I think that the best time to collect your puppy is as early in the day
as possible. This give you time to
get home by lunchtime and his second meal of the day.
It also gives your puppy time to get some “feel” for his
new home before bedtime.
I think that the best time to collect your puppy is as early in the day
as possible. This give you time to
get home by lunchtime and his second meal of the day.
It also gives your puppy time to get some “feel” for his
new home before bedtime.
If you are taking your puppy home by car, I suggest that you sit in the back with him and gently hug and cuddle your puppy. Just in case he becomes restless, it’s worth having a cardboard box lined with bedding or towels that you can pop him into. On the journey home, talk to him, hug him, stroke him, reassure him and be relaxed with him.
When you get home, chances are he’ll be needing to go to the toilet. If you have a safe, secure garden that you are positive that no other dogs have been in, you can take him out to the garden and put him down to go to the toilet. When he goes, praise him and reward him (but not too enthusiastically – you don’t want to frighten him!). If you don’t have a garden and intend paper training or using puppy pads, then take him straight to the puppy pad and, as above, praise and reward him when he goes to the toilet. You can then take him to his bed and show him where that is. Give him time to explore his new bed and all the different smells – but please do not go away and leave him.
Next thing to do is have a cup of tea, coffee (or something stronger), sit on the floor with your puppy and talk to him. Let him get used to the sound of your best gentle and loving voice. This is bonding time, so you should pick him up, love him and cuddle him and get to know him. He needs love and reassurance – remember, he’s just left his mother and siblings.
Don’t be too worried if your pup isn’t interested in his first meal with you – he’s had an exciting and possibly even stressful day so far. As long as he has access to water and you, he’ll soon eat when things calm down a bit. Keep calm and relaxed. If you are, your puppy will be too.
Try not to change his routine too much from when he was with his littermates. If you do have to change his routine, please do it slowly and gradually over days or even weeks.
And now onto bedtime.
Remember that your puppy has been used to sleeping with his mum and
littermates and now he is alone. There
is every chance that he will wake up during the night and finding himself alone
and in strange surroundings, will start to cry.
Go to him and reassure him and cuddle him. Contrary to many beliefs, this is not the time to be strong and say “Leave him to cry, he’ll get used to it”. This is the time to show reassurance and affection – it will pay off in the long term. I’ve always found that it’s much easier to have the puppy in the bedroom beside me – either in a bed or in a crate. That way I can comfort him if he’s distressed and lonely and I can also hear him should he need to go to the toilet during the night. Don’t think that by doing this you’re teaching your puppy bad habits. Once he is settled in your home, you will be able to gradually move his bed or crate to the area that you want him to eventually sleep in.
Another trick to help your pup have a peaceful night’s sleep is to use something like a “Snuggle-safe” or “Hotties” type heat pad and an old fashioned “ticky” clock under his bedding. The combined heat and tick tock sound can be reassuring to your puppy and mimic the warmth and sounds he had with his littermates. Having a radio on very low can also be soothing to your puppy – just don’t have it on a thrashing rock station!!