So, you are getting a new puppy! Congratulations. But wait a second – before you head out to pick up your new pup, you will want to set up a safe place in your house for your new family member. Just like you wouldn’t turn a toddler loose in a china shop, it’s not in your best interest to plop a puppy in your house and let it roam without restriction. Since we just brought home a service puppy to raise this summer, I thought I’d share how we set up our house for the new puppy and some of the toys that we have on hand to support her as she grows.
It’s important for a new pup to be near the family in the heart of the home. In our case, we spend most of our time in our kitchen and family room, so we set up our puppy area there. It’s safely fenced off with an exercise pen, giving her a controlled place where she can’t eat our furniture and she is safe from our other dog, who has questionable judgement with other dogs. Since we have hardwood floors, we purchased an inexpensive piece of linoleum from Home Depot to cover the floor. This will prevent pee or poop from soaking into our floors, saving us trouble later.
We also have a variety of toys on hand – of different sizes, shapes and textures. Dogs are like people and prefer some toys over others. You will never know what your pup might like until you try. Even then, things can change from day to day. Set up a toy basket and rotate toys every few days, keeping them fresh and fun. While some toys are simply fun to chew or chase, others can provide mental stimulation too – and a tired pup is a good pup!
These are some of my favorite items to have on hand when bringing a new puppy home. Remember – toys aren’t just for fun! They can help a dog get mental and physical exercise. Kongs are fantastic puzzles for dogs, but they can be frustrating for new pups. Don’t forget to start simple with some loose kibbles inside. After the pup masters the loose kibble in the Kong, you can top off the kibble with a spoonful of canned puppy food. That makes it more challenging – and time consuming (so you can actually go take a shower or use the potty!).
- Exercise pen – these can be used either as a barrier, or in a circle, with the ends attached.
- Stainless steel bowls – dishwasher safe, easy to clean and resist spilling
- Critter Country litter pellets – plant-based and nontoxic – ideal for a litter tray. I’m not a fan of pee-pads, since lots of dogs tend to confuse them with carpet, which can be problematic later. It’s unlikely that your pup will get the texture of these litter pellets confused with any other surface in your house. Plus, you can pour some of the pellets outside where you want your pup to potty and they’ll get the idea.
- Dog bed – elevated beds are loved almost universally by all dogs. They are built well and can tolerate chewing puppies and are easy to clean
- Nylabone – hard texture is often appealing to teething pups
- Kongs – Some pups prefer to chew on toys that are a softer texture. Kongs provide mental stimulation too, since pups have to work out how to remove the goodies you have hidden inside
- Soft toys – Pups love to chew and shake soft toys. These should only be used with supervision, in case they de-stuff them or remove the squeaker.
What are some of your favorite items to have on hand for your dog or puppy?
These items are affiliate links, which means that at no extra cost to you, I’ll earn a few pennies for more dog toys!
