June 18, 2019 4 min read

There’s a rush of emotions that comes with bringing home a new puppy - excitement, happiness, but also a bit of nervousness. Is your home ready for your new puppy?

If you’re feeling lost on how to prep for your new pet, jot down a new puppy checklist. Our puppy guide will help you ready your home and pick up the right supplies before bringing home your new puppy.

What Should You Expect When Bringing Home a New Puppy?

Puppy

Between dealing with teething, training, and socializing, bringing home a new puppy can be stressful even if you aren’t a first-time pet parent. Keeping a new puppy checklist can make the transition so much smoother.

A new puppy will be just as nervous as you are, especially going home on your first day together. Whether your pup is trembling or bouncing off the walls, make sure you have a comfortable crate ready for your pet. Stock it with treats and soft towels.

Any sort of excitement, good or bad, can cause your new addition to the family to pee or poop. Allow your new pet to pee outside before entering your home. You’ll need to prepare for the lengthy process of potty training, which takes an average of 4 to 6 months.

Plus, your new puppy will have naturally destructive tendencies. From digging into your couch to tearing up magazines, your youthful companion will need to be taught to respect your home.

When you arrive home, let your new pet sniff around and sit on the floor or couch with you. Make sure your puppy becomes comfortable with you - be generous with pets, pats, and treats during the first weeks.

Preparing Your Home for a New Puppy

Prepare Your Home for Puppy

The point of our puppy guide is to make bringing home a new puppy the best experience possible. There are several steps to making sure the newest member of the family is comfortable in their new environment.

Safety Proofing Rooms and Furniture

Baby gates are your best friend. If you want to keep your new puppy out of a bedroom or bathroom, put a gate at the door. Your pet should have access to the living room and other common areas, to get used to the social aspects of your household.

If you have an area with tons of cords and wires, use cord covers or deterrent sprays on them to prevent your pup from tearing into them. Not only will this save your appliances from destruction, but it will also protect your pet from accidental shocks or burns.

Always keep your trash cans in cupboards or blocked off rooms. Puppies are notorious for tearing into paper, and leaving a plastic garbage bag exposed is a major hazard.

Prepare Your Kitchen

Prepare Your Kitchen for Puppy

Your new puppy will adore being in your kitchen, especially while you’re cooking or eating. If you have an open kitchen that can’t easily be blocked off by a baby gate, consider these tips.

Keep all food, toxic or not, well out of your dog’s reach. Even the decorative fruit bowl on your table isn’t safe. Always close doors and drawers after use, and never leave your fridge open. Puppies can be very sneaky when it comes to snagging a snack.

Your curious companion may also turn stove and oven knobs while you’re away. To prevent any drastic accidents, remove or cover all stove and oven knobs when they’re not being used.

What Food to Get

Foods free of preservatives and packed with protein are optimal for your new puppy. Pick up a puppy food mix with natural ingredients to ensure your pet grows strong and healthy.

Stock up on treats as well, including some with CBD. CBD oil for pets has become a major hit among owners, including parents of new pets.

Tips to Help Your New Puppy Feel at Home

Spend a lot of time with your new companion, whether they’re clingy or not. You should keep an eye on your new puppy as often as possible, and give lots of love. This will build a good bond and trust between the two of you.

Also show your pet to areas with frequent access, like the backyard or the dog bed. If you’re planning on potty training your puppy indoors, designate a space for the pee pad.

Toys and Accessories for a New Puppy

Toys for New Puppy

Especially since puppies are teething, rubber toys are your best option. Rope and plush toys can be easily ripped and swallowed, putting your pet in danger of choking or coughing up threads later on.

When you begin walking your puppy, opt for a harness instead of just a collar and leash. Your pet will feel more comfortable training to walk at your side.

CBD for Dogs

CBD for dog

If your pup is stressed out about a new environment, CBD oil may help. There are a number of claimed CBD oil benefits, including minimizing anxiety and skin irritation. Another one of the CBD oil benefits is that it’s natural, reacting with already existing cannabinoid receptors in your pet’s body.

Whether you’re looking for CBD online or in-store, CBD oil is increasingly available to pet owners anywhere. You can purchase CBD-infused treats, or the oil itself, like KING KALM™ CBD. KING KALM™ CBD is available in 300 mg, 150 mg, and 75 mg, depending on your new puppy’s needs.

Puppy skin and paws can be quite delicate, especially if you’re taking walks on a rough sidewalk. KING KALM™ Soothe For Pets is a CBD oil spray that helps pets with dermal abrasions and dry skin. Consider picking up KING KALM™ Soothe For Pets if your new puppy seems to be concerningly itchy.

Takeaway

Bringing home a new puppy is more than just a process - it’s a long-term commitment. From puppy-proofing your home to buying the right treats, there’s quite a bit of prep required for your new pet. But once you get into the swing of things, the unconditional love, cuddles, and licks you’ll get will feel way too worth it.