New Puppy
Your new family member
Welcoming a new puppy is an exciting, challenging and hugely rewarding time. If you’re well prepared, you can help your puppy settle faster and it’ll be more enjoyable for you too.
Ideally, contact your vet before bringing a dog home, so they can solve any question you could have about breed, age for adoption, care needed and give you some advice.
Vet Checks
It is important to make an appointment at the vet after their first few days at home.
If you’re travelling by car, make sure you have a dog carrier or crate suitable for your dog’s size and have some practice trips in it. Also get your puppy used to being handled all over their body so they’re less likely to be startled by the vet examining them. Some dogs can get motion sickness, so it’s best not to feed your puppy just before you set off.
In this appointment your vet will do a check-up, and also set up a vaccination schedule for them, as they will need to be fully vaccinated before they can mix with other dogs.
You will receive advice on everything from worming to nutrition.
Health
There are lots of simple things you can do in your early weeks together to keep your puppy healthy.
1. Learn to read your puppy’s body language so you spot if they might be ill.
2. If you feel something isn’t right, or your puppy doesn’t seem their usual self, speak to your vet.
3. Make sure your puppy gets the right nutrition from a specialist, well-balanced puppy diet.
3. Give your puppy plenty of opportunities to sleep and rest quietly during the day, as well as at night (they will sleep up to 20h daily in the first months!)
4. Dogs enjoy company, so spend time with your puppy and remember to interact and play with them.
5. Always follow your vet’s recommended vaccination and worming schedule.
Training and Socialising
Training and play are key to your puppy’s healthy development. A well-trained puppy is more likely to become a well-balanced and happy adult dog. Moreover, dogs are social animals, so spending hours alone at home may be stressful for them. This ‘anxiety’ can lead to chewing, soiling and barking. That’s why it’s important to prepare your puppy for spending time on their own.
Some tips to help with your first training sessions:
Start by calling your puppy by its new name.
Letting your puppy know that they have done something right is an important part of the training process.
Keep it brief, so you won’t lose your puppy’s attention. You may have to repeat the same session a few times.
In the early months of life your puppy’s brain is constantly growing and developing. That’s why starting training early, when they are most receptive to new experiences, is so important.
Be constant, always use the same words and commands, and try not to allow something that you would forbid later.
Don’t be too strict. Training takes time. So, it’s important to be patient with your puppy and not punish them when things don’t go to plan. The best way to make it clear that something is forbidden is to say a very clear “No!” while the undesired activity is taking place.
House training tips
Place sheets of newspaper on the floor leading to an outside door, over a short period of time slowly reduce the sheets of paper until only one remains next to the door, then outside. You play a big role in helping your puppy to be clean in the house so do be vigilant at all times and offer praise and encouragement when they get it right.
Confine the puppy to one or two rooms in the house, where you and your family spend most of the time.
If you can’t keep an eye on them, encourage them to stay in their sleeping box or crate, as puppies won’t normally soil their sleeping areas.
Keep the same schedule daily for feeding times, so they will get used to the same routine.
Go outside frequently with your puppy during the day, after meals and naps, taking them to the same place each time, so they will recognise their own scent.
You can place sheets of newspaper leading to the door, slowly reducing the amount of sheets until only one remains close to the door, then outside.
Offer praise and encouragement when they do it right.
Crate training tips
When done well, crate training can reduce unwanted behaviours such as barking and soiling, and offer your puppy a reassuring and relaxing environment. It is a good way to limit your puppy’s access to the house before they learn the house rules and furthermore you can use it to transport your puppy to the vets or other places.
Keep in mind that the crate should be large enough for your puppy to stand up and turn around in, now and as an adult.
Place the crate in the room where the family spends the most time, placing a soft blanket inside.
With the door open, slowly introduce your puppy to the crate. Leaving a trail of treats leading inside will encourage them to explore. You can place their favourite toy inside.
Start feeding your puppy regular meals close to the crate and end up feeding him inside. When he’s used to eating inside, slowly close the door while eating. Build up the time the door is closed after each meal.
When your dog is happy spending time inside the crate, start leaving them inside for short periods while you’re around.
Call your puppy to the crate and give them a treat, you can associate that with a command and give a treat if they go inside.
When you are sure they are calm, with the door closed, slowly leave the room, start increasing the time you are away each time until your puppy can be left alone without whining.
Always praise your puppy calmly and give a treat before leaving them in the crate, and make departures quick and not emotional. It’s important not to respond in an excited way when returning.
Don’t crate your puppy for more than 5h daily. Time should be built up slowly.
Playtime
Playing with toys and interacting with you on a daily basis helps them to understand some of the basic rules they will need to become a happy, well-adjusted adult dog.
Some good toys for your puppy can be:
Large cardboard box
Rubber toys
Interactive toys
Puzzle feeders
Do at least two play sessions daily, combined with training sessions.
It is important to discourage biting, if your puppy bites, stop playing and allow them to calm down.
Socialisation
A good socialisation is key for your puppy’s future physical and mental wellbeing. It is crucial to do it properly, since what they learn in the first months will guide them for a lifetime. The sooner you start, the better results, but try not to overload him, and take one step at a time.
Some tips to follow:
Never force them to try something they are not comfortable with, take a step back and try another day, or rethink how to introduce them to the situation in a different context.
Always use positive reinforcement.
Things to introduce to your puppy:
Noises: hairdryers, hoovers, washing machines, car alarms, fireworks…
Places: Buses and trains, markets, traffic junctions, the vet…
People: Vets, cyclists…
Surfaces: Tiles, sand, wood…
Weather: Raind, wind, snow…
When they’re fully vaccinated, they should be solely and carefully to neighbours and other friendly dogs.
The car: Starting with short trips
Lead walking
It is essential that the puppy learns to walk on a lead and collar sooner rather than later and should be done within the confines of your home and garden.
Start with a soft collar without a lead placed around the puppy's neck for ten to fifteen minutes at a time. Repeat this throughout the day for a few days.
Once your puppy is comfortable with the collar, try to attach the lead and encourage them to follow you. With encouragement and positive reinforcement, in just a short period or time your pup will be walking quite happily on their lead.
Grooming
It is a good idea to groom your puppy regularly from an early age, this will get him used to being handled and examined.
Use a soft brush and be gentle, make it a pleasant experience for the pup.
Examine the ears, eyes, and anal region and get the pup used to their paws being held.
This is something they can sometimes be uncomfortable with when older but will often need their nails cut, being accustomed to having their paws handled from a young age will make it a less stressful experience for both the pup and the groomer or vet!
Things to avoid
It is essential at this time not to overdo your puppy's exercise, his bones are still soft and too much muscle build up can lead to deformity of the bones. Do not allow your puppy to walk up and down stairs and jump off of high places, as this can cause serious damage to his bone that may not become evident until later in life.
Please also read our section on neutering .
If you have any questions or problems with your puppy , contact us where a staff member will be happy to hel
