Congratulations! You’re made it through the waiting period and are finally bringing home a new puppy! Now get ready, put on your “hero-training-for-a-face-off-against-the-bad-guys music” for a montage, and start thinking about the major things you’ll need to consider once you bring home your new puppy. (When in doubt, the theme from Rocky works nicely)
Django on the couch
Raising a puppy is like raising a baby — everyone has an opinion. But I suggest doing your research and then deciding on things for yourself (crazy, right?). One of the most important things to do when you first get through the door is to make sure that your puppy has a comfortable place to stay. Whether that’s in his crate, on a dog bed, or even a towel, he needs to feel comfortable and safe.
Bringing a new puppy home can also be messy. Did you remember to buy poop bags? How about lots of paper towel and rug cleaner? In a lot of cases, your new puppy will be a bit smelly from the breeder’s or shelter, so giving him a bath with a natural shampoo is highly recommended.
Django”s first bath
And of course, you can never start training too early. Bringing home a new puppy is almost like going back to school for both of you. You need to know how to properly give a command and how to get your dog to enact it. For instance, pushing your puppy’s hind legs down to get him to sit could injure his back.
Puppy proofing is a long and arduous process. Even though I absolutely adore Django and know that our bond grows every day (Mark is furious that Django won’t come when he calls him, only when I do), you must be prepared to lose a few favourite things along the way. I remembered that the hard way when Django put a hole in one of my cashmere sweaters this morning. Wearing nice clothes, leaving shoes and slippers about or even cat toys can put you in an awkward position once something has been destroyed (or worse, if your puppy has swallowed something he shouldn’t).
Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting time in your life. Just know that in the end, the lack of sleep, dirty floors and chewed firewood will all be worth it.