“I have a new puppy. What do I do now?”

So you got a wonderful and adorable new puppy. For a couple of weeks, you’ve had everything that was sweet and special. But now, now you have a tiny velociraptor on your hands. Chewing, biting, and barking at everything in sight. Where did you go wrong? Well, you haven’t.

It takes an average of about two weeks for any dog to adjust to a new home and even longer to establish trust and build a bond. And puppies come with a whole lot of learning to do. They need to be potty trained, crate trained, socialized, groomed, and so much more. And not to mention the nutritional aspect! What to feed them, when to feed them, how much to feed them. Am I close to what your worries are yet?

The good news is, we are here to help. If you haven’t brought your puppy home yet, and are looking for information on bringing home the puppy, click here.

First and foremost is health and wellness. Get those puppies to the vet. Get their exams and vaccinations and make sure they are on track to a healthy and happy life. Check out this PDF: “What to Expect With a New Puppy: Preventatives and Vaccines for Puppies” (Greer, 2021).

Make sure to talk with your vet or pet professional about a quality diet. I don’t mean “diet” as in your dog is fat. But “diet” as in their meals and nutritional intake. We always recommend talking to a vet if your dog seems to have any type of sensitivities or digestion upset. But keep in mind, any changes to a new food can cause stomach upset. We recommend adding plain pureed pumpkin (NOT PIE FILLING) to their food for the first few days of a food transition (just a small spoonful with each meal). Puppies can also get upset stomachs from the stress of moving into a new home. So don’t worry if you notice a little upset. But if it becomes excessive and the pup seems lethargic, get to a vet ASAP.

But back to food. What do you pick? What brand is best? Grain or no grain? Well, every person from vets to pro trainers, from retailers to breeders will tell you something different. After several years in the Pet Retail Industry, I can honestly say. EVERY DOG IS DIFFERENT. What works for one may not work for another. I will always tell pet parents to check the ingredient panel. Ingredients are listed in the order of most volume to least. So if you see corn or wheat or anything other than meat as the first ingredient, then that means it is mainly made up of whatever filler comes first. As always, reach out to us if you have any questions.

Next up is the one every new dog owner fears… Potty training! Potty training coincides with crate training. You can learn more about potty and crate training here. Just remember to be patient. Puppies are young and accidents happen. Be consistent.

Another essential step for puppies is socialization. While introductory socialization occurs throughout the first year of life, the first three months seem to be the most critical time for young puppies to learn about their environment. This critical period is when the puppy develops social relationships with other dogs and other critters like cats, chickens, etc., including humans. Puppies first learn proper dog-to-dog interaction from their littermates and their mother. Don’t assume that because you have other dogs at home, your dog is socialized to other dogs. The dogs and humans in your home are your “Pack”. Dogs react differently to non-pack members. So socializing outside family members is important. If you have a working dog, it is also important to slowly introduce new sounds increasing in volume. Exposure to new dogs, new people, and new experiences can lessen fearful responses as your puppy gets older. You can learn more about socialization and early behaviors here.

One part of socialization people often don’t think about, is preparing for grooming or vet visits. Stop by these places regularly to get your puppy familiar with the smell and sounds. At home, get your puppy accustomed to all-over-handling. From nose to toes and ears to tail, you want your puppy used to be comfortable with being handled all over.

I will say again, every puppy is different.

Let them be a puppy. Don’t overdo training, don’t stress the small things. They are young and there is plenty of time to learn tricks later.

References:

Greer, M. (2021). What to expect with a new puppy: Preventatives and vaccines for Puppies. Revival Animal Health. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://www.revivalanimal.com/pet-health/what-expect-new-puppy-vaccines-preventatives/learning-center