Get Ready for the New Arrival

One of the first orders of business is to make an appointment with your veterinarian soon after you bring home your new puppy. You’ll need to have the puppy examined by your veterinarian to ensure that you can get a refund if a health issue arises. You’ll also want to consult with your breeder to ensure that the puppy’s shots are on track.

Make sure you have a crate with you when you go to pick up your puppy, and don’t forget to check that you have all the forms, including the guarantee in writing, that you’ll need to prove your puppy’s lineage and also for reference. If your experience turns out nicely, tell the breeder how pleased you are and that you’re willing to provide a good reference for him. Register your puppy with whatever kennel club recommended by your breeder, whether it’s the American Kennel Club (AKC), or the United Kennel Club, or another official kennel club.

Fill in the registration card that came in your packet when you picked up your puppy, and send it along with your registration fee. You’ll get a card and some information back within a few weeks. Decide whether you want to protect your puppy from getting lost with tattoo or a microchip.

You can have this done at the same time you spay or neuter your dog. Both methods will help to identify your dog in case he gets lost. The tattoo is a code that can be looked up to provide pertinent information about your lost pet, while a microchip that gets injected under the skin has to be scanned to retrieve its information. Information included is your breeder’s and your own names as well as the appropriate telephone numbers.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each method of protection for your dog with your veterinarian.