Getting a new puppy can be an exciting adventure. Whether it’s your first time or you’re simply hoping to grow your family with another four-legged friend, there’s no denying that a pet can bring a lot of joy and love into a house.
That being said, it’s not all sunshine and roses. Owning a pet is a big responsibility, and there are a lot of things you need to do before you welcome a puppy into your house.
One of those things is to make sure your house itself is ready for a new puppy. To learn about some things you can do to help you achieve this, keep reading.
Get your furniture ready
Furniture isn’t cheap. However, puppies are curious, which unfortunately means that they may damage your furniture while exploring. Even if you plan on keeping your puppy away from furniture, it’s still a good idea to take a few protective measures. You can spray things on wooden furniture that will repel dogs, and you can cover chairs and sofas with old blankets until your puppy learns to stay off them.
Alternatively, you can look into getting pet friendly couches if you plan on allowing your dog onto the couch.
Puppy proof the house
Yes, puppy proofing is a thing. Just like new parents have to take certain steps to get their house ready for a baby, new dog owners need to make sure that their house is ready for a dog.
This means putting away anything that a puppy can choke on – because your puppy will without a doubt try to eat everything they come across. Just as importantly, it also means making sure that your puppy can’t escape your house or your garden. For more tips on puppy proofing your garden, you can click here.
Hide valuable items
Even if an item isn’t big enough for a puppy to choke on, you may still want to hide it – especially if it’s valuable. Puppies will use anything as a chew toy – from expensive shoes to remote controls and chargers and anything in between, so it’s best to take some steps to prevent this.
Of course, you shouldn’t hide items so well that you can’t remember where they are if you need them, but if you do find yourself in a position like that, you can always use these ways to jog your memory.
Buy everything your puppy needs
When it comes to pets, dogs are on the higher-maintenance side, and it’s even more true for puppies. To truly get your house ready for your new puppy, you will need to stock it with things like a bed, toys, leashes, and of course food.
You may want to do some research to know which food will be best for your puppy, as well as how much to feed your dog since you don’t want to overfeed or underfeed them. It’s best to also get a variety of different toys to stimulate your puppy – as they grow older, you will learn more about which types of toys they prefer.