How to Prepare Your Home for a Puppy (Without the Stress!)

Start with a Dedicated Puppy Zone

Puppies thrive when they have a space to call their own. A specific puppy zone, whether it’s a corner of your living room or a closed-off area in the kitchen, helps your new family member feel secure. It also provides a convenient spot for you to keep an eye on them.

• Select a sturdy baby or pet gate: Containing your puppy in a small area gives them freedom to explore safely without going into rooms you haven’t puppy-proofed. 
• Lay down puppy pee pads, or easily washable rugs or mats: Accidents will definitely happen, so grab floor coverings that are easy to pop into the washing machine. (Insert product link for Puppy pee pads.)
• Place a comfortable bed or crate: Crate training is a great way to build a sense of routine, and many puppies feel more secure in a cosy, enclosed spot. Some prefer a soft bed or blanket in a corner of their puppy zone. You’ll soon discover which your pup likes best. (insert link for crate and sleeping pad)

Introduce Safe Chew and Play Zones

All puppies love to chew. It’s part of how they explore the world, cope with teething pain, and play. Rather than trying to prevent it all, just guide them toward options you don’t mind if they chew.

• Chew toys: Offer a variety of safe chew toys to give your puppy a positive outlet for those sharp teeth. 
• Rotate toys: Just like kids, puppies get bored with the same old stuff. Rotating toys every few days keeps them excited and focused on chewing the right things.
• Protect furniture: Slipcovers or couch protectors are helpful during those early months. Some puppies like nibbling on the couch corners. 

Make Time for “Puppy Proofing” Checks 

Daily puppy-proofing might sound excessive, but in the first few weeks it can be a lifesaver. Puppies grow fast, and each day they might be able to jump onto new surfaces or slip behind areas they couldn’t reach before.

1. Do a quick scan for choking hazards: Small items on the floor (like pen caps or random bits of plastic) can quickly become tempting chew toys.
2. Check newly accessible surfaces: If your puppy is tall enough to hop onto the couch now, can they also grab something off the coffee table?
3. Reinforce gates and barriers: If your pup is a known climber, you might need a higher gate or an extra latch.

Carve Out Quiet Spaces

Puppies need a lot more sleep than most people realise. Somewhere around 18 hours a day in the very beginning. If they don’t get enough rest, they can become grumpy and overstimulated (which often leads to more biting or barking). Creating a calm rest area encourages healthy sleep habits.

• Curtain or crate cover: Draping a cover around three sides of a crate can help your pup settle down by blocking out distractions. (Insert link to crates)
• Soft lighting and reduced noise: For daytime naps, pick a quieter spot.
• Enforced naps: It’s perfectly okay to guide your puppy into their bed or crate for a rest, even if they’re in that overtired, hyper stage. The break is good for both of you.

Consider Training and Consistency 

Preparing your home is a huge part of a smooth puppy transition, but so is establishing a routine. Decide who in the household will handle feeding, walks, playtime, and bedtime, so your puppy doesn’t get confused by shifting rules.

• Set up simple daily rituals: Puppies love knowing what’s coming next. When mealtimes, play sessions, and naps happen on a predictable schedule, it helps reduce stress for everyone.
• Short training sessions: Keep them fun, upbeat, and frequent. Reward good behaviours like sitting calmly before mealtime or lying quietly on their bed.

Plan for supervision: For at least the first few months, puppies shouldn’t be left alone for long stretches. If you need to step out, ask friends or whānau to pop by.

Puppy Training Classes

Even the most well-prepared home can’t solve every puppy challenge on its own. Puppy training classes can make an enormous difference in guiding good habits. You’ll need a safe and comfortable collar and harness to bring. Briscoes have a great range to pick the right one for your pup. (insert link to harnesses and collars)

Puppy classes help with:

• Socialisation: Safely exposing your puppy to different people, gentle dogs, and new environments.
• Proper play etiquette: Teaching puppies not to nip, jump, or bark incessantly.
• Building confidence: Gradual, positive experiences help your pup learn how to handle the world around them.

Briscoes is here to make the transition smoother with everything you need, from cosy beds to harnesses and feeding supplies, so you can focus on enjoying every moment with your new furry friend.