Taking a puppy home shouldn't be stressful: here's how we'll help
You know how before you have kids, everyone tells you how it’s the best experience in the world? But then as soon as you have one, people start pulling you aside with ominous warnings and offhand comments…
Have fun not sleeping!
You’ll never have a night to yourself again. Congrats!
Oh, have you bought earplugs yet?
It’s like a fun little inside joke that’s only shared between parents.
And as much as I LOVE being a mom…
I don’t want to share that joke with my clients.
No, I think you deserve to have a magical experience when you take home your puppy.
Not one tarnished with regrets, doubts, or overwhelm.
With the right prep, I’m confident you’ll feel prepared (and wonderfully excited).
So whether you decide to join the Olive Branch Family or adopt from somewhere else, I want you to know what needs to happen before you bring your puppy home to make it the most magical experience possible.
Trust me, there will be plenty of other inside jokes for us to laugh about (I’m looking at you, toilet-paper-ripping-phase)...
But let’s not make the important preparation a secret.
There are five key things that need to happen before you bring home a pup to make it the best experience possible.
1. Finding the right time
Knowing when to bring a pup home involves planning and flexibility.
During the first month or two, your pup will need hands-on care throughout the day. For example, your pup will need to go outside for potty breaks every two hours until their bladder grows. Plus, there’s training, feeding, and vet visits to think about.
In other words, you’ll want to choose a time in your life when you can be home during the day and have some energy to spare.
But life doesn’t always go according to plan, so finding a breeder with some flexibility can drastically reduce the stress of getting a pup. For example, we’ve had families delay getting a puppy due to pregnancy, career changes, and family health issues. They stay at the top of our waitlist until they’re ready to choose their pup, making the experience better for everyone (including the pups!).
2. Arming yourself with information
What should I feed them? What’s their routine like? Where should they nap? You’ll have hundreds of questions when it comes time to raise a pup, and learning everything you can beforehand will take a huge weight off your shoulders.
To give you a taste of what we provide our puppy buyers with…
A shopping list for all the necessary puppy supplies
A go-home packet packed with all the essential information you’ll need to be a prepared puppy owner
A puppy social to start learning how to communicate with and socialize your puppy
Recommendations for skilled trainers in Southern California
Access to my personal cell for any specific questions and peace of mind
There’s a lot to learn, but with the right support, it’ll be a fun part of the process!
3. Choosing their original home with care
How your pup is raised will impact the rest of their life. We’re talking confidence, behavior, and health.
Unfortunately, some breeders simply leave pups in a kennel with minimal toys or human interaction until they’re ready to be sold.
If you’re going to purchase a puppy, make sure the breeder:
Takes genetics and the parents’ health seriously
Puts every pup through a socialization curriculum
Spends quality one-on-one time with the pups to get to know them and show them love
These steps will help you know you’re getting a healthy, balanced, nourished pup who’s ready to seamlessly integrate into your family.
To learn more about how to find an ethical breeder, check out this list of questions to ask your breeder. Or if you want to know more about our gold-standard program, check out our puppy curriculum.
4. Finding the right puppy
Now comes the fun part! Did you know that you can choose a puppy based on your lifestyle and family dynamic?
For example, some pups are more outgoing, while others are more reserved. Some are better suited for living with young children, while others would do well in a quieter home. Others crave a life of adventure or are destined to be lap dogs.
Knowing a bit about the litter’s personalities will help you choose a pup that fits right into your home.
If you want to learn how to make an informed decision, read all about how to choose the perfect pup here!
5. Joining a community
Even when you do everything possible to prepare, there will still be ups and downs as your puppy grows. That’s why we always advocate setting up some kind of support system before bringing home your pup.
Whether it’s a private Facebook group with other puppy owners, private training sessions, or a supportive neighbor, having some external support can make all the difference!
If you’re looking for Bernedoodle-specific support, our newsletter shares tips and tricks twice a month. Plus, it has cute puppy pictures—always a win! Subscribe here to get the cuteness and join the Olive Branch Family.
If you follow these steps, your new puppy experience is bound to be as smooth and enjoyable as possible. Which means you can put all your focus on bonding with your puppy!
You’re officially one step closer to entering a life filled with puppy joy. If you need any support along the way, please don’t hesitate to reach out through our Contact Us form. And when you find your perfect pup, be sure to give them a cuddle for me!
