Advice for a New Puppy Owner

Becoming the proud owner of a new puppy can be a bewildering and frustrating, yet very rewarding, experience--sometimes all three at once! While there are lots of tips to remember, a few basic hints should be all you need to help you make the most of puppy ownership and assist you in starting out on the right foot with your new best friend. .

  1. Before Puppy Comes Home

    • Preparations begin before Puppy ever sets a paw through the front door. Do your homework: research the shelter or breeder that will yield your new pet. Be sure the pup is at least 8 to 10 weeks old before he's separated from his mother. Don't wait until Puppy comes home before buying supplies--food, feeding and water bowls, a leash and collar, toys, and grooming items--and making his new bed.

      Puppyproof your home prior to his arrival. By nature, puppies will chew virtually anything that catches their interest: furniture, shoes, etc. For indoor dogs, you have two options--contain the puppy so he cannot access furniture, clothing or other items; or keep him confined to an area in which some amount of damage is acceptable. Many owners choose to crate their puppies; basically, crate training involves keeping the puppy in a crate for sleeping and eating as well as at times when the owner's not home to supervise him.

      Don't forget to take a careful look at your home to check for poisonous plants, hazardous chemicals, exposed electrical cords and other hazards before Puppy arrives. Locate a book or read the linked guides below about puppy care so you can be completely ready to greet your new dog.

    When Puppy Arrives

    • Patience is the key. Your new puppy will likely be highly energetic, yet prone to tiring; the pup will likely miss her mother and wake you with cries during the night. Wrap an alarm clock in a towel to simulate a mother's heartbeat, and place it beside the puppy to sleep with to sooth her.

      Set a schedule for housebreaking and outdoor excursions, and immediately begin to reward good behavior and reprimand bad (such as nipping). Use positive reinforcement, and never engage in detrimental training such as rubbing a pup's face in urine to "teach it a lesson." Treat your puppy with warmth and respect, and she will be much more likely to reciprocate.

      Never leave young puppies unsupervised indoors or out, especially in the presence of young children.

    Continuing Care

    • Schedule Puppy's first routine vet visit in a timely fashion; be sure he becomes used to walking on a leash and obeying basic commands from an early age. Begin training and continue it (whether at home or via a professional trainer) to ensure good behavior. Care and diligence will help produce a well-mannered pet and a rewarding relationship that should fulfill you both for years to come.