When you think about getting a new puppy, your first thoughts might be of the fun adventures you’ll go on together, playing at the beach or the dog park or the times you’ll share together at home, curled up on the couch. You’re probably not thinking about soiled carpets and crate training techniques, but the reality is that puppies are hard work.
The first few weeks with your new puppy will likely involve broken sleep (for both of you!), some frustration and maybe even feelings of regret as it feels like your puppy is never going to settle into his new home and routine.
But don’t fret – it’s only temporary and within no time your puppy will be settled in and part of your family.
Before you pick up your new puppy, check out these tips for welcoming a new puppy into your home.
PREPARE FOR YOUR PUPPY
One of the first things to remember about puppies is that they’re just that – still babies. Most puppies leave for their new homes between 8-10 weeks, and it is their normal reaction during this time to whine, whimper and cry when they are upset, so you need to expect there will be periods of time when your puppy is likely to be unsettled.
Your new puppy will never have been away from his mother and siblings before, so this is all brand new to him. He will likely be feeling scared, lonely and confused, which makes it harder for him to settle into his new home. We highly recommend getting a Snuggle Puppy (Australia buy here) – it is a comforting toy that recreates the intimacy and physical warmth that your nervous pup is looking for with real-feel, pulsing heartbeat and heat source that works to calm your pup and reduce anxious behaviors such as barking and whining.
With that in mind, it’s important to take an active role in introducing your new pet to their new surroundings. Ideally, you should take a few days off work to get your new dog or puppy settled into their new home. Use this time for play, exploration and starting their toileting routine but don’t expect to get much training done, as new puppies tend to wear themselves out just exploring a new space.
FEEDING YOUR PUPPY
What and how much should you feed your new pup? If you have done your research and purchased your puppy from an ethical breeder, you should have been provided with the details of how and when to feed your new puppy and a sample of his current food to ease the transition to his new home.
You should feed a specific puppy food until your pup is 12 months old (18 months for large breeds) to make sure they are getting all the nutrients their body requires while they are still growing. We recommend using a premium brand of dry food supplemented with fresh, raw meats such as chicken necks, puppy mince, and fresh or frozen sardines.
When you first get your puppy at around eight weeks of age it is recommended to give them three meals a day. They have very small stomachs at this stage, so it is important to feed them small amounts regularly.
Once your puppy reaches around six months old, switch to two feedings, and maintain this through to maturity.
To read more about the specific dietary requirements for feeding your puppy read our extensive Complete Guide to Feeding Your Puppy.
The current recommendations advise not to feed a grain-free food due to the potential risk of this causing dilated cardiomyopathy. You may also like to consider a customized, vet-endorsed dog food delivery service which will ensure your puppy has a constant supply of AAFCO endorsed, fully balanced meals. You can see our review and recommendations of pet food delivery services here.
CRATE TRAIN EARLY
It may seem counterintuitive to start putting your new dog in its crate right away, but you’re really just looking to establish a comfortable place where they can take a time out when need be. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to get your pup comfortable in a crate. Begin guiding your pup into the crate with treats on day one. If they stay in there for a bit, give another reward. Soon enough, the dog will regard the crate as personal space and willingly head in there when you need to run to the store for a few minutes. It is best to not lock your puppy in the crate right away, as he will view this as punishment and not as a nice place for him to rest.
The issue of crate training is still quite contentious. The benefits of crate training include ensuring your puppy has a safe place when you are out of the house, and it may help with potty training your puppy as they will do their best to not soil their sleeping area.
The crate is not to be used to lock your puppy up when you are bored of looking after him, or to punish him for misbehaving. Using a baby-gate and confining him to a smaller area like the kitchen is often just as useful. Locking your puppy in his crate for long periods of time during the day is not acceptable, and if you are considering needing to have him locked up for long periods during the day you should consider doggy-daycare as this is very unfair on a young puppy.
HOW TO POTTY TRAIN YOUR PUPPY
Potty training a puppy is one of the biggest frustrations experienced by new puppy owners. In reality, it should be an easy process if you follow the correct steps.
Puppies need to go potty VERY often! They have tiny bladders and very little control over when they need to go. It is your responsibility to help them establish a routine and understand when and where they need to go.
A young puppy should be taken outside as soon as they wake up from a nap, within 10 minutes following a meal or a big drink of water, and every 1-2 hours in between when he is awake, and at least once overnight. Also, watch for signs such as sniffing the floor and circling around in one spot – dead giveaways an accident is about to occur!
The average puppy can hold his pee for the number of hours equal to his age in months plus one, according to the Animal Humane Society. Therefore, an 8-week-old puppy will pee approximately every three hours and a 12-week-old puppy every four hours.
When you are taking him out to do his business put him on the grass and be patient. If he wanders off to go back inside, place him back on the grass and repeat the command you are planning to use (“go pee” is what we use!). As soon as he goes, give him a treat and make a big fuss of him and let him go back inside. Most puppies will get the idea within a few days. If you are finding he is still going inside, make sure you are being disciplined with your schedule and not getting complacent with taking him outside, or missing signs he is giving you that he needs to go.
You can also use the puppy pad method, which involves placing the puppy pads closer and closer to outside until the puppy is going outside. We have found this method far more tedious and highly recommend using the above, but you can try this if you aren’t getting results with your puppy by taking him outside.
BE PATIENT. BE CONSISTENT.
When you first get your puppy home, resist the urge to scold him for bad behavior or get frustrated with him. Remember, he is just a baby and doesn’t know what the rules are yet.
For social—but undesired—behavior like nipping, remove your attention (voice, eye contact and touch), then resume attention once desired behavior begins again. A sharp “ow” is usually enough to establish this is unwanted behavior, as it mimics how dogs interact amongst themselves. For self-rewarding behavior like chewing electrical cords, interrupt and redirect the chewing behavior to an appropriate chew toy. Don’t forget to reward behavior that you like.
Consistency is the most important thing when it comes to training a new pup. Always respond the same way to behaviors, and sooner or later your pup will have that “aha” moment that all trainers are waiting for. When understanding strikes, take advantage with a reward. The only thing your dog should ever be allowed to chew is its toys. Keep consistent with the rules and you will see great strides in your pet’s behavior.
TRAIN IN SHORT BURSTS
You may be inclined to start your pup on a sort of “doggy boot camp”, training for hours on all the commands you want them to learn. While well-intentioned, dogs tend to learn better when training is approached in short bursts several times a day.
Start with one or two commands – “come” and “stay” is a good place to start – then build in new commands as your doggo progresses. Make sure you include socialization as one of the most important parts of your training.
When he does what you want him to do, make a big fuss of him as attention and praise is the ultimate reward for most dogs.
Bringing a new puppy home is serious business, but it doesn’t have to be intimidating. Following these tips will get you well on your way to a well-trained canine adventure companion for life.