So you’ve got a new puppy and you’re planning on bringing him or her home to live with you. How exciting! Here are some guidelines to ensure that the new puppy’s arrival and settling into your home goes as well as possible, for both puppy and humans.
Before your puppy arrives, it’s a good idea to puppy proof your home.
1. Remove any plants that are toxic to puppies and dogs and place them on high shelves or bookcases that the puppy won’t be able to reach.
2. Make sure any cables you have are off the floor and out of reach of the puppy. Puppies love to chew and they will chew on whatever is handy.
3. Puppies like to chew on any number of things because they are teething: shoes, socks, gloves, anything on the floor really – best to get everything off the floor and also consider buying some things that are designed specifically for puppies to chew on.
Health of your puppy.
1. Before your puppy arrives, it’s a good idea to register him or her with a local veterinarian.
2. Your puppy will likely need his or her second set of vaccinations (at around 10-12 weeks old) if he is arriving at your home at eight weeks old.
3. You can ask the vet about any subscription schemes their practice runs which can help you keep up with regular flea and worm treatments and save money.
Early socialisation
1. When your puppy is able to leave the house (about 10 days after his or her second set of vaccinations), try to take him or her as many places as possible so that they get accustomed to all the sights and sounds of the world around them
2. Try to introduce your puppy to lots of different people, adults, children, elderly people, people using wheelchairs, etc. so that he or she is comfortable and relaxed around them
3. If your puppy appears hesitant in some situations, just stop and let her or him assess the situation themselves. Never, ever force a worried or frightened puppy into doing something they are worried about – this does not make things better, it generally makes things worse.
4. Remember that although your puppy is perfectly physically capable, she or he is still a baby mentally and emotionally and needs support and kind encouragement to form good relationships with the things in her or his world.
House training
1. A regular and consistent schedule will help your puppy learn to go outside to relieve themselves much more quickly than an irregular schedule
2. Feed at the same times every day and take your puppy outside about half an hour before the meal and about half an hour after the meal which are common times for the need to arise
3. Depending on their ages, puppies can need to relieve themselves much more frequently than you think they do. The general rule about puppies needing to pop outside is that they can hold their pee for an hour for every month of their age. So that means that if your puppy is three months old, the longest you should wait to get them outside is every three hours.
Obviously this changes a bit when you feed them (see above), but the more opportunities you give your puppy to get it right, the quicker he or she is likely to learn that the place to go is outside.
4. It’s also helpful to remember that there will be accidents. When these happen, do not punish your puppy for just doing what comes naturally; clean it up without saying or doing anything to the puppy and keep moving forward.
Love this – great tips!