus on the day when they can finally pick up the baby dog from the kennel and bring him home. Doubts and questions often arise a bit later. Meanwhile, the waiting period is the best time to prepare and gain knowledge (even basic one) in caring for a dog child. Once a puppy enters our life, finding extra time to browse the Internet can be more challenging than you might think. A four-legged toddler can turn the life of the whole family upside down.

That’s why I encourage everyone to prepare, think and determine specific issues BEFORE the puppy lives with us.

There are a few elements to think about and prepare:

– what you absolutely must have,

– what you need to know,

– what you need to do.

Let’s start with the first issue, i.e., what you need to buy. Pet stores are full of dog accessories—essential, helpful, completely unnecessary, and even harmful. You can get lost in them and, at the same time, significantly reduce the amount of money in your account.

1. Have you ever wondered what to choose: a harness or a collar? Each of these options has its advantages and disadvantages. The collar is cheaper and easier to put on. On the other hand, a harness is more comfortable and safer for the dog (pulling on a leash attached to the collar can overload the cervical spine, cause pain, and even contribute to blindness at a later age of the dog). Let’s add that there are many different types of harnesses. It is not worth choosing the cheapest ones. The harness made of nylon straps can slide on the animal’s body, cause abrasions and restrict movement. Correcting them every few steps is tedious. Investing in a better quality harness, preferably of the “guard” type, is better.

Remember that the puppy needs to get used to putting on the harness. If you do it by force, the pup, instead of looking forward to a walk together, will start running away at the sight of the harness, which is unlikely to make the task easier for you. It is better to spend some time to help your dog get used to the harness than to bother putting it on every time 😉 .

2. There are a lot of different types of leads. Traditional: leather and nylon; lead made from chain and flexi lead. Leads with a shock absorber and chokes (yuck), sometimes called – horror of horrors – behavioural leashes (!) Unfortunately, you can still buy Prong Pinch (☹), electric collars (☹) and halters, which look harmless and cause the dog much pain with any pull. Pressure on the nose is excruciating for the dog. This is why some dogs carrying this torture device stop pulling. A side effect is a deepening lack of interest in the world, which often leads to apathy and even depression. Please do not use such methods. Invest time to train an effective recall so your dog can run loose, and teach him to walk on a loose leash.
3. The long, light cord is an excellent help with recall (you can learn how to use it from the audiobook mentioned above).

4. Depending on the kind of dog you have chosen, you may only need two bowls (for food and water, which should ALWAYS be available). Tall, narrow bowls work well for a dog with long ears that do not fall into the food while eating. Special bowl stands are also recommended for some dogs.

5. Food is another long topic. There are dry and wet foods, the BARF diet, and meals prepared at home. Here, I will only write that the principle “you are what you eat” applies to people and animals. It is really not worth saving on food. What you don’t spend on food today, you will leave at the vet in the future.

6. Plenty of toys exist. You can easily find balls, kongs, balls of treats, sniffing mats, teethers, tugs, squeaky toys, plush toys, etc. Consider how they affect your dog’s emotions and behaviour when choosing them. Will they calm your puppy down or stimulate him? Be aware that if you excite your dog, you must help him calm down. It’s not okay to give your puppy a strong boost and leave him alone with his emotions at the highest level (not to mention punishing him for, for example, tugging on your leg right after you’ve decided to end the game with a tug). Some toys can also be simply dangerous ☹

7. There are also other items you might need: the little item to pull out the ticks and pills or liquids made to protect your dog from them; a dog water bottle for walking that is worth taking for longer walks, especially on hot days; training accessories such as a clicker or an ultrasonic whistle; treats; clothes; brushes, combs, and trimmers; maybe toothpaste and a toothbrush?; for small dogs, also a bag or carrier; car mat and belts; and a kennel cage.

You will only need some things. A lot depends on the dog you have decided on, your preferences, and your lifestyle.