Guide to Bringing Home a New Puppy or Kitten

Just like bringing home a new baby, bringing home a new puppy or kitten also requires some preparation.

To begin you’ll want to bring the new puppy home to a calm, supportive and properly prepared atmosphere.

For Puppies:

Before bringing a puppy home, the breeder should tell you the feeding schedule and how much and what kind of food they have been feeding your puppy. Take a week’s supply of that food to avoid upsetting the puppy's system by sudden changes. Inquire when the puppy may need to defecate and about how often. Have plenty of newspaper or puppy housebreaking pads from our eBay store.

For the trip home you may want to use a large towel to place in someone’s lap to hold the puppy. Avoid the front seats, where the airbags are located. If the puppy whines, settle it by placing a reassuring hand on it and remain still; no baby talk or petting, and the puppy will likely fall asleep. Have an extra towel if the puppy becomes car sick. Don’t fuss if it happens, just replace the towel with a clean one and stay calm.

Here is a list of supplies you’ll need for your new pup:

BOWLS: One for food and one for water. Stainless steel is perfect, unbreakable, and unlikely to be knocked over. Ceramic can chip, and puppiesmay chew a plastic bowl.

CRATE: The enclosure acts as a cozy den; makes puppies feel safe when family is away; encourages bladder control since dogs dislike to urinate where they sleep. Plastic crates are standard for travel but can be used daily. Wire dog crates provide better ventilation and viewing. Wicker crates are more attractive but can be chewed. When bringing a puppy home, alternatives to crates are playpens, or gated enclosures.

GATES: They prevent puppies from climbing or falling down stairs, until freer roam is allowed. Confinement in damp, dark quarters such as basements and garages, leads to housebreaking problems.

BEDDING: Until the puppy you bring home is past the chewing stage and housebroken, avoid bedding. Instead, an old quilt or flat mat identifies a place in the room for the puppy. Take the quilt/mat on trips as a security blanket.

TOYS: Fun for puppy and owners, include chew toys and play toys. Never use shoes or garments, unless you want good shoes and garments chewed and played with in the future!

LEASHES: When you bring home a puppy, use a 4-6 foot drag leash of lightweight nylon for quick corrections in the house. In the yard, a 30-plus foot long line allows freedom to play but gives you control.

ID: When bringing home a puppy, consider an identification microchip, injected into the puppy’s neck or shoulder by the breeder or veterinarian. Have an ID tag with your address and telephone number attached to an adjustable buckle collar (preferably rounded) holding the puppy’s other tags. After about 12 weeks, the puppy is conditioned to wear the collar. Don’t put the dog's name on the ID since the name could endear it to wrongdoers.

Take the new dog directly to the area for relieving itself. Stand quietly, don’t distract the dog, and let it sniff. Stay until the dog urinates or defecates. It will likely do so shortly after eating. If the puppy cooperates, immediately heap praise on the dog, and point to the deposit. Get the puppy to look or sniff at its work so it understands what you are pleased about. Make it a celebration! The faster the puppy understands what you are pleased about, the more it will look to please you.

The first hours at home with your new puppy are so significant. It will leave a permanent impression that is why it is so important to prepare ahead of time. If you become anxious or impatient, the puppy will sense this and you risk anxiety-driven behavior problems. This will be the beginning of a wonderful relationship that takes time and effort but is so worth it.

When your your puppy is ready for the next step in weaning we offer a variety of vitamins and suppliments in our eBay store to help your pup stay healthy.

While this addresses bringing home a new puppy, much of this can also be applied to an older dog such as a rescue. The point is to be prepared so that you can get off to a good start.

For Kittens:

Whether you get your cat or kitten from a breeder, a pet store or a home it is best to continue feeding them the food they’ve been eating.

If you want to change it later do it gradually so as not to upset their digestion. The same is true for their litter, gradual change is always best.

Be sure to have a carrier with you, put some newspaper or towels in the bottom to make the ride home as comfortable as possible.

While kittens require less equipment than puppies there are some basic things you need to have ready for them:

CAT BASKET or a special resting place: This offers protection and privacy for the kitten. Be sure to put it where it’s warm and not drafty. Be aware that you kitten may just choose another spot completely, but you’ve tried!

LITTER BOX: Even if your kitten is going to be an outdoor/outdoor cat this is essential. They are sold everywhere; we have some very nice ones that are covered to help cut down on odor.

GROOMING: Begin from the start getting your kitten used to being brushed and combed. If you have a long haired cat this is crucial. Brushing will help stay on top of hairballs which are harmful to cats and it’s also makes a time to spend bonding with you new kitten or cat. Get the type of brush that best suites the type of hair your kitten has.

TOYS: There is nothing more fun or entertaining than watching a kitten play. Be sure to take lots of movies of them while they are in their kitten stage of life. There are all types of toys from the kind that you hold and wiggle for them to balls and fake mice to even a paper bag!

SCRATCHING POST: A cat needs a scratching post to sharpen their claws, it will go a long way to save your furniture! Be sure it’s sturdy and should be of a height that a cat can stand up to it. The best kinds are those that are wrapped in sisal hemp.

DISHES for food and water: Choose the kind that is as heavy and stable as possible, one for food and one for water. Because kittens and cats can get a little messy be sure to put some type of placemat under them to keep the floor clean.

I had always been a dog person and had never had a cat. People used to tell me that dogs and cats were different but I could never get them to tell me the precise difference. Several years ago we got a beautiful Tabby boy kitten we named Martin Luther Kitty who introduced me to the wonderful world of felines. Cats are all different; they come in innumerable sizes and colors with personality galore. The first time I heard him purr I was hooked.