A New Dog Owner Checklist — Lowcountry Dog

Bringing home a new dog is undoubtedly exciting, but it’s important to be prepared too!

Here’s a checklist to help you as a new dog owner:

Prepare for the worst, hope for the best!

Puppies are adorable, playful and so much fun! But they’re also very curious and can

sometimes get themselves into a bit of trouble. So, before you get started on all the fun stuff,

make sure you’ve taken care of protecting your puppy.

A great vet and the right puppy insurance are an excellent combination to keep your new

friend safe from day one!

Make sure you’ve got all the practical stuff covered at home too – somewhere soft and comfy

to sleep, good quality food bowls and puppy chews, a puppy-friendly lead for walks and

puppy pads to protect your floor from accidents.

Of course, one of the best parts of getting to know your new friend is playtime! It can be very

tempting to buy one of everything in the pet shop – your new four-legged best friend is the

cutest and you want to spoil them. But, beware of buying them too many toys, as it can be

overstimulating and they might end up feeling a little overwhelmed.

Also, be sure you’re sticking to puppy-friendly toys – anything too big or complicated could

be potentially dangerous, or just not a lot of fun if it’s not size appropriate.

It’s never too early to start training your puppy – don’t expect too much too soon, but by all

means, spend ten minutes a day working on sit, stay, come and have plenty of pup-friendly

treats on offer to reward their efforts.

Be wary of over-treating them though. Carrying too much weight isn’t good for any dog,

least of all a puppy, so don't get in the habit of giving them treats just because they look cute

– save them for training. And remember, a favorite ball or chew toy can be just as much of a

treat as something to eat in your puppy’s eyes!

Teach them good habits now and you’ll set them up to stay fit and healthy as they grow.

As much as your puppy will be a non-stop ball of energy most of the time, they will also

probably have times where they want to be alone, have a rest, or just chill out a little from all

the excitement of their new home.

Dedicate a spot in your home to be your puppy’s “safe space”. It could be a dog crate covered

with a blanket to feel like a den, or just a comfy pillow, blanket or bed.

The important part is to make sure everyone at home (especially enthusiastic children!)

knows that if the pup goes there, they should be left alone to rest and relax until they’re ready

for playing again!