You picked your dog, you got all your information, boasting new toys and a brand-new collar with their name in shiny new letters on the tag, and you even made an appointment with the doctor and found the best place to take him for play. Everything’s all set for your new furry friend’s new home.
For you, this is a time of a lot of plans and expectations, maybe. but think of it: for the dog, everything is new at that moment. It can bring along feelings of excitement and fear at the same time. But worry not! There is more than enough that you can do for your dog to ease him into this transition—to his new life, as his new person and family. Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting journey that requires preparation, patience, and a welcoming environment for your new furry friend.
Purchase from a shelter, rescue group, pound, or kennel
By watching playful interactions, puppies get used to learning. Playing with safe, yet fun toys keeps its brain alert and helps it bond with you. Choose some toys that you think are appropriate for a puppy and have them already in the house before your puppy comes home. Then he’ll have a big collection of fun things to play with in his new home!
Bringing your dog home
It is the big day! Off you go, to bring your new furry friend home and you would want to know what to carry along with you and how to make the first impressions to the dog. First impressions are certainly important!
Sniffs and Snuggles – Let your dog get to know your scent.
Allow the dog to sniff you plenty as you bend to pick him up to take him home. Makes him fairly accustomed to your scent. And, if possible, you might like to go the extra step and take the breeder or shelter where your puppy has been waiting for an old shirt that you’ve worn, so he can smell your scent long before he gets there. Bringing home a new puppy is a delightful experience that calls for preparation, patience, and lots of love to help them thrive in their new environment
Bring them if they agree; let them sit on your lap. Lead them into the kennel with an old t-shirt or old blanket, anything that carries a scent from you. Talk with them in the car so that they take in your smell as well as your voice.
House training your new puppy will probably be one of the hardest things that you are ever going to do as a new pet owner. Take them to the area in the yard where you would like them to go potty the minute that you arrive home. Long or short car rides are great to get them all shaken about and ready to pea the minute you get out of the car!
Move them to the place you want them to go permanently. If they potty outside, be patient and praise them, then give a treat to solidify in your little charge’s mind. They will catch on quite soon and be excited to go out at this point!
Just imagine you have a small child. You wouldn’t want to leave a lot of things lying on the floor with the dog around. Oh, man. No. Socks, shoes, loose wires, the remote, your phone. Why did you just drop your phone on the ground? It doesn’t matter. My last dog—this was the best one—got a hold of my keys and brought in the car and house keys into the backyard. It took a week to find them, and luckily, I always have spares. By the way, make the house puppy-proof.
Or just be sure that when taking out the dog (more on that in a bit), he has plenty of toys with which to play and chew. So, what is his best toy? Well, Kong toys-a soft, yet durable nylon bone with other nice licking, smelling and chewing opportunities top the list. Something she can chew and play with and not get use out of so she can define herself.
It’s perfectly acceptable to remove and item and say no. Its actually much better to redirect by giving the dog something else. Typically. There are going to be times that you need to just pick stuff up and if you have to that is fine just redirect him.
Crates are great. Use them properly
One of the best things a dog has is a tool is its crate or its exercise pen. Exercise pens, or ex pens, are my favorite. They can be enlarged as a dog grows and, in some ways, are a bit more versatile than crates. The only drawback is the pen does not work with a bigger dog because it is able to avoid or knock it out of place, and also a pen can’t go with you places if you want to take your dog somewhere and you haven’t had time to get ready.
