Every dog owner knows that a new puppy is a handful. That’s why sending a new owner home with a puppy pack helps set up the puppy for success in their new home. Shelley and Helen talk about ten of the most important items you should send with the puppy in their puppy pack.

What to Put in a Puppy Pack

1. 1. Moving to a new home is a big adjustment. It can really help to send along a one-week supply of the food, water and healthy treats you’ve been giving. Water is included in this list because water tastes different by location. If you made gruel using milk replacer when weaning the puppies, sending some of that milk replacer powder can also help in the transition since it is a taste that will be familiar to them. Many of our customers really like Breeder’s Edge Foster Care milk replacer to use during weaning since it can also help with diarrhea issues.
   2. Sometimes puppies don’t eat well the first few days in a new home, so you want to make sure they get the calories they need, even if they aren’t eating. A high calorie supplement such as Doc Roy’s Forti Cal Gel supplies the extra calories they miss if they go off food for a day or so. We recommend giving the puppy or kitten Forti Cal gel or liquid a week or two prior to going to a new home. That way they will already be familiar with the taste.
   3. Sending along a familiar toy or blanket is helpful for comforting the puppy. Just like small children, puppies are comforted by something they are familiar with. It’s also a good idea to have these items around the puppy’s mom for a bit, so they have her scent on them. A lot of breeders send a Nylabone home with the new family. It quickly becomes a favorite chew toy for most puppies!
   4. First time puppy owners may not have all the supplies they will need right away. So, some puppy starter kits include leashes and collars that are the appropriate sizes for the puppy and adjustable so they can continue to use it as the puppy grows. In addition, some breeders send foldable food and water bowls or a small stainless steel bowl in their puppy packs as a useful gift.
   5. Moving to a new home is stressful for the puppy, and often times stress can lead to diarrhea. That’s why many of our customers include Doc Roy’s GI Synbiotics Gel in their puppy packs. This is a probiotic and prebiotic gel that helps minimize the potential for diarrhea.
   6. Puppies don’t stay small very long, so make sure his new family knows what they need to help a fast-growing pup. A calcium supplement like Doc Roy’s Healthy Bones helps provide the calcium he needs to grow
      strong and healthy.
   7. Adding a new puppy to the family is an adjustment for everyone, so including a thoughtful note from you stating why you know they’ll be a great family for this puppy is an excellent way to give the new family a little boost of encouragement that they can do this!
   8. Vaccination and deworming records, any sort of guarantee you offer along with your contact information, registration papers and a health schedule are all essential paperwork items to include in your puppy pack. The Revival Animal Health Records are a great way to keep all this information in one place.
   9. Many new families don’t realize or don’t know how to register the puppy’s microchip. If you’ve taken the time to microchip the dog, but the new family doesn’t register it, it makes it harder to return him home if he becomes lost. So, make sure they are aware of exactly how
      to register the puppy’s microchip.
   10. Instructions and information on puppy house training, chewing and other common puppy behaviors they will encounter. The My Puppy Guide or the Your Pandemic Puppy book are great resources to include in a puppy pack along with other breed-specific handouts. And rather than sending home lots of papers, many of our customers have gone digital. Put all the information on a flash drive to give to the new family instead of sending a stack of papers.

   How to Prepare for a New Puppy

   If you are the new puppy owner, what do you do after you get home? As a new owner, what do I need to have ready for my new puppy?

   Where Should a New Puppy Sleep

   You may want your new puppy to sleep in bed with you or on a cute dog bed, but it’s important you give them a space of their own. Getting a carrier or a kennel will give your puppy a nice comfy space to relax in when you’re gone or when she is scared.  You may receive your puppies favorite toy in your puppy pack, so use that as their chew toy so they don’t destroy their bed.

   When picking out the right size kennel, it’s important to make sure the kennel is large enough that they can turn around and sleep but not so big that they can have a bathroom at one end and a sleeping area at the other.

   How to Puppy Proof Your Home

   From cords on the floor to toxic plants, there are many items in your home that are toxic to puppies or could seriously hurt them. One tip I always learned when it came to prepping my home for a new puppy, was to get down to their level. Your puppy will find things that you might not regularly see, so it’s important to catch them and take care of it before the pup finds it. For a detailed list of things to watch for I recommend you visit AKC.org.

   Puppies can be a handful, so it’s important you read any information given to you in your puppy pack. The breeder will know your dog best, so reach out to them if you have questions about the pup. If you need help preparing for your new puppy, be sure to call us at 800.786.4751 and our Pet Care Pros can give you helpful tips and product recommendations.