It’s hard to imagine how dramatically your life will change when you get a new pup. Here are 5 changes to keep in mind. By Belinda N. Ahern

Hopefully You’ve prepped and planned a strategy to bring home your new pup. But have you thought about what comes next?

1. Be ready to take your new pup outside every time it eats, drinks, naps or becomes playful. Which is about every couple of hours. If you’re training your dog to go potty outside, this means actually taking them outside to the location you want them to go about every 1-2 hours.

2. Did you invest in paper towels and spray cleaner? We want to be able to immediately teach them not to make a mess inside but be ready for constant supervision. They come into this world and explore it so keep a watch and redirect pups away from making all kinds of messes and not-so-mysterious puddles.

3. Your home should be puppy-proofed pretty quickly. If you haven’t done so before bringing your new pup home, you’ll have to make sure your home is a safe place for a puppy to live and explore. Hide any exposed electronic cords, keep cleaning chemicals locked away, make sure food (both human and dog-related) is out of reach, and much much more. It may be a while before they’re at all responsible; and even then, they’re still delightful animals who don’t always operate how you wish they would.

4. You’re basically going to have a curfew. Sorry, owning a puppy means being home and paying attention to provide and care for them. Even if you use a dog-sitter or doggy day care service, your new friend will require lots of socialization, training, playtime, cuddle time, and walks. You will likely have to turn down a few activities in order to be home on time to take care of your puppy.

5. You’ll realize what it’s like to re-prioritize your life in order to provide for something, or someone, you love. Owning a dog is so much more than the routine activities, like walking or training, that can feel tedious at times. You’re investing in a little buddy who wants to show you unconditional love with their funny personality. This level of responsibility, and thoughtfulness, might be a new level for you, but feel free to embrace it. The bond between a dog and their owner is extremely special!

So bring on the new pooch! Create that Instagram account, snuggle spoil and don't forget to train!!! TRAINER HAT: Without getting all “helicopter parent” on them, you will benefit from training as soon as you bringing them home. Making a commitment each week dedicated to socialization and teaching your puppy how to behave; some behavioral traits in dogs come from genetics and can’t simply be trained away but learning more about your dog will help you to determine how to best meet your dogs needs for physical and mental activity. Make a start with simple commands and it can help you learn how to correct and praise your dog. Love the life you are living!