
Arriving home with a puppy can be both thrilling and nerve-wracking. Before bringing the new addition into the household, it is vital that all family members come together and establish house rules together – this should include agreeing on a “no jumping” rule as well as locking away chemicals and making sure electrical cords are out of reach.
Limit overstimulating experiences like quickly introducing new dogs and cats.
1. Be Prepared
Puppies require plenty of care and attention, so ensure you’re prepared before bringing home a puppy. Be sure to purchase all necessary supplies like food, toys and collars; create a safe space away from children and other pets (a crate or bed are great solutions); it will keep them calmer while preventing potential troublemakers in the household from disrupting it all.
If you have children, talk with them before the puppy arrives and make them aware that rough play and poking aren’t permitted. Additionally, introduce other dogs and cats slowly since some animals just aren’t compatible; wait until your new arrival has settled down before introducing newcomers together.
Establish a designated puppy zone and give your new pup a safe chew toy that they won’t mind using for awhile, helping prevent them from chewing up electrical cords or shoes without your approval. Redirect gentle instead of harshly punishing for good behavior – and always reward good behavior!
Be sure to obtain at least a month’s supply of your pup’s original food from their shelter or breeder until you determine their preferred meal. Make sure you follow feeding instructions provided by them, and transition gradually from old food to something different to avoid stomach upsets. In addition, set up a litter box and get some cat and dog toys to complete this transition process successfully.
2. Be Patient
Acquiring a puppy is both exciting and stressful at once. While most people envision puppies as energetic little bundles of energy who eagerly embrace whatever comes their way, newcomers might feel intimidated by such big changes as moving and meeting family, other dogs or humans for the first time.
If you want the transition to be as smooth and stress-free as possible, it is advisable to plan for extra help to assist your dog during his initial stages of adjustment. If possible, arrange to take time off work or establish a routine that allows you to spend as much time possible with your new pup at home.
As soon as you bring home your new puppy, allow it to explore their space and familiarize itself with its bed, crate, food and water bowls before settling in to rest. If there are other dogs or children present, be sure to keep an eye on them so they do not play too roughly with her and cause her harm. If she starts chewing something she shouldn’t be chewing on instead of redirecting her attention toward an appropriate chew toy instead.
As your puppy adjusts to life at their new home, it is wise to take them out after every play session or time of excitement in order to encourage them to use the bathroom outdoors rather than indoors – this will prevent accidents occurring within your house! When they do go outside to use their potty, be sure to praise and reward them so they learn this is a positive action.
3. Be Respectful
When welcoming a puppy into your home, it is vitally important that all members respect its space and boundaries. While this may be challenging when the puppy wants to play and children cling on or poke their ears repeatedly, respect for these boundaries is necessary so the animal feels secure as they grow older.
As such, it is imperative that your house be puppy-proofed by keeping any cleaning products or cables within reach out of reach of puppies who might chew. Puppies also tend to be clumsy and fragile boned – so for their own safety it may be wiser for them to remain off high furniture or in the arms of standing children until their coordination improves.
Your children must also learn how to interact and play with a puppy in an appropriate way; no sudden jumps off of a couch should startle or disturb them, and instead have them kneel down gently and encourage the puppy with treats or toys for them to come over.
Final consideration is for you and your family to decide who will be the primary caretaker of the dog so there is no confusion as to who feeds, walks, and takes out for potty breaks. This will ensure the pup receives optimal care from all involved when training or disciplining him/her, while creating an easily understood vocabulary of commands so the puppy doesn’t become confused by inconsistency between commands used by different members of your household.
4. Be Positive
Welcome a puppy into your family is both exciting and expensive; with expenses including quality food and treats, toys, exercise equipment (crate/xpen/run), grooming tools, preventative care (vaccinations/training), as well as preventive measures (preventative medicine/wormers etc).
Positive reinforcement with your new dog is key for fostering their happiness, such as avoiding harsh or negative comments and emphasizing what they do right. Puppies can easily pick up on negative energy and become anxious or fearful in unfamiliar settings or around strangers.
Instead of telling off when they misbehave, try redirecting their behavior with something safe and appropriate to chew – for instance if they start chewing electrical cords instead of telling them off use a treat such as food-stuffed chew toys as rewards instead. Also try not feeding puppies human food which can upset their stomachs; offer instead high quality pet safe treats instead.
Make the most of a puppy’s early socialization period to ensure their wellbeing and get them used to different sights, sounds and smells in various environments. Now is also an excellent time for training sessions, since pups respond extremely well to positive reinforcement.
To maximize socialization for your puppy, be sure to take them on daily walks and introduce them to various types of people. Crates or xpens should also be prepared so they feel secure when you’re away; play dates between puppies can help ease anxiety around strangers!
5. Be Consistent
An animal is an enormous responsibility and should never be brought home without proper thought and consideration. Every year thousands of animals end up abandoned or lost as the result of unwise decisions made without due thought and understanding from everyone involved in the household before adopting one. To prevent this happening again it’s crucial that everyone understands all the responsibilities associated with owning a pup, such as making sure your home is puppy-proofed as well as making sure children understand how important it is not to grab or pull at their ears while playing with it.
Establishing a routine is crucial for puppies just like it is important for getting your slot skills sharp on yoakimbridge.com. Stabbing consistent meal, nap and bed times helps establish structure for your pup while giving him/her a sense of security. Scheduling potty breaks first thing each morning before bedtime as well as after every play session can teach your puppy to manage his or her bladder better.
Some puppies may require some time before becoming comfortable in their crate. Use treats and praise to encourage them to enter on their own as this space becomes their personal space. Once this habit has been formed, time outs can then begin using this space for timeouts.
Remember, puppies are still young and they’re still exploring their environment. Instead of punishing socially unacceptable behavior like chewing electrical cords, simply remove the puppy from the situation and try redirect their focus onto something appropriate – this approach has proven more successful in curbing fearful responses and teaching your puppy what actions are unacceptable than punishing him/her directly.