Hello!

Preparing for a new puppy can feel overwhelming. I hope I can help by breaking down some basic steps. There’s more to it than this but I think this is a good start.

Step 1) Find a Veterinarian. If you have a beloved vet already - great! If you don’t, many practices now have long wait lists and it makes sense to schedule an appointment 4-6 weeks before your puppy goes home. If you’re not sure where to start, I would suggest looking for Certified Fear Free Veterinarian. These professionals are trained in ways, small and big, to make the vet less scary. It’s often small things - like making sure floors aren’t slippery and having lots of treats available - but they can make a big difference! Look for a Fear Free Certified Practitioner by clicking this sentence.

Step 2) Take the Puppy Culture Online Course. Called With Open Arms and a Level Head, it helps you prepare an area for the puppy, troubleshoots common issues (such as puppy play biting), and walks you through safe and sane socialization for your new puppy. I raise my puppies with Puppy Culture, but even if you purchase a puppy from another breeder who does not, this is a great program. It’s also a LOT of information! So I recommend buying in advance, watching it through, and doing a refresher each week when thep puppy comes home. Click on this sentence to go to the Puppy Culture (Madcap University) or click on the heart image below.

Step 3) Secure Pet Insurance. Puppies I highly recommend pet insurance. Traditional plans do not cover day-to-day wellness care, but can be literally life or death when faced with emergency medical costs. There are many good companies with slightly different payout methods. For example, Trupanion sets a deductible by condition, not by calendar year. If you activate the “go home day offer” your puppy will be covered immediately with no pre-existing conditions. Another option is AKC Pet Insurance which says it will cover pre-existing conditions after one year. Other companies like FIGO, Pumpkin, Lemonade, Healthy Paws, and Chewy all offer plans. Explore which one is right for you and your new pet.

Step 4) Go Shopping! Puppies require a lot of stuff. Watching the Puppy Culture class will help. Additionally, I’ve put together an Amazon list of products that I use. Please note that Amazon sometimes changes things on the back end, so check the current specs of the item to make sure they still make sense. For example, one year they made the “Small” collar twice the size! But playpens, grooming tools, etc are all laid out here. Click on this sentence to go to my Amazon list page or click on the blue bottom below.

Step 5) Find a Groomer. For a breed like Havanese who will be groomed every 4-6 weeks their entire lives, early introductions to the groomer are essential. Start slow with short, fun appointments so your puppy is totally comfortable for that first professional bath and haircut. Asking friends, trainers, and vets for recommendations is the way to go. Always visit the shop and make sure it is clean, the dogs are well cared for, and the ratio of staff to dogs means everyone is able to keep an eye on things.

Step 6) Find a Trainer and/or Puppy Kindergarten. This is less for the puppy and more for YOU! If you haven’t had a puppy before, or haven’t had a puppy in awhile, you need to be trained on how to effectively communicate with the puppy. Look for “Positive-Only” trainers for this breed - they are a sensitive breed and can be absolutely crushed by “punishment” or “balanced” methods. Always sit in on classes before you sign up - and if you aren’t allowed to sit in an watch a class, consider why that might be.

Step 7) Listen to the MadCap Podcasts. This free resource from the creators of Puppy Culture has SO much free information. How do you find a good trainer? A vet? Why is my puppy eating poop? Why does my puppy wake up at 4:30 every morning? Learn a lot about things you might not thing are normally, but they totally are. Click this sentence to go to the podcast page or click the image below.

Step 8) Breathe!!! Puppies are a learning curve. But by being a conscious consumer who takes the time to find a good breeder, wait for the right puppy, and do everything you can to train, socialize, and raise them right - you will do a great job!

Please note that some links on this page are affiliate links, which reflects the time and effort I put into making the list and keeping it current. Many other sites and the manufacturers also sell their items, so you can look here for ideas but purchase elsewhere if you wish. Happy shopping!