Preparing Your Home for an Italian Greyhound Puppy

Preparing for a puppy can very quickly become a shopping exercise. There are beds, blankets, toys, clothes and countless other things that promise to make those first few weeks easier. In our experience, however, the most valuable preparation was not how much we bought. It was creating a small, safe and reassuring space where Bailey could begin to understand her new surroundings.

Creating a safe space for Bailey

When Bailey came home at 12 weeks old, we set up a puppy pen for her and placed it over soft foam floor tiles. Inside the pen, she had a crate, a comfortable bed and a puppy pad held securely in a pad holder. We covered parts of both the pen and the crate with blankets, which made the space feel warmer and more homely. The blanket over the crate also created a dark, sheltered spot where she could retreat and sleep when everything became a little overwhelming. We kept the entrance to the crate clear, made sure air could circulate and ensured that Bailey could move away from the covered area if she became too warm. The crate was always intended to be a safe resting place — never somewhere she was sent as a punishment.

The entire arrangement worked brilliantly for us. Bailey had somewhere secure to sleep and relax without immediately having access to the whole house. It also meant we knew exactly where she was during those moments when we could not give her our complete attention. If we were bringing home another puppy, we would create essentially the same setup again.

If you choose to use foam floor tiles, make sure they are fitted securely and supervise your puppy until you know they are not inclined to chew the edges. A secured, washable rug or mat can be a good alternative.

Preventing unsupervised access to stairs

Our staircase was naturally separated from the rest of the house by a door, which we always kept closed. This meant Bailey could not quietly disappear and attempt the stairs without us noticing. We have heard of owners placing baby gates at the top of their stairs, only for an Italian Greyhound puppy to jump over the gate and fall down the staircase. A barrier can create a false sense of security if the puppy is capable of climbing or jumping over it.

For that reason, we would not rely on a baby gate at the top of the stairs. A closed door or keeping your puppy in a secure part of the home without access to the staircase is preferable.

Think about floors as well as furniture

Italian Greyhound puppies can be wonderfully enthusiastic without always giving quite as much thought to their landing as we might like. At the time, our home had laminate flooring. We did not replace it, but we placed a rug in front of the sofa in case Bailey decided to jump down. The last thing you want is a puppy with delicate legs launching herself from the sofa and all four legs disappearing in different directions when she lands. The rug gave her more grip and provided a slightly softer landing area. It was a very simple change, but an important one.

Look particularly at the places where your puppy may jump down, turn quickly or become excited. You do not need to carpet the entire house, but a few thoughtfully positioned rugs or runners can make slippery areas much easier for them to navigate.

The unexpectedly useful puppy pad holder

One of the less glamorous but genuinely useful things we bought was a puppy pad holder. A loose puppy pad can easily become crumpled, dragged or carried around. Once it has been used, the last thing you want is for it to accidentally migrate around the home. The holder kept the pad flat and in one predictable place, which made life considerably easier. If you decide to use puppy pads, keep the pad area separate from your puppy’s bed, food and water. We would also treat pads as a practical aid rather than a replacement for establishing a consistent outdoor toilet routine.

Keep their food familiar at first

Moving to a new home already brings an enormous amount of change. During those first days, we would recommend giving your puppy the same food, in the same quantities and at roughly the same times, as they were accustomed to with their breeder. Changing their diet abruptly can cause digestive upset, often resulting in soft or loose stools—which is one complication neither a puppy nor their new owner needs while they are settling in. Keeping their food familiar gives their digestive system one less adjustment to make during an already unfamiliar time.

This does not mean your puppy must remain on the breeder’s choice of food indefinitely. Once they appear settled, are eating normally and have become comfortable with their new routine, you can begin changing their food if you wish. Introduce the new food gradually over a week or two, mixing a small amount with their existing food and slowly increasing the proportion.

If a young puppy develops persistent diarrhoea or vomiting, becomes lethargic or stops eating, contact your vet rather than assuming it is simply the change of food.

Do not buy an entire puppy wardrobe

As a dog clothing brand, this may sound like an unusual admission, but we would not recommend buying too many clothes before your puppy arrives. Puppies grow astonishingly quickly. A coat that fits perfectly one week may be noticeably snug not long afterwards, so there is little benefit in buying several outfits in the same size.

For us, one practical, well-fitting coat was enough. At that age, Bailey was not spending prolonged periods outside in very cold or wet weather, so there was no need for an extensive wardrobe. The priority was having something suitable for necessary trips outside while she was still very small.

Choose clothing for the puppy you have now rather than buying something oversized for them to grow into. It should fit securely, allow unrestricted movement and not be loose enough for little legs to become caught inside it. There will be plenty of time to build their wardrobe once their growth begins to settle.

Look at your home from puppy height

Before your puppy arrives, get down to their level and look around each area they will be allowed to enter. Electrical cables, medicines, cleaning products, small objects and accessible bins can all attract an inquisitive puppy. Check for narrow gaps behind furniture, low shelves containing anything chewable and exterior doors that could be left open. If your puppy will use the garden, inspect the entire boundary carefully. Italian Greyhounds are very small, and a gap that appears insignificant to us may look perfectly inviting to them.

What we found genuinely useful

Our practical preparation list would include:

·     A secure puppy pen

·     A correctly sized crate

·     A comfortable, washable bed

·     A few warm blankets

·     A secure, non-slip floor covering

·     A puppy pad holder, if you intend to use pads

·     Food and water bowls

·     A supply of the food your puppy is already accustomed to eating

·     A small selection of safe toys and chews

·     A well-fitting collar or harness and identification tag

·     One practical, well-fitting coat

·     A suitable cleaner for the inevitable accidents

You do not need to have every possible puppy product waiting at home. Begin with the essentials, observe what your puppy actually needs and add things gradually.

Aim for a safe and reassuring home

It is tempting to believe that you must prepare for every possible eventuality before bringing your puppy home. In reality, no home will ever be entirely puppy-proof, and no shopping list can account for the personality of the puppy who arrives. What helped us most was giving Bailey a warm, contained base of her own, limiting access to obvious hazards and making a few simple changes to slippery areas around the house.

The puppy pen and crate setup was undoubtedly one of the best decisions we made. It gave Bailey somewhere safe to settle and gave us some much-needed reassurance during those first few days.

Your home does not need to be perfect. It simply needs to feel safe, calm and welcoming while you and your puppy begin finding your way together.