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| Cooperative Paws llc
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Puppy training with a focus on owner education. Serving residents of Northern Virginia (Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax), Maryland (Bethesda, Chevy Chase), Washington DC |
Your First Days with Your New Puppy
The first days with a new puppy can be both joyous and overwhelming. Even if you have had dogs before, it has probably been years since you had a puppy and you may find you have forgotten what "normal" puppy behavior looks like. You may be confused by conflicting information in various dog books and on the internet. With puppies, just like new babies, everyone seems to be brimming with advice.
Young puppies are very time consuming. They require constant, close supervision whenever they are not confined to a crate or other puppy-proofed area. Young puppies cannot control their bowels and bladder and need to relieve themselves much more frequently than an adult dog. Puppies use their mouths to explore and learn about the world, and those puppy teeth are sharp!
Ideally, you did your homework before you brought your puppy home and you already are well stocked on essential puppy raising equipment such as a crate, accident clean up supplies (remember you need to use products specifically made for pet urine), KONG or other similar toys, a collar and leash, high quality puppy food, easy to clean food and water bowls and a chew deterrent (such as Bitter Apple). Puppies are used to spending time with their littermates and the first nights can be difficult. Keeping the puppy crated in your bedroom can help make the transition easier. If your puppy is younger than 12 weeks old or so, you may need to get up in the night to let your puppy relieve himself.
Plan a low key, relaxed first couple of days. The first day your bring your puppy home is not a good time to throw a party or to take your puppy to a children's soccer game. Instead, take your puppy in your immediate neighborhood for a couple of outings that are brief (15 minutes may be enough for a young puppy). Let your puppy get used to his new home and enviroment.
Socialization is important, but it is also important for early experiences to be fun, or you risk creating more problems than you solve. Do not wait until your puppy has received all of his vaccinations before enrolling in a training program or socializing your puppy. Read our online article on socialization for details on why it is important to get started right away. It is a good idea to take your puppy to the veterinarian to make sure he is healthy, but make sure you have taken him in the car to a "fun" places too. That way your puppy will not associate car rides only with visiting the veterinarian. Bring some great treats to your vet appointment so you can make the experience as pleasant for your puppy as possible.
Be aware that the behavior you see in your new puppy the first few days you have him will likely change with time as he becomes more confident in his surroundings. At Cooperative Paws LLC, we can help you as soon as you get your puppy. It is never too early to start training as your puppy is learning with every interaction. Contact us to get started on teaching your puppy to be a wonderful addition to your family.
New Puppy Do's and Don'ts
Do:
- Socialize your puppy with other dogs and people
- Enroll in a high quality puppy training program that uses reward-based training methods
- Supervise constantly when your puppy is not in his crate
- Read reliable books and articles on puppy training such as the work of Dr. Ian Dunbar
Don't
- Yell or do anything scary to your puppy. You do not need to hurt or scare your puppy to train him.
- Expect your puppy to behave like an adult dog right away.
- Wait for your puppy to have all of his vaccinations to socialize him
- Exclude your puppy from family activities by crating him in an infrequently used area of the house (like a garage or basement)