Checklist for New Puppy Owners

Deciding to invite a puppy into your family is a really exciting moment. They bring a whole lot of love into the household and pets, particularly dogs, are scientifically proven to improve the mood, wellness and even lifespan of owners. But getting a puppy takes some leg work to ensure a smooth and safe transition into your home. Here are a few questions to ask yourself if you’ve bought a new puppy, or are about to, and the answers to help you along. 

“Is my house ready for the puppy?”

Sometimes having a new pet can be a big lesson in realising that it’s as much about you fitting into their life as it is them fitting in with yours. While you might have the typical basics sorted (dog bowls, beds, houses), it’s good to go over your home with closer inspection. Especially if the puppy will be left unattended for any period of time (including overnight). Typically, your puppy will spend the first part of its life inside, so it’s important to keep the areas as free from hazards as possible. This includes protecting items that are of value from scratches and bites, but also protecting them from any harm. Essentially, ask yourself if a toddler would be safe in this area. Look out for things like sharp objects or corners, loose cords, electrical hazards or any other dangers. Puppies are extremely curious and will find even the smallest hazard to play with. 

“What vaccinations do I need to be aware of?”

A puppy’s first round of vaccines is usually done around six weeks of age when the puppy is still with the breeder, so you will likely not need to organise this round of vaccinations for them. However, if you do have them prior, it’s important to not have them out in public until their shots are up to date. Here is a quick snapshot of the vaccines your puppy will need from 6 weeks to 16 weeks. 

6-8 weeks: Hepatitis, Parvovirus and Distemper

10-12 weeks: Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Distemper, Bordetella and Parainfluenza  

14-16 weeks: Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Distemper and Parainfluenza

“Do I need puppy school?”

Although it’s not absolutely necessary to attend puppy school, it is highly recommended to attend a puppy school that is run by an accredited dog trainer. Accredited puppy trainers are highly skilled in not only the best techniques for training puppies for certain behaviours, but in also understanding the individual hurdles of each puppy. They can identify how the puppy is responding to certain techniques, new environments, home set up, and adjust training needs if required. 

Allambie’s puppy pre-school helps pups with puppy raising, environmental socialisation and basic early training, developing these skills in the vital age between 8 and 16 weeks. Our lessons are designed to ensure your puppy is polite, well behaved and well socialised by its graduation. 

“Does my puppy need a microchip?”

Absolutely. In NSW, it is a legal requirement to have your puppy microchipped (unless it has been identified as exempt) by 12 weeks, or before being sold/given away. In not doing so, you risk receiving a fine anywhere between $180 and $880. Although this is typically not applicable to puppies, if the dog is declared dangerous or restricted, the penalty can be as high as $5500. Beyond the financial penalty for not having your puppy microchipped, there are other incentives. Microchips are no bigger than one grain of rice and implementation is quick does not hurt the animal. If your puppy goes missing, the microchip identifies its home immediately and can assist the finders, or the vet/pound, in returning them as soon as possible. 

“Do I need pet insurance?”

We strongly recommend pet owners consider getting pet insurance. By having it you could save yourself thousands of dollars when unforeseen illness or injury occur (which can happen at any time). This is especially helpful to you if the puppy is your first pet and you aren’t familiar with typical costs required in these instances. It not only gives you peace of mind, but it ensures your pet will receive the care it needs immediately, and not have it dependent on financial standing.