On June 19th, 2020 we welcomed a new little French Bulldog to our pack of four. We named her Effie White!

She was immediately welcomed by her new sister Averie, our first French Bulldog and her new big brother Lamar who is a Standard Schnauzer. Her new sisters Kinzie and Ore needed a little more time to warm up to her. They just ignored and pretended like she didn’t exist #meangirls.

Over the last few weeks, they have all welcomed Effie White into the pack. They love to play for hours in the backyard. Effie White has so much personality. She is fearless, sassy, loves to be outside and is very I N D E P E N D E N T!

If you are considering getting a puppy, here are my top 5 puppy raising tips:

• Make sure you are READY to commit to a pet. Puppies are like having a new born baby. The cute puppy phase will slowly fade.

• Financially make sure you can take on an extra expense. Puppies require multiple vet visits the first year of their life for vaccinations. They need a good nutritious brand of food, beds, leashes....etc.

• Puppy proof your home. Puppies love to explore, chew on new things, pee and poop anywhere they choose. Check out these tips from porch.com on ways to proof every room of your home.

• Get your puppy on a schedule. A good potty schedule, sleep schedule, play time and feeding schedule will save you some peace of mind.

• Start training early. My top commands are come, stay, sit and stay. I also recommend kennel training your puppy. This can help in an emergency (natural disaster or even just having to stay somewhere temporarily). When your puppy is mature enough, the kennel may longer be needed. You will know when your puppy is ready. Above all enjoy your pets! They will love you always and forgive you always.

I hope these tips help you when/if you decide to add a new puppy to your home. Check out some other tips from pet care professionals.