Hello and welcome to our community! Congratulations on deciding to adopt a tripaw, we happen to believe they are the best kind of dog out there  You have some time to prepare so that's perfect since there are a few items which are beneficial to have before bringing home your sweet baby.

First of all, traction is key, especially with those big puppy paws and gangly legs. We use a small kitchen rug under Maverick's bowls since his hind legs tend to slide out from under him on the kitchen floor, this way he can eat more confidently. Since your new baby will be growing, I recommend a set of elevated bowls he can grow with. Being a front limb tripaw, the extra stress on the neck and shoulders from leaning down to eat and drink may increase the risk of problems over time. We got a cheap set from Petco for $30 that has grown with him well but we started out with just a couple small puppy bowls because Mav was so small.

Next is the issue of collar versus harness. We keep a collar on Mav at all times to carry his tags but I rarely walk him with just the collar. Even though Mav aced his obedience class and is capable of walking on a collar, we found it was easier to use a harness. A regular collar tended to throw him off balance too much and would snap his front end around if he did choose to bounce after something. While Mav was in his growing stage we used a simple step-in harness until he evened out a bit and we got a ruffwear webmaster harness . This harness helps me get Mav in and out of the car and over obstacles when we take him out on the trails.

As always, we are HUGE fans of canine physical rehab! I truly believe working with one has helped Mav reach his full potential and be as strong as he is. By building your new puppy's muscles and learning how to stretch and massage, you can greatly reduce the number and severity of injuries that are common among tripaws. I recommend listening to the latest podcast here about it to learn a little more about this.

Lastly, just enjoy your new puppy and try not to baby him too much, lol. The best thing you can do is share your love by letting him explore his new world and learning on his own pace. You'll be learning right alongside him. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message and I'll do what I can to answer. You can look at Mav's blog if you want a look into growing up a tripaw.

Hope this helps! With love, Mandy and Maverick