You can have everything you need for a new puppy and still feel unprepared. Follow these 9 tips to give your puppy a safe, easy, and comfortable transition to his new home.
1. Be Prepared
Get everything your puppy needs before you bring your puppy home: food, bed, brushes and shampoos, dishes, treats, cleaning supplies, toys, training aids, kennel, and anything else your puppy may need.
2. A Nice Ride
Bring your puppy home in a kennel to avoid panic in your vehicle on the way home. Bring a blanket or soft cushion
to keep the puppy comfortable. Washable is always practical! A stuffed
toy designed for puppies can relieve boredom and be a good snuggle
buddy, especially at night.
3. Potty Time
With all that’s going on, don’t
forget frequent pee breaks! A new and exciting home to explore can make
it difficult to hold anything in. Expect accidents. Your puppy is still
developing her bladder and it could be several months before she can
tell you when she needs to go out. Consider puppy training pads during
this period to help your puppy learn. Pick up a good quality enzyme cleaner like those in the Nature's Miracle
line. It eliminates stains and odours completely instead of just
masking them like many chemical-based cleaners, so your puppy won`t keep
coming back to the same spot.
4. Take it Easy
Keep the commotion to a minimum
when you bring the puppy home. Allow her time to explore and sniff
around. If you can, introduce the family slowly. Let your puppy guide
you. If she seems overwhelmed, ease up on the excitement and treat her
to some cuddles and one-on-one attention.
5. Comfort Food
Give her some food
and fresh water. To help your puppy get used to her new environment,
show her where everything is. Putting out her food and water can help
her feel right at home.
6. Checking Up
Remember to take your puppy to the
veterinarian for a check up and necessary vaccinations in the first
week. Listen to your vet's recommendations, and keep park visits to a
minimum while your puppy is developing her immunities. This caution
applies to anywhere that dogs who are not immunized could be.
7. A Friendly Reminder
Keep
your puppy company. Dogs are very social animals and require a lot of
attention – especially young puppies. Do not leave your puppy alone in
the house for more than four hours.
8. Soothing Sounds & Smells
For night time, a radio
playing softly in the background can help with loneliness. A stuffy or
blanket that smells like you (you can put it in your laundry basket for a
day to get your smell) can also help if your puppy is missing you.
9. Look It Up
Do your research. Everyone seems to have an opinion about raising a puppy. Get a trusted book on your puppy's specific breed and always double check information you hear. Call a pet expert at your local Homes Alive® store or ask a trusted veterinarian. There are many ways to raise a healthy puppy - find the method that works for your family.
