How to Survive the First Week Home With a New Puppy

Prepare and puppy proof your house before you bring the puppy home. This includes deciding where your new puppy will sleep. A comfy crate is the best choice. Place a soft clean towel or blanket in the crate and make sure that it will be located in an area free of extreme heat or cold drafts. Have a food and water dish ready as well as a collar and leash that are appropriate to the puppy's size and breed.

Make sure that your new puppy is actually old enough to be separated from its mother. Ten weeks is a good age, but avoid separating a puppy from its mother before eight weeks.

Handle your puppy with loving gentle care. Talk to any children you have about how to properly handle the puppy. Do not yell or hit the puppy. It is a baby and is learning what its new world is all about. When you are not playing with the puppy, holding the puppy or taking the puppy outside for potty breaks, always return the puppy to its crate. It will soon learn that this is its safe and secure place. Make sure that the crate you purchase for your puppy is size appropriate. For breeds that tend to get large, plan on upgrading your crate after the puppy is about six months old to allow for growth.

Keep your shoes picked up to avoid having them chewed. The puppy is going to want to chew on everything, including fingers. When the puppy chomps on your fingers, try putting an appropriate chew bone or toy in its place. It will take some time for the puppy to learn all the rules. Be patient and persistent.

Set the rules and boundaries from puppy day one. First thing in the morning, pick your puppy up and place it in the grass outside to "learn" to do his business in the appropriate place. It will take some time, but when the puppy catches on, really praise and pet the puppy. Only leave the puppy out under constant supervision for the first several weeks, as puppies tend to explore and get into trouble. They may even hurt themselves or eat something that could seriously harm them. If the puppy chews on furniture, gentle scolding may help or you can purchase sprays at pet stores that will make the furniture less appealing.

Feed your puppy only what is directed by the veterinarian. It will be a puppy food that meets the needs of your puppy's breed and size. Do not give the puppy table food or food from older dogs or cats. It would probably make the puppy sick and that would mean a trip to the vet.

Place your puppy in its crate at bedtime. First, start a routine that might consist of playing with the puppy to tire it out, taking the puppy outside for a potty break and to calm the puppy down. Then place the puppy in the crate. If the puppy is whining, try to be consistent, tell the puppy, "no, sleep," as you gently pat the crate to settle it down. You can also place a piece of clothing of the person that the puppy is bonding with in the crate or even wrap a clock that ticks in a warm towel to sooth the puppy.

Take your puppy to the vet for all scheduled vaccinations, as puppies are more vulnerable to picking up diseases than an older dog. If you think your puppy is sick, take the puppy to the vet.