she likes preparing for a new puppy
Adding a new, four-legged family member is such an exciting time. Everything they do is so adorable, you’re in new puppy bliss watching them discover their new environment and settle into your family. Aside from all the puppy cuddles and showing off your new cutie to friends and family, bringing home a new puppy can be a stressful event. It’s a big life adjustment for the both of you, and being prepared with the right tools makes a world of difference when settling in your new furry friend.
In this blog post, I’m sharing the 5 items that made bringing home my new fur baby a stress-free experience, and that first night in their new home a whole less daunting!
Bringing Home Your New Puppy:
I just recently added my third dog to the family, little Hazel, an 8 week old yellow lab. With two other dogs at home, I was feeling confident that bringing home Miss Hazel would be a breeze. But as the day of bringing her home crept nearer, I began to feel all those new parent jitters again. What is she cries all night? What if she’s scared? What if she chews everything in the house? I knew this wasn’t something I wanted to walk into unprepared, and with both my dogs being older, I had no puppy supplies on hand.
And boy am I glad I prepared. There were minimal puppy cries, no shoe or furniture fatalities due to teething, and it made the experience of bringing home our new pup enjoyable, no unecessary worry.
Here are the 6 items I found absolutely necessary for a stress-free homecoming for both you and your pup. All items are linked for your convenience!
Top 6 Must Have’s for New Puppy:
Snuggle Puppy Heart Beat Stuffed Toy - I stand by this and how well it soothes new pups! I used this for both of my labs when I brought them home, and it made the first night with them SO much easier. This is especially useful if you are crate training. Having a plush toy the same size as your pup’s litter mates with a life-like heart beat makes having them alone in their new space so much more comforting. I’ve recommended this same toy for a lot of my friends & family and they had the same experience!
Benebone Puppy Chews - I am very selective about which bones and chews I allow my dogs to have. There are too many risks and horror stories out there that cause me to do my research. These Benebones pass my criteria of being made in the U.S., durable, and maintain scent enough to keep my dog interested, without smelling up my house!
Nylabone Puppy Chews - Another chew company that meets my criteria of U.S. manufactured and keeps interest of my pup is Nylabone. These new Puppy Gourmet chews were extremely helpful for keeping my new pup occupied on the long drive home. Bonus: this triple pack was a smart buy as I am still using it! It allows your pup to graduate through each unique chewing phase they are in as they grow.
Kong Puppy Teething Toy - I have multiple sets of these Kong Toys in my home and they have repurposed their use time after time. Fill them with some peanut butter & kibble, stick it in the freezer, and let your puppy be occupied with hours of self-soothing work. Another great tool if you are kennel training. They are a great peace of mind tool as well knowing the rubber can withhold puppy chews and not splinter or be easily swallowed like some bones/ chews.
Potty Training Puppy Bells - All of my years as a dog owner and breeder, using puppy bells on your door when taking them outside to relieve themselves is the most effective way to engrain the lesson. No matter your potty training style, your puppy will quickly associate the noise of the bells when opening the door as time to go outside and potty. We leave these on our door even for our adult dogs to go up and give them a jingle letting us know they need out!
Stain and Odor Remover - Despite your best efforts, accidents do happen, and if you are equipped upon your puppy’s arrival to tackle those early morning accidents, you're reducing a lot of strain from the situation. I’ve tried a lot of different sprays + cleaners, but Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. is what I’m happiest with in terms of not leaving behind a perfumed scent, and removing urine scent alltogether, discouraging future accidents. Plus it works on beyond carpet surfaces!
You may have began to see a common theme amongst my puppy must have’s list are items that keep your pup busy — it’s because it works! Occupying your new puppy with an intriguing distraction not only keeps them from getting into destructive behavior (i.e. having a chew sesh on your favorite shoes) but also tires them mentally. This “special formula” for a tired pup has made the rollercoaster ride of brining home your new family member a heck of a lot easier.
Don’t let those special first few days with your new pup be eaten up with unnerving cries and unnecessary destructive behavior. Soak up those puppy snuggles & fully enjoy the experience with the help of my recommended tools to get you through!
