You want the day you bring your poodle puppy home for the first
time to go smoothly. You don't want to have to send your family
racing around trying to borrow old towels, toys, and food dishes
from dog owning neighbors.
Supplies
Your poodle puppy will need several things to get off on the
right foot. The first is a large crate or carrier where it can
sleep and where it can go for comfort if it becomes overwhelmed.
Getting a blanket or towel with the mother's scent to put in the
carrier will help your pup feel at ease in its new space.
You will also need dishes for food and water. If possible, continue
feeding the pup what it was eating at the breeders, at least for
a couple of weeks until it gets settled in. If you and your vet
decide to change the diet later, that shouldn't be a problem.
Get a collar and leash so you can take your poodle puppy on walks.
Finally, get some toys for your poodle pup to play with. Poodles
are smart, inquisitive dogs who become bored easily, so try to
keep at least one or two new toys on hand to amuse your pup. This
will stop it from finding its own excitement by, say, chewing
on your favorite pair of leather shoes.
Finally, talk to your poodle breeder or a professional groomer
and find out what kind of brush and comb will best suit your home
grooming needs. Because the poodle's fur is so dense, it should
be brushed daily to prevent tangles.
Safety
Just like you might baby proof your home if a friend were bringing
a toddler over, you should poodle proof your home before your
new family member arrives.
Check your home for places where the poodle might fall. If you
have stairs in your home, for instance, you might want to use
a childproof gate to keep your poodle pup from taking a tumble.
Pay attention, too, to any tight spots where the poodle might
accidentally trap itself.
Get down on the floor and look at the world from a dog's eye
point of view. Are there any poisonous plants that look tempting?
Fireplaces where the puppy might burn itself if not watched carefully?
Small toys that a puppy might swallow? Exposed electric cords
that might be chewed on?
Low level kitchen cupboards can be very interesting to a smart
little dog like a poodle puppy. If your pup actually did manage
to open a cupboard door, would it find bug spray, cleaners, detergents,
or other chemicals that might hurt it? If so, think about placing
these things in a higher cupboard out of the poodle pup's reach.
Ten minutes spend making your home more poodle-friendly now can
save you a lot of guilt and anguish later.
Children
If you have young children in the house, talk to them about the
poodle puppy that will be coming to live with you. If possible,
let them visit the puppy at the breeder. Make sure they know they
must always speak to the puppy softly and touch it gently, and
that it's never okay to yell at the puppy or hurt it in any way.
If your children are very young, you may want to make it a rule
that they can't pick the puppy up unless you're in the room to
supervise.
