Preparing for a New Puppy: Everything You Need to Know For Pick Up Day

If you are like me, you and your family get excited thinking about picking up your new puppy. Picking up a puppy can be such a wonderful day. You can make the most of it if you keep in mind a few of the new puppy essentials.

We will cover those in the next few minutes, but for now, let's talk about the supplies you will need to make puppy pick up and the transition into your home as smooth as possible.

New Puppy Supplies Needed For Pick Up Day:

• Natures Miracle Urine Destroyer

We have used the enzyme destroyer types with excellent success because it eliminates not only the soil but destroys the odor-producing enzymes that can cause your puppy to have accidents. You can purchase this product at most pet stores or online. Simply follow the directions on the label, and you will see the benefits right away.

• Paper towels and some type of general household cleaner

These are handy to have on hand in case something is spilled or clean up after the urine destroyer as above. Also, you can use paper towels to clean up the puppy in case things get messy.

• Dog Food and Water

Your breeder will likely offer you a small amount of food for a transition. If you choose to feed a different dog food than what your breeder feeds, it will be essential to transition your puppy to the new feed slowly over a week or so by mixing the old food with the new. Start at something like 75% old/25% new and keep adjusting a little at a time until you are feeding the new food 100%.

• Crate

The take-home crate can be the same one you plan to use for its space at home if you go with a smaller one, and it fits in your vehicle. You will probably want to hold the puppy for part of the ride home. Just keep in mind that the puppy will get tired quickly and need a place to sleep on the way home.

• Towel or Blanket to Cover Crate

To help the puppy feel safe and secure, you may consider placing a towel or blanket over the crate for the ride home as well as at home.

New Puppy Essentials:

• Communication is key

To start, let's talk about the travel time to pick up your puppy. It can be a great time to talk through expectations and how your family will handle situations that arise as your new family member assimilates into your home.

This time is also a great time to think about names. You may want your family to vote on a name and work it out ahead of time, or you may want to save that for the ride home once you get to see the pup and start learning its personality.

Keep in mind that your new puppy has spent the last several weeks with its mom and littermates and the world as they know it is truly about to change. You can ease that transition and help them get used to their new surroundings within a few days, but it all starts with how it goes on pick up day.

You will feel almost like you are one of its littermates for the first few days, possibly weeks. Puppies are used to biting and barking so be patient and follow the guidelines in our post here.

• Travel wisely for a smooth transition

It is important to plan your travel, so you arrive no more than 10 to 15 minutes before your scheduled pickup time. In the event problems arise, you should contact your breeder with as much advance notice as possible to make other arrangements.

With that said, if possible, travel straight home so you can arrive well before bedtime to let the puppy get used to its new home and settled before the first night away from its littermates.

• Don't overlook the paperwork and essential health details

Before leaving your breeder location, you will want to make sure you get the pup's health records and registration paperwork. The health records are generally found in a booklet provided by the breeder's vet but can be as simple as a form letter with the date of vaccines and worming. The registration paperwork is essential because you will need it to register the pup with its name under your owner record.

Hopefully, the pup has a microchip for identification in case it wanders away or becomes lost. It is important to note that you will want to register the microchip number with one of the companies that provide tracking services in your name and contact information so you can know when the puppy is found or shows up at the pound or vet office.

The fee for the service is minimal compared to the loss if the pup couldn't be found and returned to you. Talk to your breeder or vet and ask them which company they recommend.

It is important to take your new puppy to your vet for a health check as soon as possible but definitely within 1 to 2 days of arriving home. It's essential because if there is an issue, you want to discover it quickly and not leave time for there to be confusion over who should be responsible for the problem.

Make sure you understand your breeder policy regarding health guarantees and timeframes for refunds or replacement in the event there is a health issue. Most reputable breeders offer a time-sensitive guarantee on general health and a more extended time for Elbows and Hip Health.

• Learn to understand body language

The first thing you will want to do is begin reading the body language of your puppy. Do not think too strictly here because it may change due to the excitement and new circumstance. Just observe and act accordingly and always adjust how you react as needed.

Are they bold and friendly or shy with a reserved personality? It is best to try and keep a balance and not get too excited with an overly excited puppy or be super reserved with a shy type. You will quickly figure out what they respond to best, and that will help you get them settled into the changes rapidly.

Following these new puppy tips will help to take the stress out of puppy pick up day and help to get your family off on the right foot with the new addition.

What's next?

Continue on with this series to find out what to expect in your first few days with your pup here.

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Joshua Parvin