Before You Bring Home Your Puppy

There is a certain amount of preparation involved before bringing home your new pup beyond making the decision to add to your family. If you plan ahead it will be a much easier transition for you and your puppy. The following is a shopping list to help you get started:

• The name and phone number of a veterinarian. Hopefully a friend can recommend someone in your area.
• Find out if there is an organization near by that does “Puppy Kindergarten” for training. They probably won’t let you bring him until he has had all of his rabies vaccines. But it is worth doing when the time is right.
• You might want to get a book to learn more about raising a lab. Don’t laugh but “Labradors for Dummies” is actually pretty good.
• Collar with ID Tag and leash or harness. Collars will have to be adjusted and / or replaced as the puppy grows. You should be able to put two fingers inside the collar easily.
• A crate with a movable divider in it. The divider can be moved as he grows and needs more room.
• Baby gate(s) if you want to be able to confine the pup to a certain area.
• A food dish and a water dish. Pick dishes that the puppy can’t knock over.
• Chew toys. Beware of anything too small that may be a choking hazard. No rawhide or pet store packaged bones. When he is older he can have marrow bones. I get them from the butcher at the grocery store.
• Cleaning supplies for puppy “accidents”.