Bringing your puppy home
Your new puppy and home
You've chosen your new puppy, said your 'goodbyes' to the
breeder and your puppy's remaining family, and you're heading
for home.
Hopefully, the excitement at the prospect of bringing your
new companion home hasn't made you forget to make some
important preparations. Remember, this is likely to be the
first time your puppy has been away from familiar sights,
smells and surroundings which means it's a very stressful time
for him. So in the days before you bring him home, you need to
make sure everything is ready, just as you would if you were
bringing home a new baby.
Puppy's bed
Firstly, it's important to consider where your puppy is going
to sleep. Most puppies prefer an enclosed sleeping area to act
as a refuge if things become too stressful, so think about
getting a crate to put his bed or basket in. Make sure it's
warm, dry, comfortable and draught-free and provide a nice
blanket or dog bed to keep your puppy cosy. Now you must decide
on the best place for it to go, before your puppy decides he'd
like to sleep on the sofa. (After all, it's easier to get into
good habits rather than try to change bad ones.) A puppy crate
will give him a perfect little bolt-hole when life gets too
hectic; when he does makes his retreat to his sanctuary,
remember to tell your family not to disturb him. And make sure
his bed is far enough from yours, preferably outside of your
bedroom. Don't be tempted to have your puppy in bed with you
while he's little; it will be hard to break this habit later,
and he needs his space as much as you do.
Your puppy at night
A lot of puppies have a habit of crying at night, especially
during the first week in a new home, so the warmer you can make
his bed, the more comfortable he will feel. Try putting a hot
water bottle in his bed, or a cuddly toy that's safe for pets.
Others in your home
Even if you have other pets in your home, it's important to
let your new puppy explore his new surroundings first. And when
you do introduce him to other pets, do so gradually, and make
sure you're around to keep an eye on the proceedings. When your
puppy is introduced to children, don't let them get too
overexcited. See that they respect and don't treat him like a
cuddly toy. For more information see
Socialisation
Leaving your puppy alone
No puppy, or dog for that matter, should be left alone for
long periods of time. Dogs that are left alone for significant
periods can develop anxiety and can't cope with being separated
from their owners.
So teach your puppy to tolerate short absences; leave him in
a room, close the door and walk away. After a few minutes, go
back in but don't greet him. When you've done this several
times, extend the absences to 30 minutes. But if he does become
distressed, and starts barking, chewing, or scratching at the
door, you should shorten the absence period.
Before you leave: Walk your puppy or play with him in
advance of leaving so he has a chance to settle down. And
shortly before you go, provide a meal, so he's more likely to
be sleepy. Also, leave him something to chew, to keep him
occupied. Some growing puppies will be comforted by familiar
sounds, so you could try leaving the radio on, or even record
several minutes of your family's conversation. But if your
puppy has growing concerns about being left alone, even for
short periods, please ask your vet for advice.