Plan for a low-key arrival. Schedule your pet’s arrival on a weekend or when you can spend time together. Keep the environment calm and low-key to help them adjust.

House Training: Be prepared for possible accidents. Take your pet outside every few hours and praise them when they “go” outside.

Veterinary Care: Locate a general veterinarian and schedule a wellness exam within the week. Ensure your pet is up to date on vaccinations, and flea/tick/heartworm prevention. Discuss microchipping and spaying/neutering if needed. Establishing a relationship with your veterinarian will help everyone from the start. This will be the team you can turn to for questions and advice

Identification: Make sure your pet has a collar with your phone number and is microchipped for added safety.

Urgent/ER Care: It helps to establish a relationship with your veterinary provider should your pet need to be seen quickly. In addition, make sure you know where to turn should your pet need urgent care and emergency care clinics.

Maintain regular veterinary wellness checkups to keep them in optimal health.

Secure your pets in a crate or harness when driving.

Closely supervise and manage any interaction between dogs that are unfamiliar with each other.

Leash your dog when walking and follow leash laws posted in public areas.

Keep small toys, socks and other items away from puppies to avoid accidental swallowing.

Recognize that certain breeds are prone to heritable diseases and conditions and note related symptoms to discuss with your vet.