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Plan and Prepare before you Purchase a Puppy

250,000 Pets surrendered every year ... Plan & Prepare before you purchase a puppy! 

This National Puppy Day (23rd March 2019) PetSafe® Brand Australia wants to bring attention to the importance of planning and preparing before purchasing a puppy.

Around 450,000
[1] puppies are purchased in Australia each year. It is estimated that around 250,000 of them are surrendered or abandoned within a year; with the most common reason being behavioural issues.

"It is hard to know the exact number of these poor dogs that are given up," comments Zarqa, PetSafe® Marketing Manager, "foundations and shelters like the RSPCA or Pet Rescue sometimes estimate the number of dogs surrendered can be upwards of 200,000 each year; however with dumping and road side abandonment this could be closer to 250,000 or even higher".

PetSafe® Brand Australia aims to utilise National Puppy Day to help lower this number by educating people on the importance of planning and preparing before purchasing a puppy.


"Planning and preparing for your new puppy and executing behavioural training from day one is imperative", states Zarqa, "by being prepared before you purchase you will have a better chance of incorporating the puppy into your life easily".

PetSafe® Brand Australia has developed these 6 steps to help you plan and prepare for your puppy:

1. Choose a pet that fits your lifestyle

It is crucial that the dog you choose fits with your lifestyle. Are you active, a couch potato, love the outdoors, indoors, work long hours, or not at all? 

Mismatched pet/owner situations can lead to unhappy pets as well as unhappy owners. And this often means these dogs can be at higher risk of being abandoned. Do your research before you buy or adopt so that you can be sure that you can handle all the responsibilities that come with your new fur pal and their breed's needs.

2. How active are you really?

Consider your physical activity level. If you are more sedentary or simply don't have time for daily exercise, then you will want to shy away from a dog breed that needs lots of walks and runs - like a Dalmatian for example. You can opt for a breed that doesn't require much exercise - like a Shih Tzu - or consider a cat.

3. What is your living space like?

Big breeds need big space. Bigger breeds like German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers need larger living spaces and may only be suitable for those with their own home or yard. If you live in a small space like an apartment in the city for example, then you should consider small breeds like a Corgi or a Bichon Frise.

4. Be prepared before you bring home your new puppy

You can save yourself a lot of headaches if you first make the preparations for your new pet before bringing them home.

The first stop is to make a list of pet supplies of what your pet will need and buy them. Ensuring you have the right puppy food is vital and the first step. 

Beyond that you need other essentials like water bowls, food bowl, toys, pee pads, travel crates (for vet visits etc.), correctly sized leashes, bedding, possibly a kennel (if you will be keeping your puppy outside) and puppy treats, just for starters.

5. Create a designated puppy space

Find a dedicated puppy space that will be just for your new pet and that allows them to acclimate to their new living situation. 


This area is where the puppy will spend most of their first few months when they arrive. 

If this is inside, make sure you tape up electrical cords, remove any household cleaning products to high shelves, remove plants from the floor, any rugs, breakables or anything else they could chew or destroy. 
Place the puppy crate in this area along with their toys, blankets and water/food bowl. 

Once you are happy then lie on the floor and look around to get the puppy's eye view for one last look for anything that they might possibly chew or destroy.

6. Be patient with your new puppy

New puppies can sometimes be fearful or uneasy for a little while when they enter a new environment, this is particularly the case with rescue dogs.


The first step is to stay calm yourself. A dog can tell if you are tense and will react to that with fear. Let the puppy sniff and explore the area with you following from a safe distance. If they seem scared of certain objects in your home, just leave them there, don't remove them, the pet will eventually get accustomed to them.

Show your new puppy where their food, water and toys are with affection at the same time. This lets them associate these items with love and positive affirmations.

Don't corner them off in areas where they can't see you or what is going on. If you have to, put smaller dogs on tables and couches when you are there so they can see the entirety of their new living space. And don't be afraid to go heavy on the treats at first - this will help them see you in a positive light.

PetSafe® Australia prides themselves on providing information, tools and products that can make the training of your new puppy easier, fun and simple.

"We are always inventing new products to help with this stage in a puppy and owner relationship, in the hope that we can lower that surrender number to zero!" says Zarqa.

Becoming a pet owner for the first time is exciting; it is the beginning of a journey that involves love, companionship and friendship. But making the first few weeks as easy and pleasant for your new puppy will set you both up for a long, loving and fulfilling relationship.

[1] According to the Pet Industry Association of Australia (PIAA) 21 Feb 2017. “Around 450,000 puppies are sold in Australia

About PetSafe Brand

PetSafe® Brand is a global pet product expert with its headquarters in Knoxville, Tennessee. Wide-ranging innovative products are available across the PetSafe® Brand product portfolio including training, containment, and lifestyle and wellbeing product solutions.

Visit www.petsafe.com/AU for further details or connect on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

MEDIA RELEASE, 15th March 2019
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