What to Do Now That You’re a New Pet Parent

So, you’ve just brought home a new puppy, and you’re busy getting settled and making sure you have all the necessary supplies for your new furry friend.

Here are some of the things you may forget about in the excitement of pet parenthood!

Schedule a Vet Appointment

Within the first week or so of bringing a new pet home, you will want to get them to see a vet. A first vet appointment usually involves a general health check, blood work, and vaccines. You may also discuss an appropriate time to spay/neuter your pet.

Microchip

If your pet is not microchipped, you will want to find a time to get that done, and if they are microchipped, you need to have all of their information updated.

A microchip allows your pet to be traced back to you if they somehow get lost so you and your furry friend can be reunited.

Register with the Government

Some local jurisdictions mandate that you register your pet. It’s not a long process and involves you uploading their information and proof of rabies vaccination in order to be issued an identification number and tag.

This ID tag will allow your dog to be quickly identified and will help you avoid a fine for having an unregistered pet.

Prepare for Emergencies

Emergencies happen when we least expect them to and it’s important to be prepared ahead of time. This is why you should take the time to locate the nearest 24-hour emergency vet and add pet supplies to your emergency kits.

This means adding extra food, water, toys, and medicine to an emergency grab bag that is ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Sign up for Obedience Class

Having a well-trained dog can be the difference between peace and chaos in your home. That’s why getting your puppy into training classes as early as possible is important. You can teach your dog basics like sit and stay, as well as any commands you want them to know in order to allow your home to function as peacefully as possible. This could include commands like “wait” if you need them to hold on, “off” if you don’t want them on certain pieces of furniture, and “home” if you want them to come inside or sit in a dog bed.

If you do these things, you are sure to have an amazing few weeks with your pet while also making sure you are setting them up for success in your home.