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For most people there aren’t many things cuter than a new puppy or kitten. He or she is the joy of the family and everyone’s happy…until he or she soils that brand new, very expensive carpet you just bought or chew a small part off your expensive Italian leather sofa! As cute as those puppies can be, it’s going to take some effort on your part to take care of them and train them to live harmoniously with the rest of the family.

The key to have a great start for the new family member is to arm yourself with lots of valuable puppy care information and most of all, prepare yourself and your whole family well. That way the most critical first days and weeks will be much more enjoyable to you and the puppy as well. To be the best puppy owner you can be, you need a lot of knowledge and tools to handle most anything coming your way!

Stock up on Supplies

To decide what kind of supplies you need for the puppy it’s best to go online and do a search on number of websites about pet supplies. You will find lots of information so you’d better be prepared to read a lot and also be critical of what you read. If you don’t have an Internet access where you live there are lots of other places for great information; places like veterinarian’s office, the local library or the place where you get your puppy from.

The first items to shop for will be feeding supplies, and these include bowls for water and food, as well as a high quality dry food specially formulated for puppies. It is also a good idea to get a crate for your puppy, since most puppy care information touts the benefits of crate training dogs. You can line the bottom of your crate with an old blanket or towel that your puppy will find comfy for sleeping on.

A collar and leash are other good supplies to purchase before you bring your puppy home, as well as a few chew toys and grooming supplies like shampoo and nail clippers. To make sure that your chew toys are safe for your new pup, avoid items like rawhide that can break off and get lodged in a small dog’s throat and opt instead for durable items like a Nylabone chew toy for playtime. Having some of these toys on hand will hopefully deter your dog from teething on other items like your favorite shoes or the living room chairs.

Get Ready for Housebreaking

Housebreaking is one of the first training objectives for your new puppy and luckily there’s a lot of material available so you can complete this phase properly. A crate is very good to have at this point as your puppy is unlikely to soil his crate when he is inside.

You’ll need lots of patience and plenty of cleaning supplies on hand as accidents can and will happen on occasion. It will take some time for your puppy to understand this routine so be patient. For more puppy care information about housebreaking check the Internet or ask advice from the breeder or veterinarian.

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