You are about to bring an adorable puppy home and that is so exciting! But at times, you might feel overwhelmed or even anxious about getting everything ready, right from the start. We’re here to tell you: don’t worry! Put the following 7 reminders into practice and you will enjoy a great time together with your fur baby.
1. Make Time for Your Puppy
Take some days off to dedicate yourself exclusively to the new family member. Perhaps you can extend a weekend by adding one or two days to a Saturday or Sunday. Why is this important?
Your home is a new and unfamiliar place. It is likely that the puppy might find that a little frightening. It is nice if you are at home to reassure and comfort the little fluff.
Your new puppy doesn’t know the house rules yet, which can get him/her in trouble.
You have to keep an eye on the puppy to avoid accidents.
It is likely that your puppy misses his/her mother and siblings during those days. Your company and comfort will be appreciated.
It takes time for the puppy to bond and trust you. This is also part of the socialization process you should help your puppy with, from day one.
If you absolutely can’t miss work, then the next best option is to find someone to stay with the puppy; or the puppy to stay with. If relatives and friends are not available, consider a dog daycare.
If dog daycare is not available in your area, the next option is to leave the puppy in a secure section of your home, for example, a baby-proofed kitchen closed off with a baby gate.
Another choice is a dog pen, particularly the larger ones that have enough space for a crate, water, and food bowls. Whichever way you choose, please understand that puppies should never be left alone for more than 2 to 3 hours. And they should never be left alone unsupervised, and roaming freely in your home. There are just too many things that could go wrong, which brings us to the next topic:
2. Make Your Home Safe for Puppies
Keep in mind that your puppy has no concept of right or wrong, or what is and is not allowed for him/her to do. Remember that learning takes time.
Meanwhile, you need to keep the little bundle of fur out of harm’s way. Here are some things to watch out for:
Power cables – if chewed, your puppy could get electrocuted. Make sure any power cables are hidden and that includes those from computers, mobile devices, and any other power cables that may be in your puppy’s line of sight.
Cleaning products and detergents – if your puppy inhales or swallows them, that can cause serious health hazards and even be life-threatening. If that happens, you should take your dog to a Vet immediately. To avoid all that stress, and expenses, simply put away anything toxic.
Small objects – If your dog ingests any small objects, it can require emergency surgery.
By keeping all small objects out of reach, you can prevent that from happening.
House plants – Some plants are toxic, and even fatal, for dogs if ingested. To know which plants to avoid, we recommend this well-put-together list by balconygardenweb.
Toys – Keep an eye on any toy you give your puppy. Even the ones made specifically for dogs. A teddy bear’s eye can be chewed out, as well as a piece of any plastic toy. If you notice that something is going bleh, just throw it away.
There will be times when you simply can’t be with the puppy, for example, if you have to go to the toilet, cook, or shower. You simply need a way to keep your puppy safe while briefly unattended. Here are the best options:
Close off an area of your home, like the kitchen, with a baby gate. This gives the puppy a fairly good space to walk around and play while restricted from other areas of the home where supervision is needed.
Set up a puppy pen if you don’t want to close off an entire room. Even though smaller, the pen will still give some room for the puppy to play.
A great setup is a big puppy pen with a crate inside. This is also very helpful when potty training and helping the puppy get used to a crate.
The least appealing option is the crate alone when your puppy is not used to it. You truly want the puppy to understand that the crate is a safe “den”, and not a prison. It takes time and training to accomplish that.
How to Crate Train Any Dog or Puppy
(that will make them love their spot)
3. Make Clear Rules for You and Your Family
Before your puppy arrives, you and your family should be on the same page regarding the house rules for the dog. It is unfair and confusing if one family member allows one thing, while the other doesn’t.
Remember that it is especially challenging for a dog to understand what you want because you and your dog are two very different species. Humans and canines communicate in different ways, so it is not always easy for a dog to grasp what you want.
That is why repetition and reassurance are fundamental for the puppy to understand how you expect him, or her, to behave.
If you do not want your dog begging at the table, you should never, never, never give any amount of food to your dog while you are at the table. Not even once!
Your dog can’t understand why you once gave food from the table and now you do not. He/she will keep on begging because it has worked in the past. And breaking the habit of begging will take a very long time. That is why all family members and visitors must adhere to the rule to never feed the puppy at the table starting from day one.
Some people don’t mind their dogs beginning for food at the table. That is fine. In the end, it is your home, your dog, and your rules.
Prior to your fur baby’s arrival at your home, it is useful to have clear answers to the following questions:
- Where will the puppy sleep? Is he/she allowed in your bed?
- Will the pup be allowed inside the bedrooms at any time?
- Where will he/she potty? Is it outside only, inside, or both?
- Will the puppy be allowed on the sofa and armchairs?
- Where will he/she eat and drink?
- Will the pooch be allowed to beg for food at the table?
- Will your dog be allowed to bark while you are preparing his/her food?
- How will your dog ride in a car? Dog harness seat belt? Dog car seat? Back seat hammock? Transport crate?
Be the first to know when a new content is up!
4. Keep Your Puppy Busy When You Are Busy
Make sure your puppy has some distractions whenever you must leave him or her safely unattended in a closed-in area or a dog pen to reduce whining and crying for attention.
A puppy’s attention span is very short. After five or ten minutes, the puppy may get bored with a toy and be ready to explore new things.
Having a variety of interesting toys on hand might go in your favor when you need the puppy to have some alone time. Instead of giving the puppy all the toys at once, the trick is to simply give a new toy when the pup has grown bored with the previous one.
10 Great Toys to Keep Your Puppy Busy
5. Have A Calm Environment For Your Puppy
Just as with babies, it’s crucial for puppies to get enough sleep and nap time.
That is why providing a calm environment for your pup is essential. If you have children in the home, it is important to talk to them about respecting the puppy’s need to wind down from play, so he/she can rest and nap.
You can test whether playing gentle, low music has any relaxing benefits for your puppy. Perhaps some dogs would just prefer no music at all. Keep in mind that every dog is different, even those within the same breed.
Even though being left alone for hours is not advisable, puppies need to spend some short periods of time alone. They need to get used to some alone time because being with their human parent all the time could cause them to have separation anxiety later on in life.
6. Plan Some Socialization
Socialization is one of the most important aspects concerning dogs.
The sad and traumatic abandonment of dogs in shelters is largely the result of a dog’s behavioral issues. If there were more responsible breeders, no puppy mills, and responsible dog owners with the time and energy to train and socialize their dogs, the problem of overcrowded shelters might be easily solved.
Dogs usually snap and bite out of fear and resource guarding (which is a form of fear, since they are afraid to lose that which is vital or important to them, and that includes you!).
Everything that is strange to a dog, can cause it to be fearful. That is when socialization comes in.
Socialization is basically to expose the dog to a variety of different places, things, people, and animals in order to familiarize the dog with the numerous situations he will encounter throughout his life.
It is important to talk to a Vet about when you can start going places with your pup. There is debate on whether it is better to start the socializing process before the puppy has received all of the necessary shots, or after.
Personally, I think the sooner you begin to socialize your puppy, the better. At two months of age, puppies are perfectly able to be enrolled in puppy courses, where they get the opportunity to meet other dogs and people.
7. Veterinarian & Nutrition
Before bringing your puppy home, you should have already scheduled a visit for your puppy to have a check-up at the veterinarian.
Ask the vet for advice on the ideal diet for your puppy.
I do want to point out that despite the fact that most vets recommend commercially processed dog food (kibble), there is a range of holistic and integrated veterinarians who support a natural food diet.
If you would like to learn more about natural feeding, I do recommend the works of:
Conclusion
Bringing a new puppy home is absolutely wonderful! But that experience can be a bit overwhelming if you didn’t prepare some basics in advance.
Make sure you get enough rest before the new family member arrives because you will be facing some busy days ahead!
Fortunately, preparation beforehand is key to a smooth start with your beloved furry ball.
By implementing the 7 reminders above, you will have the greatest start with your puppy, and be stress-free!
What is YOUR greatest concern in bringing a new puppy home?
Related Posts
Get new posts notification
Tulip Puppy 
Leave a Reply