To Do List for You and Your New Puppy

I’m eagerly counting the days until my newest family member comes home! It’s been a while since my last puppy, so I’m constantly going over the things I need to get done for my new boy’s arrival. It was Spa-Sunday at my house yesterday, which means all of my dogs get a light grooming and toenail trim.

It occurred to me as I was trimming nails, that soon I’d be starting from scratch with a squirmy puppy and I began to go over the steps I’d be taking to make said puppy calm and comfortable with Spa-Sundays.

Starting from scratch can be overwhelming, even when you’ve done it a number of times before. I have at least 25 mental checklists growing at any given time, so I thought it would be helpful to organize my thoughts on the matter by making a list of the major components that will need covering.

Socialization

This is a given, but to make sure you cover everything takes planning! We previously posted an article on socialization and 10 things to include in your socialization checklist. Proper socialization is crucial for the well-being of your adult dog. Always remember that the quality of socialization is important. Experiences must be positive for the puppy, not overwhelming, and should not be entirely focused on external factors. It’s important that pups don’t become obsessed with the exciting…