A puppy can be an exciting addition to any family, but they are also a lot of work so we have compiled some information to make the transition a little smoother.

If you don’t have your puppy yet here is a list of things you might want to think about before you bring one home:

1. Research the right breed for you.
2. Talk to veterinarians to see which one makes you and your family feel most comfortable. A good veterinarian is a great partner to help you care for your dog throughout his life.
3. Talk to your veterinarian about nutrition, training and medical care for your puppy.
4. Talk to groomers about what type of grooming and how much your puppy will need.
5. Decide where your dog will toilet and which areas of the home your puppy will have access to,
6. Decide if crate training is right for you and your puppy,
7. Purchase the necessary crates and gates to keep your puppy safe at home and in the car.
8. Purchase Collars and leashes. Talk to your veterinarian about where your puppy will be exercised. Some areas will need to be avoided until vaccinations are up to date.
9. Purchase food and water bowls and decide where your puppy will eat.
10. Prepare children and other pets for the addition of the new pet. Practice socialization in your community with other dogs.

Remember that the decisions you make now for your puppy will help to shape the rest of her life.

 

What Should I Expect the First Few Days?

It is important to remember that Puppies are new to this world. Almost everything that they are experiencing, they are experiencing for the first time. For this reason, it is important to expose them to new things with a positive attitude. When you bring your new puppy home, make sure that it is not too overwhelming. Allow your puppy to check out the areas where it will stay and reward positive behaviour in these areas. It is a good idea to show your puppy where you expect it to toilet before anything else. If your puppy does use this area right away be sure to reward the behaviour right away as well. It is not unusual for puppies to be afraid of loud noises, strange animals or people. You should be sure to expose your puppy to a wide variety of experiences while rewarding him for the behaviour you expect. For example, if your puppy sits quietly while you turn the hairdryer on reward your puppy with praise or a treat. Do not coddle a puppy who is nervous or you may reinforce this behaviour resulting in an anxious dog.

Puppies do not sleep through the night right away so be prepared for some sleepless nights when you bring your puppy home. If your puppy does wake at night, take him to his potty area. If he goes there bring him back to his sleeping area and ignore him again. He will likely fall back to sleep quickly. If he wants to play instead, ignore this behaviour or he may continue it and it will be more difficult to get him to sleep through the night. Remember that he has just come from his mom and was likely surrounded by a litter of siblings. Nighttime alone can be a little scary. Give him a warm soft blanket and indestructible oat bag or water bottle to sleep with. Sometimes a ticking clock can help as well.