A lot of people purchase a puppy and don’t quite realize the amount of care and effort they’re going to need to put into this endeavor. A puppy is a lot like a child. You’re going to be up with them at night, they will need to learn a number of basic tasks, and you must feed your puppy and give them fresh water and they need to receive constant love and attention. Nevertheless, a puppy is a wonderful addition to the family. You just need to prioritize some things when you bring home your new furry friend.

Get a License

Many states have laws in place that require you to have a license for your new pup. You can generally apply for this license at your local governmental office. You may also be able to get some information from the place where you bought your puppy. There may be some other local laws in place regarding your new dog, so it’s a good idea to find out everything you can.

Vet Care

As soon as you bring your new puppy home, you’ll want to call a local veterinarian and make an appointment. During this first appointment, you will meet the vet that will be providing care to your animal. There may be some initial shots that your dog receives. You can consider microchipping your dog. If he or she ever gets lost, this chip can be scanned so someone can get in contact with you. You can purchase health insurance for your pet if you think it will save you money in the long run.

Training

When your dog is young, this is the perfect time to get them some behavioral help. Teaching your pup what you expect from them will ensure that your family will be safe with this dog around. This can also reduce the occurrences of your puppy jumping on people, getting too excited around the kids, etc. Training can occur in your home with the use of a private trainer, or you can contact your veterinarian for recommendations on who you can use in the area. Training early will help stop bad habits from forming in your dog.

It might sound overwhelming to bring a puppy home, but the rewards are extremely plentiful. A little bit of work up front will ensure that this puppy is going to be a wonderful companion for many years to come. Don’t forget, your puppy is relying on you to take great care of them.

If you want to pamper your new puppy with a special treat, get them something from our dog bakery!