So you bought a puppy; now what? Discover how to make the introduction a huge success!

Puppy’s Arrival ~ Easy Ways To Make It Successful!

So you bought a puppy; now what? No doubt, the whole family as well as all your friends will be excited to see your new puppy!  Chances are he has just had a long plane trip, or car trip to get to his new home. In this and following posts we share some secrets to bringing home your new puppy and creating a successful bond right from the start!

Puppy’s First Flight ~ Make the first meeting perfect!

If your pup is arriving by air, there are some simple steps you can take to make the next leg of the journey more comfortable.  I always take an extra crate with me to the airport with clean towels, fresh water/water dish, and some paper towel and plastic bags for messes.  Also a safe toy and/or treat to greet pup with. 

When a puppy leaves our home, he is freshly bathed and in a clean crate.  However, depending on the length of the trip and the pup himself, he will likely have soiled in his crate by the time he arrives.

Tammy Murray Leidenschaft Kennels

Your pup will probably arrive with a collar but you will need a leash or long-line.  Having a clean crate and some towels to wipe him off with is an easy way to make him immediately more comfortable.  Once he’s safely in the clean crate then you can tidy up the shipping crate.  I try to remember to take a pair of gloves with me for that job!!  Before leaving the airport for the journey home, please offer your pup some fresh water and a chance to stretch his legs.  He may also appreciate a bit of puppy kibble.

Puppy’s Big Car Ride ~ Road trip anyone?

If you are picking up your puppy at the breeder’s kennel and travelling by car, you will have the opportunity to stop for bathroom breaks.  Having the supplies mentioned above, will make the trip easier for everyone.  Be careful not to overindulge your pup by stopping every time he complains!  He’s most certainly going to be vocal for parts of the trip, but if his needs have been met, you will just have to ignore him.  Please do not travel with him in your arms. 

The crate is the safest way for your pup to travel.  Should you have to hit the brakes suddenly, you risk him being flung about the vehicle and injured.

Tammy Murray ~ Leidenschaft Kennels

Photo Credit © Can Stock Photo / by Amaviael

If you wish to comfort him during the trip, talk to him in a confident, cheerful tone, and be prepared for it to take awhile.  Eventually your pup will get weary and will nap.  It can be somewhat stressful on the humans, so it’s best to plan the trip with two adults if possible.  One to drive, and one to navigate and assist with the pup’s needs. 

So you bought a puppy; is your home ready? Prepare in advance!

Your preparations at home should be in place.  A trip to the pet shop at this point is not advisable.  If it’s possible, your last stop on the way home should be at your vet’s office, or the check-up should be scheduled for the next day. 
Things to consider at home is an area for the pup’s crate, this should be in close proximity to an outside exit for quick bathroom trips, as well as a location that is not too hot, cold or draughty.  (I will cover more on crate training later.)  You should have two stainless steel dishes for pup’s food and water.  You should have a bag of puppy food and some safe toys and treats on hand.  (I will cover more on feeding later.) A good supply of paper towels and an odour neutralizer (Nature’s Miracle is great!) for puppy accidents is also very important!  ( More information on this in House Breaking!)

How to make your puppy love the vet!

If your trip home includes a stop at your vet’s office, try to make it a fun visit!  A bad first impression on your pup at the vet’s office could last a lifetime!  The vet’s office is the ONLY place that we allow people to give our animals treats.  This is a policy we have in place for the safety of our animals, as well as their health.  (More on this in Feeding) Your veterinarian’s staff should be knowledgeable about not overwhelming a puppy with attention, however if you see your pup feeling a bit uncomfortable simply back off explaining that he’s had a very exciting day.  As all of our pups are well socialized, you’re more likely to see him wiggle in for pats, and squeak with excitement. 

The examination your vet gives your puppy will include questions about his bathroom habits, if he’s had anything to eat, drink, etc.  If his behaviour is happy, bright and alert.  If your puppy has a microchip implanted, it’s a good idea to scan for it and compare the number to your puppy’s health record. Your vet should check your pup’s teeth, eyes, gum colour, feel for swollen lymph nodes, listen to his heart sounds, and examine his overall condition.  Your pup should have a lean appearance, with a good flesh cover over the ribs and hips. 

By eight weeks of age, your pup should have had at least two worming applications, and one set of vaccinations.  He should not interact with dogs not known by you personally, as you do not want to expose him to a newly vaccinated, or un-vaccinated dog.  When your pup has had his second vaccinations at roughly the 12-week mark, then your pup is ready to socialize with any well-kept dog. 

If you have any questions about your pup’s health, and/or your vet’s observations please contact your breeder and/or get a second opinion before making any major health related decisions.

How to introduce your puppy to family and friends!

Arriving home!  Finally, you’re in the driveway and pup is going to meet the rest of the family!  Again, please be cautious about overwhelming your puppy!  Since he doesn’t speak “human” he’s likely to be very confused about where his puppy-mates are.  Welcome him home with a chance to have a sniff around his new outdoor digs.  Please ensure that your puppy is ALWAYS on a line of some sort when he is outdoors!  Please read and live by Long Line Training! We like to help our new arrivals unwind with a game of tug or ball which is a great way to remind him he will need to have a bathroom break before he goes inside. 

When you bring your pup indoors for the first time, select an area that is easy to clean up, even if he’s had a pee before he comes inside, the excitement may cause him to piddle.  With everyone sitting on the floor, with safe puppy toys, allow pup to explore his surroundings.  If children are present, encourage them to wait for puppy to visit them. 

Puppies from a reputable breeder are very well socialized with humans of all ages and sizes, as well as other dogs.  If pup is allowed to approach the new situation on his own, there should not be any fear at all.  Always allow your pup to approach the situation at his own pace, don’t rush or force a situation, you will do more harm than good.

Simple rules for getting your pup into a great routine!

Establish a feeding area that is part of the family area.  Like us, dogs are social beasts and love to have company while they eat.  If you segregate your pup for meals, he will likely ignore his food in favour of pining to be with his pack.  If you are using an x-pen you can place food and water in the pen and lock him in for meals.  Our x-pen is in the living room with a view of the dining room, our pups still feel like part of the pack, but can’t be a bug at the dinner table. 

I have mentioned placement of the crate in the home already, and I will go into much more detail about crate training in that section.  Here I just want to mention the importance of beginning crate training immediately! Don’t let your puppy roam freely around the house, and don’t let him sleep with you even one night!!  You will set a precedence that will make life miserable!!  At bedtime on the first night, place puppy in his crate with a firm but pleasant command “crate” or “kennel” and close the door.  We find that sending pup to bed with a sweatshirt or other article of clothing that you’ve been wearing all day helps pup to settle for the night.  It has your scent on it and can be quite comforting.  If you get up with the pup in the middle of the night, take pup out and back to bed immediately, you can add another article of clothing if pup makes a fuss!  We’ve been known to find half the laundry basket in the puppy crate by morning at times. 

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article about bringing a puppy into your home.
Please explore the various links as there is so much more to a successful start with your puppy.