New Puppy

You’ve opened your home to a new puppy. It’s an exciting time, but there are lots of questions. How do you care for the new addition? What do you feed your fur baby and how do you train him? Here’s a look at all you need to know about caring for the new puppy in your home.

Have Everything Ready Before the Arrival

Like you would with a new baby, get everything you need for your puppy before he comes into your home. This includes the bed, blankets, food, toys, and grooming tools. You don’t want to have to rush out at the last minute when you will already have a lot to do.

Find out the type of food your puppy is currently eating and gently switch to the food that you would prefer your pup to eat.

Avoid Any Physical Harm

You know not to abuse your new puppy, but what about the occasional spank? Dogs don’t handle any type of physical harm well. This isn’t the best way to train a puppy. In fact, any type of spanking will leave mental and emotional imprints in future years.

Use positive reinforcements and don’t make the puppy feel bad for making a mistake. It takes time to build trust and a bond. You’ll make it easier by encouraging the good and ignoring the bad.

Help Settle with Memorable Smells

If picking up the pup from a breeder or another owner, talk about getting something with a familiar smell. This will help your new puppy settle gently rather than being exposed to new sensations harshly.

Put those memorable smells into the new crate or near the new lead. Your new family member will associate both together and be more comfortable coming home with you.

Find the Right Vet for You

While most vets will get into the practice for the love of animals, there are some in it for financial gain. Veterinary practice owners can also worry about financial losses, so may not always offer the best treatments and plans for your individual pet (but for the financial elements). Make sure you do your research into any vet practice you consider, and find those that practice alternative therapies and don’t push medications on their patients.

Talk to other pet owners about their experience. Read reviews online. Don’t be afraid to talk to people in the waiting rooms at the clinics and the reception staff. If you have a bad gut feeling, look for someone else.

Be Sociable with Other Pets

Your puppy wants to socialise. The best way to do that is to get out and about where other animals and people will be. This will help with training, as you teach the boundary of how to act, when to engage, and when to ignore.

At the same time, watch out for overstimulation. Learn your puppy’s signs of tiredness and overwhelm, so you can pull back from a situation at the right time. This helps to build trust that you’ll be there when it’s tough. Good levels of socialisation will help your puppy mature into a confident dog.

Put your new puppy first in everything that you do. Think about how daunting it can be moving into a new home with strangers. The best way to create a lifelong friendship and bond is to start small and make it easier for your puppy to settle. Positive reinforcement and the right food will help to sustain that bond and train effortlessly.