The First Day |
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The first day your puppy arrives home is an exciting and happy time for everyone.
Always remember that travel and the many new sights, noises and smells can also be a bit
overwhelming for a puppy. If your puppy has been recently weaned from her littermates and
mother, she is probably also feeling a bit lonely and lost. Here are a few tips for helping
your new family member to feel welcome and comfortable during those first few days in her new home. |
- Plan to bring your puppy home on a day that you can spend a lot of quiet time with her. If
possible, arrange to bring her home early in the day to allow for plenty of adjustment time before
she is put to bed for her first night at home.
- When you first arrive home with your puppy, do not give her free access to the entire house.
Rather, allow her to slowly explore and acclimate to one room of your home a time, supervising her
closely to prevent accidents and inappropriate chewing. It is often helpful to first introduce the
puppy to the room in which her crate is located or where she will be spending a large amount of her
time each day.
- As your puppy explores, interact with her by speaking to her quietly, sitting on the floor next
to her and petting her, or showing her an attractive toy. If your puppy is coming into a family setting,
introduce each family member one at a time, allowing the puppy several minutes to get to know each person.
- Begin introducing the puppy to your daily routine as soon as you bring her home. Take her outside to
potty through the same door each time and feed her in the same place and at the same times each day. Provide
your new puppy with regularly scheduled attention, exercise and play periods.
- Finally, make sure that you allow your new puppy plenty of opportunities to rest throughout the first day.
Travel and introductions to a new family are exciting, but are also a bit stressful for a new puppy.
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Establish a Regular Daily Schedule
When a new puppy comes into your home, some adjustments must be made to accommodate his needs. Dogs are creatures
of habit and feel most secure when kept on a regular and predictable schedule. Behavior problems are less likely to
occur in dogs who have learned to expect a regular daily routine that includes exercise, training, play, affection,
and feeding. Begin to introduce your new puppy to your daily routine as soon as you bring him home. Feed him in the
same place and at the same time each day. Provide him with regularly scheduled exercise, training and play periods.
Once your puppy begins to expect his food, attention and play at particular times each day, he will be ready to rest
quietly in his crate when needed and will be less likely to develop problem behaviors. |
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