Arriving Home
Today is the day that you have been waiting for - the day your puppy is ready to come home! Have your Veterinarian selected, your house puppy- proofed and make sure that you are prepared with some necessary, basic essentials such as a variety of toys, a comfortable bed, grooming tools and proper puppy food. Please verify your puppy's diet with your Veterinarian and the person with whom you are assuming ownership. Although it is ok to change formulas, the new diet must gradually be introduced as not to upset the digestion, especially during this very fragile time.
Make arrangements to pick your puppy up in the morning for more time to settle into its new home. It is important that you make your first car journey together as stress-free as possible, and if you are travelling a long distance, bring a soft blanket and wrap your puppy snugly for added warmth and an extra feeling of security. Remember baby wipes or cleaning towels in the event of car sickness.
Place your puppy's bed in a quiet, undisturbed corner. During this early stage of development puppies sleep a lot as they are growing at a steady rate, so it is important to establish a special place that is warm and inviting. It is a good idea to prepare the bed within a crate or accessible pen. Leave the door open and let your puppy get comfortable with the space and routine of going in and out. Eventually this will become your puppy's private home where they will always feel happy and secure. And, when it becomes necessary to close and latch the door, the anxiety of confinement should be bypassed.
It is not advised to give a young puppy the run of the house, and areas of danger, such as stairs, should be safely gated. While exploration is good, a limited and controlled environment reduces the risk of accidents. What may seem harmless to us, such as a short fall from a settee, or a small children's toy can be a damaged bone or choking utensil for a puppy. Confining the play space also reduces toilet training mistakes, and enables you to better establish what is a chew toy and what is not.
Lastly, love and praise your puppy over and again! Praise them every time they make a desired choice, and be very consistent with showing them what a desired choice is. If the choice is to potty outdoors, praise them every time and the exact moment it happens. Praise them for playing with a chew toy, sleeping on their bed, eating their dinner... If they choose to chew on you, or your shoe, immediately replace the inappropriate chew toy with an appropriate one and praise your puppy the instant the replacement is accepted. Avoid harsh punishments, too often this is not teaching your puppy not to do something, rather not to do it around you.
Take the time, be consistent and make these first few bonding months fun and rewarding! And, When your puppy reaches 6 months, start formal obedience training!
This web page was brought to you by the Royvon Dog Training Schools. Good luck with your new puppy and we hope to see you! www.royvon.co.uk
