Love Your Pet. Take Them to The Vet.

Taking on the responsibility of a puppy is a big decision because your furry family member will be with you for several years to come. Preparing for the big day when your puppy arrives at their new house will help prevent any unnecessary disasters and ensure the puppy's transition to their new environment runs smoothly.

Here are a few simple tips to help you prepare your home before your new puppy arrives.

Purchase the Right Gear

Your puppy will require a lot of gear to ensure they are comfortable, well-fed, and have fun with their new family members. Here are a few things you should purchase and set up before your puppy arrives:

• Food and water bowls. Choose bowls that are the appropriate size for your dog's breed and size. Placing a mat under the bowls will help prevent the bowls from sliding on the floor.
• Toys. Your puppy will love to chew and plenty of age-appropriate chew toys will give your puppy a safe alternative to chewing on shoes and furniture.
• Puppy pads. Training your puppy to urinate on puppy pads is a great way to start the house-training process.
• Collar and leash. Pick a collar that is recommended for your puppy's size.

Talk to your veterinarian about crate training, which involves keeping your puppy in a crate at night. Your veterinarian will have several tips about how to help your puppy adjust to the crate and where to place the crate, such as in your bedroom.

Install Puppy Gates

Much like a toddler, your curious puppy will get into everything and want to explore your home. Unfortunately, your clumsy puppy might fall down a flight of stairs or get into the basement or other rooms where you do not want them to enter. Puppy gates are a safe and easy way to help keep your puppy on a single, puppy safe floor and away from potential dangers or your personal belongings.

Create a Safe Environment

Finally, walk through your home and identify and eliminate any potential hazards. For example, remove any houseplants that your puppy can easily access, especially any potentially poisonous houseplants, including azaleas and hydrangeas. Pick up any items you do not want to puppy to damage or that are potentially dangerous, including electronics or your shoes.

From making sure your home is safe to purchasing all the necessary gear, there are several things you can do to prepare for the arrival of your new puppy.