Posted by Jess Saba on Thu, Sep 24, 2009 @ 12:02 PM
Bringing Your Puppy Home
When you bring your puppy home for the first time it is important to be sensitive to the fact that he is leaving the comfort of his mother and family. Below are some tips for making the transition as easy as possible for your puppy.
Create a relaxed environment:
Bring your puppy home to a quite environment with as few people, loud noises or distractions as possible.
- Ask your friends come over one at a time to meet your puppy.
- Allow him to sleep. Waking a puppy to play may cause anxiety and restlessness.
- If you have another dog, separate the puppy for a few days to allow him to adjust and become familiar with the surroundings on his own. Create barriers between the two until they have time to adjust to each other.
Commit time and attention:
It is important to help your puppy acclimate to his new home.
- Try not to leave your puppy alone for the first two weeks so you can begin to understand and manage his personality, temperament and fears.
- Do not crate your puppy for more than four hours at a time. Puppies have short term bladder control.
Create a personal space for your puppy:
An indoor pen area will offer your puppy a comfortable sense of personal space as he adjusts to the new environment. Be sure the space has the following elements:
- Plenty of light- Set up the pen in the corner of a large well lit room so he doesn't feel cut off from the rest of the world.
- Comfortable bed- A space where he can curl up to rest with his favorite soft puppy blanket.
- Toys- Your puppy won't need more than three toys. Make sure they do not have small pieces that could pose a choking hazard.
- A place to pee- Try a pee pad or use a material that resembles outdoor materials.
The most important thing you can do to make the tranistion easy for your new puppy is to offer love and attention. It is vital to supervise your puppy to keep him safe and happy.
If you need to leave him alone for more than a few hours at a time, call a dog-sitter to help watch him while you are away.
Visit Camp Bow Wow's Home Buddies page for more information about in-home dog sitting services. 