PUPPY’S FIRST DAY’S HOME

At long last the day has arrived when you can take your puppy home with you.  You can make these first days of adjustments easier  by being prepared.

PUPPY-IZE YOUR HOME

Take the time before your puppy arrives to remove all hazards and valuables from reach.

These include electrical cords, all cleaning products, insulation, staples, nails, plastic bags etc.  A puppy will rapidly improve  your housekeeping habits.  Remember, if you leave it around the puppy will find it!  Make sure you close all cupboards, closets,  drawers, and most importantly toilet seats.

TOYS

Keep on hand lots of appropriate toys.  They will aid in the mental development of your puppy and ease the chewing stage as he  begins to get permanent teeth.  When your pup chews something inappropriate give him a stern ”NO” and redirect his attention to a  toy and praise him for playing with it.  Stay with him long enough to make certain his attention remains appropriately focused.   You will be doing this many, many times.  Toys do not need to be expensive, but they do need to be SAFE.  Latex rather than vinyl,  hidden or no squeakers are best.

PUPPY’S SPECIAL PLACE

Your home is your puppy’s home.  Dogs like to have a quiet place that they can escape to

when they feel the need.  Try to provide this place away from daily activity.  It can be next to your bed, under a table or in  another room.  We highly recommend the use of a crate throughout the dogs’ life.

It is a must for housebreaking and it provides a den like security that is a natural comfort to your dog.

HOUSEBREAKING

Dogs are clean animals and given the choice, will eliminate away from the area where they eat and sleep.  Please refer to the  enclosed article on crate training.  Your puppy must be taken outside immediately after eating or drinking and upon waking from a  nap.  Keep him on a regular feeding schedule and establish a routine for taking him out, using the same door and the same command,  i.e. “outside”.  Remember that he will not have a full bladder control until about four months of age.  This will take much  vigilance, consistency, praise and patience on your part for successful housebreaking.  Meanwhile, take it slow and invest in a  good spot remover!

PUPPY AND OTHER FOUR-LEGGED ANIMALS

Introduction and development of this relationship will take careful supervision and time.  Take it SLOW.  Play must be supervised  at all times between puppies and adults to insure that it does not get too rough or aggressive.  Allow the established members of  the household to continue with their daily habits.  They should eat and sleep in their accustomed places.    Give the puppy a  place of his own, preferably far enough away from the others so that he will not disturb them.  Make time each day where each  individual can have your undivided attention without the other members present.  Until you feel secure that the relationship is  problem free, do not leave the animals in areas together when you’re gone.

ADDITION NOTES

1.Even though your puppy has some acquaintance with stairs, he should be assisted up and down until he is confident.

2.Your puppy has not been leashed trained.

3.Puppies will need more sleep than normal the first days home because of the stress of adjustment.

4.Although socializing is important, save it for now.  Allow your puppy at least a week to fully adjust to being in his new home.   It is all the socializing he will be able to handle.

5.Remember that puppies have NO perception of heights.

6.Choose toys of appropriate size.  Be certain nothing can be swallowed.

7.Because the command  “come” is so important, start from the beginning using the command to associate the act of coming to you as  a pleasant experience.  Always give lavish praise.  This can be implemented nicely in the house and should be used whether the  puppy has to travel two feet or across the room.

8.Try to avoid all situations that may cause fright.  These experiences will be remembered for your puppy’s entire life and may  grow into unwanted behavior or attitudes in the adult dog.  It is easier to avoid them than to erase them.

As you can see, there are many things to cover during this adjustment time.  Try to see things from the puppy’s point of view.  He  has been uprooted from the only constants he has known, his mother, littermates, home and the only people he has known and loved.   He will make the adjustment, but may not be overjoyed at first and my whine and cry.  Give lots of praise and encouragement.   Nights my be rough for awhile, but try to remain patient and consistent in your approach to bedtime.  Provide cuddly stuffed toys,  warm water bottles or clocks ticking nearby.  Its best to keep visitors away for a week or if you absolutely cannot avoid this,  keep them quiet and short.  Why confuse your puppy as to who are his people.

He will be much better to handle visits from strangers once he has had a week with just you.  These are critical days.  Time  invested now will pay off for a lifetime!