Bringing Puppy Home
Finally! This day is upon you, and many emotions and thoughts are running through your head. Let's take some chaos out of wondering what you need to ask.
TRAVELLING
When you show up to bring puppy home, he may or may not be a great traveller yet. Be sure to come equipped with a towel or two and some paper towel. Puppies are not likely to mess on you when driving home (if being held), but they can become car sick and throw up.
Some puppies do fine with going into a travel carrier, I often shred paper into the bottom of a carrier, that way if any messes are made they bind into the paper rather than smearing. If your puppy begins to whine greatly, you may chose to save the stress and let him sit on someone's knee for the trip. If travelling by yourself you may have to wait out the whining with calm, patience, music, and shushing.
FEEDING & TREATS
Please see Food & Feeding page.
BATHROOM ROUTINE
Although I am a strong believer in crate training, it is hard to establish here, having more than one puppy at a time and normally younger than 8 weeks of age. However, staying with the concept of crate training "not messing where I sleep" in the eyes of a puppy, we use a space training method based on the idea of a puppy apartment. Essentially 3 corners, one for food and water, one with ground cover down (which can be newspaper, shredded paper, cedar shavings, pee pad) and one with bedding. We want puppies to move away from where they sleep to do their business.
We also spend a great deal of time time taking puppies outside to do their business, starting around 5 weeks old depending on puppy readiness. By the time they are 7-8 weeks old they go out first thing in the morning and every 2-3 hours throughout the day, then just before bed.
When you are one on one with your puppy you will notice signs as well, such as the puppy circling to look for a place use the bathroom, 20 to 30 minutes after puppy eats, anytime he wakes up from a nap, pacing around the door that you used to go in and outside. Those are all things you can look for once your one on one with your puppy.
LEASH, TOYS & ACCESSORIES
Your puppy has not been introduced to walking on a leash yet. While collars are very cute, and can display some very fancy name tags, they should not be used for walking at a young age. Once you get your puppy, purchase a harness that is a good fit for him. If you decide to purchase a collar as well, I caution you to remove it when he is alone for a long period or at nights for the first couple weeks, so the puppy doesn't get his leg stuck in it.
Toys and accessories. Welcome to your newest addiction. Dog beds are great for around the house lounging. A crate pad/cushion is best for in the crate as it is easily washed incase of a mess.
Anything fun to chew on in terms of toys is awesome. Take time to inspect toys to see if there is anything that could come off and be swallowed. Reinforce positive playing, talk up to your puppy when playing with his toys, and re-direct him with one of his toys if he's chewing on something he's not supposed to be. Also, some puppies find a teddy bear type toy comforting as a companion.
Your dog is built by nature to be outdoors, so he does not need a coat, sweater, or booties. But they are cute! You can have fun with fashion in this department.
RELATIONSHIP EXPECTATIONS
Your puppy has now done the initial separation from mom. Independence is building! However he is used to being with his siblings, so this separation will be tough, but not long lived. You will become his new family and mentor, he will look to you for direction, and consistency. Make sure everyone in the house is on the same page, using the same cues, and you choose a kennel routine. Show your puppy lots of love, take time to bond, and enjoy each other. A puppy who feels well loved will want to do more for their owner. You are his forever home, make sure he knows it.
SHOPPING LIST & GROOMING (Please see our crate and shopping list page for detailed info about things to buy and grooming tips)
TRAVELLING
When you show up to bring puppy home, he may or may not be a great traveller yet. Be sure to come equipped with a towel or two and some paper towel. Puppies are not likely to mess on you when driving home (if being held), but they can become car sick and throw up.
Some puppies do fine with going into a travel carrier, I often shred paper into the bottom of a carrier, that way if any messes are made they bind into the paper rather than smearing. If your puppy begins to whine greatly, you may chose to save the stress and let him sit on someone's knee for the trip. If travelling by yourself you may have to wait out the whining with calm, patience, music, and shushing.
FEEDING & TREATS
Please see Food & Feeding page.
BATHROOM ROUTINE
Although I am a strong believer in crate training, it is hard to establish here, having more than one puppy at a time and normally younger than 8 weeks of age. However, staying with the concept of crate training "not messing where I sleep" in the eyes of a puppy, we use a space training method based on the idea of a puppy apartment. Essentially 3 corners, one for food and water, one with ground cover down (which can be newspaper, shredded paper, cedar shavings, pee pad) and one with bedding. We want puppies to move away from where they sleep to do their business.
We also spend a great deal of time time taking puppies outside to do their business, starting around 5 weeks old depending on puppy readiness. By the time they are 7-8 weeks old they go out first thing in the morning and every 2-3 hours throughout the day, then just before bed.
When you are one on one with your puppy you will notice signs as well, such as the puppy circling to look for a place use the bathroom, 20 to 30 minutes after puppy eats, anytime he wakes up from a nap, pacing around the door that you used to go in and outside. Those are all things you can look for once your one on one with your puppy.
LEASH, TOYS & ACCESSORIES
Your puppy has not been introduced to walking on a leash yet. While collars are very cute, and can display some very fancy name tags, they should not be used for walking at a young age. Once you get your puppy, purchase a harness that is a good fit for him. If you decide to purchase a collar as well, I caution you to remove it when he is alone for a long period or at nights for the first couple weeks, so the puppy doesn't get his leg stuck in it.
Toys and accessories. Welcome to your newest addiction. Dog beds are great for around the house lounging. A crate pad/cushion is best for in the crate as it is easily washed incase of a mess.
Anything fun to chew on in terms of toys is awesome. Take time to inspect toys to see if there is anything that could come off and be swallowed. Reinforce positive playing, talk up to your puppy when playing with his toys, and re-direct him with one of his toys if he's chewing on something he's not supposed to be. Also, some puppies find a teddy bear type toy comforting as a companion.
Your dog is built by nature to be outdoors, so he does not need a coat, sweater, or booties. But they are cute! You can have fun with fashion in this department.
RELATIONSHIP EXPECTATIONS
Your puppy has now done the initial separation from mom. Independence is building! However he is used to being with his siblings, so this separation will be tough, but not long lived. You will become his new family and mentor, he will look to you for direction, and consistency. Make sure everyone in the house is on the same page, using the same cues, and you choose a kennel routine. Show your puppy lots of love, take time to bond, and enjoy each other. A puppy who feels well loved will want to do more for their owner. You are his forever home, make sure he knows it.
SHOPPING LIST & GROOMING (Please see our crate and shopping list page for detailed info about things to buy and grooming tips)
First Week
We have access to a wealth of information at the click of a button by simply typing in a question or keyword to a Google search engine. While there is a lot of text information available there are also a great deal of YouTube videos that show training techniques in action.
I encourage you to read information you feel you can implement, that is not hard to understand, and watch videos and practice what you believe will work for you.
Here is an easy read guide to your first week with puppy (click the image below):
I encourage you to read information you feel you can implement, that is not hard to understand, and watch videos and practice what you believe will work for you.
Here is an easy read guide to your first week with puppy (click the image below):
