Welcoming a new puppy to your home is exciting, and the first few months are critical to building a life-long foundation for your dog’s health and happiness. Puppies need a lot of attention, consistent training, and vet visits every couple of months until they’re fully vaccinated. Caring for a puppy isn’t complicated, but can get intense, so it’s good to know exactly what you’re getting into before you adopt.
What You Need to Know Before You Adopt a Puppy
Puppies are super adorable and it’s easy to fall in love with them in an instant. But adopting a dog is a long-term commitment of 10-15 years or (hopefully!) more. So the first thing you need to do is consider your other obligations.
Having a job, a household to maintain, children, and other pets can influence how much time you have to train a new puppy and help them settle in. Also your family’s activity level should be a good match for your dog’s breed and temperament, so that walks and playtime fit naturally into your routine. (Don’t get a super-active dog if you aren’t ready to go for five walks a day!)
Getting a new pet will also affect your household budget. Besides dog food, you’ll also be adding things like treats, toys, and pet waste bags to your weekly shopping list. And you’ll need to plan for veterinary care, as well. Puppies will need extras like pee pads and new things like beds and bowls and vaccinations, so starting out can get a bit expensive.
What to Buy for a New Puppy:
- Food and water bowls
- Puppy formula for dogs under 6 weeks old, or puppy chow and treats
- Collar, leash, and ID tags
- Chew toys
- Pet bed
- Crate
- Nail clippers and grooming brush
- Pet waste bags
- Cooling mat for hot Arizona days
What You Need to Know About Caring for a Puppy
Puppies need a lot of food, because they’re growing so fast. You might need to feed them three or four times every day.
You’ll need to let them out to relieve themselves every one or two hours for the first few months, as well.
Puppies also have very sensitive paws and hot pavement can really hurt! Put a pee pad right outside the door, so they have a safe place to step.
And if you take your puppy out for walks, try to avoid other dogs or areas that lots of dogs visit (like parks and pet stores). Until your puppy is fully vaccinated, they’re vulnerable to all sorts of contagious diseases. It’s worth the wait to keep them safe.
How to Train Your Puppy
Training a puppy is also a big commitment! Before you adopt, make sure you’ll have the time for potty training and leash training every day. You’ll also need to teach your puppy a few basic commands (like “sit” and “stay”) and practice social skills (like not jumping up on people who visit).
Well-behaved pups earn that distinction through consistency. Practice every day, give your puppy lots of positive reinforcement, and keep training sessions short. If this is your first-ever dog, it’s worth scoping out a few behavior classes to make sure your puppy’s training is successful. It’s much easier for a dog to learn these lessons when they’re young.
Puppy Vaccinations in Gilbert
Vaccinations are one of the best things you can do to keep your puppy healthy and make sure they live a long time. And since puppies are even more vulnerable to contagious diseases, illnesses like parvovirus and distemper can be fatal.
A typical vaccine schedule starts around 6-8 weeks of age, with booster shots to follow. A rabies shot is also required for dogs four months and older in Gilbert. The first shot is given at 12-16 weeks old and is good for one year, with annual boosters.
Adopting a New Puppy? Make an Appointment at East Valley Animal Hospital
Puppyhood is a critical time for building good habits that last their whole life. And finding a good vet will give them an even better start!
Your first visit to the vet includes a check of your puppy’s size, weight, and vital signs, as well as their paws, eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. And we’ll also discuss things like which vaccinations your puppy needs, spaying or neutering, or preventive care like flea, tick, and heartworm meds.
Schedule an appointment for your new puppy at East Valley Animal Hospital today.
Photo by Anna Khromova on Unsplash used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 10/06/26.