Preparing For Puppy Adoption

Prepare to Bring Your Puppy Home

The idea of bringing a new puppy home may sound like a lot of fun. However, in reality, puppies require a lot of care and attention. Are you ready for a new puppy?

At Meadow Pond Puppies, we make sure our puppies are happy, healthy, and ready to join your family. We've been raising puppies since 2007, and we know exactly what puppies need to flourish and grow. Let us help you find the perfect puppy! Same-day pickup is available, and we cover your puppy with a one-year health guarantee. 

Call now to talk about adoption and keep reading to learn some of our helpful tips to prepare for your puppy.

Choose Puppy Care Essentials

Puppies need a lot of energy, which is why investing in quality food equipment is useful. Choose bowls that don't tip easily and that are easy to clean. Stainless steel is a great choice to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction. Although your puppy will need larger bowls later, start with small bowls so it's easy for the puppy to eat.

Puppies require special nutritional content compared to adult dogs. Your puppy will need almost three times as much caloric intake as adult dogs. The right puppy food will help with strong bones, good teeth, lustrous coats, and overall development.

Your puppy will also need a collar, leash, and grooming supplies. The collar should be lightweight with an ID with your contact information. The leash is necessary for taking walks, and a six-foot leash is often best.

Pick grooming supplies based on the breed. Short-haired dogs need a brush with natural bristles. A rubber currycomb and a hand mitt will also work. Long-haired breeds need a sturdy wide-tooth metal comb. A mat-splitter can't hurt either.

A flea comb is also recommended. Make sure that combing for fleas is a regular part of your grooming routine early on.

Pick the Perfect Puppy Toys

All puppies need and deserve toys! For most pet owners, this is the fun stuff to shop for. Be sure to pick the right toys for your puppy.

Start with puppy-safe chew toys. Nylon chews and hard rubber balls are also great. Just be sure the toys aren't too small. If they can fit all the way in your puppy's mouth, they could be a choking hazard.

Also avoid toys made from soft rubber, fur, wool, sponge, or plastic. These items could have small pieces break off and pose a choking hazard. Toys with hard or sharp points should also be avoided.

Your puppy may think that some household items are toys. You'll want to puppy-proof your home by putting away shoes and socks. You'll also want to look for balls of yarn or string, plastic wrap, twist ties, plastic baggies, and other choking hazards.

Help Your Puppy Feel at Home

Finally, your puppy needs a place to sleep. For puppies, we recommend a crate with a sleep bed. The crate creates a den-like feeling, and the sleep bed makes it warm and comfortable to rest.

Crates can be plastic or wire. Your crate should be large enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down once more. The ventilation should be adequate. Adult-sized crates can be used with partitions or cardboard boxes.

As your puppy makes himself or herself at home, be prepared for anything, Puppies do make messes, and they can be smelly. If you want to invest in stain or scent remover, make sure it's safe for pets. Moreover, many cleaners only mask smells for humans and not dogs. This can affect your puppy's actions.

If you still have questions about what your puppy needs, please ask! We want to make sure you and your puppy are ready for a happy life together.