Are you lucky enough to be starting your New Year with a new, furry family member? The first couple of weeks with your new puppy can be both exciting and overwhelming!. This is the period when you are building trust and forming the basis for your awesome life together, so it should be fun and enjoyable time for both of you.
So that you and your puppy can get off to a great start together, we have put together some things to consider before and after bringing your puppy home.
Puppy-proof your home
Before you bring your puppy home, you should make sure your home is safe and that the puppy won’t be able to escape or get hurt:
- Cover and contain electronic devices and power cords so your puppy won’t be able to chew on them.
- Make sure the puppy won’t be able to access high places where it could potentially fall. Even small puppies might try to climb on the bed or sofa.
- If you have a pool, make sure your puppy won’t be able to access it before it can swim.
- If you have a fenced yard, make sure there aren’t any holes in the fence where the puppy might escape.
- Hide any medications or poisonous house plants that might be dangerous for your puppy.
- If you have to leave the puppy alone, set up a contained space where the puppy can’t hurt itself and where it can play with safe toys or chew bones.
- If you have other dogs, find a way to separate the puppy from them at the start to avoid accidents.
Introducing your new puppy to your household
When your puppy finally arrives, let him make himself familiar with the new surroundings by sniffing around. Your house will have lots of new and strange smells, sights and sounds so it can be a bit stressful for your puppy. He will also be missing his mother and siblings and will consider you and your family as the new comfort and security so make sure you make him feel safe and loved.
If you have other pets, make sure you give them attention too, so that they don’t become jealous of the new arrival. Make introductions with the new puppy and the existing pets gradually, carefully and always under supervision. Feed them separately until they are used to each other.
Training your puppy
Puppies grow up very fast. Behaviors that are cute for a small puppy can become dangerous when your puppy gets bigger. It can take a lot of effort to fix any unwanted behaviors later, so the best time to start training your puppy is from the day you bring it home. Puppies are like clean slates – anything they experience in the first sixteen weeks of their lives they will learn to see as normal.
This is why it’s a fantastic idea to read up and study dog training before you bring your puppy home. Regardless of size or breed, all dogs benefit from being trained. How are you planning to train your dog? What kind of basic skills does your dog need to know?
Spend some time thinking about what it takes to be an awesome owner for your dog and how to start building trust and a good relationship with your puppy since day one.
A life-long bond with your puppy through OneMind Dogs Puppy Training
Sharing your life with a dog can be a wonderful adventure! To give the best possible start for your new best friend, check out OneMind Dogs puppy training. It’s a fun way to connect with your puppy on a completely new level and teach him the skills she needs to have a happy life in the human world!
Through the OneMind Dogs Puppy Training you will build a strong bond with your little puppy that will last for the rest of your lives together!
