Are you looking for a new and cuddly addition to your growing family? Do you want to take home a dog that you can raise as your very own? If so, then you will want to learn all that you can about bringing a puppy home.
It’s unlike anything that you’ve ever done before— in a good way! Get ready for several “awww” moments, as well as the occasional desire to pull out your own hair. The good news is that you can set yourself up for success in a few different ways.
See below for several pet care tips whenever you are bringing home a new puppy for the very first time!
- Introduce Each New Family Member Individually
This is one of the hardest parts of bringing home a new puppy for the first time. You want to squeeze and love the daylights out of him/her, and so does everyone else in your family.
However, it’s never a good idea to carry the puppy in the door and have all of your family members crowd around for the first time. Imagine if you walked into a room and several strangers ran up to you in high-pitched voices and their arms opened wide. You’d probably be a little freaked out too!
For that reason, it’s always best to introduce the new puppy to each family member individually first.
Our suggestion? Bring the puppy into the living room of your home, while all other family members are in their rooms or outside, and set your new puppers on the floor.
One by one, have each family member come in, spend 5 to 10 minutes letting the puppy smell them and holding them if they want to. Then send that family member away and have the next one come out.
This will make the process a lot less intimidating for your young pup. Once they’ve met everyone (other pets included), they’ll be more comfortable.
- Get Them Used to Their Crates
Contrary to what many dog owners believe, a crate is not a jail. At least, it doesn’t have to be. Many dogs grow up to enjoy their crates and dog beds, as it can provide them with comfort and security.
However, it’s up to the owner (you) to establish that comfortability early on in their lives. If you don’t crate them until bedtime or when you leave, the puppy will quickly begin to associate their crate as a “bad place”.
Instead, get them used to sleeping wherever you’d like them to. If you want to train them to take naps in their crate, then drive that point home. Anytime that they nap (15 or more hours per day), pick them up and place them in their crate.
As the puppy starts to get more familiar with the crate and it starts to smell more like them, they’ll become comfier with it.
Lastly, whenever you’re putting them in the crate to leave, be sure to take off their collars. This will ensure that they don’t get stuck in the bars of their crate. You may also want to remove any covers or pillows, as puppies tend to shred them up.
- Research Your Puppy Ahead of Time
There are many different thoughts on buying from a breeder or rescuing a puppy from a shelter. The fact remains: either path means you’re giving a puppy a new home and loving family, and that’s amazing!
That said, you’ll want to do some research on the puppies you’re looking at. For example, if you’re wanting to rescue, do some research on the local puppy shelters and see which ones they currently have. Schedule a time to visit with them.
For those of you going the breeder route (or are considering it), do some research on the breeds that you’re interested in. Let’s say you’re interested in finding a Presa Canario pup, if so, you can find them for sale on this site.
- Designate a Potty Spot
You don’t need to be a certified dog trainer to raise a good dog. To form good habits, puppies just need direction (from you) and a lot of repetition.
Many dog owners struggle most with potty-training their pup. It’s up to you to make a conscious decision of where you’d like them to potty, then establishing a routine for them to adjust to.
There will also be the occasional learning curve. For instance, if they tinkle in the house, be sure to take them outside directly after. Stick to one command such as “go potty” or “go outside” for them to get used to.
There are also training techniques, such as the bell training technique, that might pique your interest!
- Puppy Proof the House
As every dog owner knows, dogs tend to get into things they shouldn’t be getting into. The longer they’ve been around, the less likely they are to disobey and dig into the trash, chew on things, etc.
However, puppies have no sense of shame. Their curiosity gets the best of them and they can’t resist.
As noted earlier, it will take a lot of direction and repetition to get them to learn restraint. This is why you’ll want to be proactive and puppy-proof your home ahead of time.
Take a scan of your home and remove anything they could get into or chew. This could be things like:
- Trash cans
- Electronics
- Cleaning Supplies
- Furniture
- Blankets
- Tools
The list goes on and on. You’ll also want to make it a habit for you and your family to close the doors to rooms that no one is in. Otherwise, your puppy will take it upon themselves to intrude.
Bringing a Puppy Home 101: Have the Right Mindset
Bringing a puppy home is one of the most rewarding things that you’ll ever do. It takes a lot of time and effort, but realistically, that hard work pays off in only a few months.
From then on, you’ll have a family dog that’s trained in your ways of life. They’ll take on the temperament of your family, while also adding some energy and liveliness to the mix.
Be sure to browse our website for more articles on bringing home puppies, as well as many other topics you’ll enjoy.
