Having a new puppy in the house can be a lot like bringing home a baby from the hospital. Certain preparations need to be in place before your new puppy joins your household. With a bit of patience, a little ingenuity and some good old-fashioned loving care, you and your puppy can begin your relationship on a very positive note. When you use this early stage development for bonding with your pup, you develop a relationship that can last a lifetime and bring joy to both of you.
Things You'll Need
- Training crate
- Puppy pads
- Food bowl
- Water bowl
- Quality puppy chow
- Toys
Instructions
Bringing Puppy Home
Puppy-proof your house. Cover exposed wires and get small objects out of reach. Dogs instinctively don't eliminate where they sleep and eat; get a training crate that is large enough for her to turn around in, but not so large that she can eliminate at one end and sleep at the other. Put the crate where she'll be sleeping. Remember that dogs are pack animals; they want to be near you, which can alleviate some of the whining she's going to do the first few nights. (Yep, it's a given. She's going to whine, and you're going to have a couple of sleepless nights.)
Get puppy pads with deodorizers and leak-proof plastic backing to protect your floor. Train her to do her business in only one spot, which makes cleanup easier. Feed four times a day or as directed by your breeder or vet. Feed her the same food she is used to eating to avoid digestive issues. Get rope to chew and balls to chase. Avoid squeaky toys; the squeaker can get caught in her throat. Avoid fluffy plush toys, unless you want to see stuffing strewn across your living room and your pup with fuzz dangling from her mouth looking at you with that innocent, "What? I didn't do it!" look.
Watch her like a hawk. If she starts sniffing, pick her up and put her on the pad or outside. Give the command to go. Even eight-week-old puppies can be trained to eliminate on command. Praise her thoroughly and bring her back inside. Feed and water her, and then pick up the bowls. Wait half an hour, then put her on the pad or outside and give the "go" command. Praise her when she goes, and don't play with her outside if she doesn't. It's going to take a little while for her to connect the dots and figure out she needs to eliminate when you tell her. At eight weeks, a puppy's bladder is still developing. She can hold it for only three hours, so take her outside frequently.
Play with her in every room in the house. This will teach her that the whole house is her den and makes house training much easier. When it's nap time, crate her and close the door. If she resists, be firm without punishing. She'll learn that the crate is her "den." Brush her daily. Gently roll the pads of her feet between your fingers. Look at her teeth, and take food out of her mouth. This teaches her that you are the pack leader and that she has to submit.
Most important of all: enjoy! Having a dog is a partnership that can bring lasting rewards. Your dog will share your ice cream, steal the covers and provide you hours of entertainment. She won't judge. She won't care you've gained 10 pounds or the house is messy. When you don't feel well, she'll snuggle up to you and provide some doggy comfort. What more could you ask?