YOUR NEW PUPPY
So you have a new puppy! Welcoming a new puppy into your home is so exciting, but the early days can also be stressful for both of you. Here are some tips to help your puppy settle in as smoothly as possible!
THE FIRST DAY AT HOME
It’s a big day for your puppy when they leave their mother and litter. To help them feel happy at home with you, consider these tips:
It's important to keep your home as calm as possible during this time. Separation from mum together with new sights, sounds and smells can be very overwhelming for a young pup.
As soon as you get home, take your puppy outside to toilet and praise her for doing so!
You should have a safe area prepared for the arrival of your pup e.g. a penned space or bathroom/laundry. Take your puppy to this space and allow them to explore and sniff at their own pace.
Make sure to supervise your pup at all times as they explore their new environment.
Show your new pup her bed! Place a blanket that smells like you onto their new bed for them to snuggle up to. This will help them get used to their new life with you. Having a ticking clock nearby can be helpful as it emulates mums heartbeat!
A GOOD ROUTINE
Puppies like to know what to expect. Plan your routine feeding, toilet breaks, exercise, play and grooming. It's important to prepare this before your pup arrives so that your pup can settle in quickly. Adhering to the breeders routine if you are aware of it is helpful too.
NIGHT TIME
Some puppies settle easily at night and others will give you sleepless nights as they settle in for a week or so. Be patient and consistent together with some of these tips:
Use a crate offers many benefits; this creates safety so pup cannot wonder. It encourages rest and fosters a sense of safety. At first, the crate can be assembled nearby to you and your bed at night time.
Refrain from touching or playing with pup at night; if they are whining and you think they may need the toilet, calmly and quietly take them out to toilet. If you think they are frightened or lonely, you can talk to them in a calm voice. Too much fussing at night time can lead to attention seeking behaviour, which should be avoided. Ignoring is not suggested, as this can cause adverse frustration or anxiety.
Puppies tire very easily and need plenty of sleep for their development and wellbeing. It's vital to give them ample opportunity for rest. At first, they require 18 - 20 hours of sleep every 24 hours! This will reduce to around 12 - 14 hours as they enter adulthood.
HOW TO FEED YOUR PUPPY
Keep to the same diet that was supplied by your breeder or previous owner to avoid digestive upset. Follow the feeding guides on pet food packets.
Provide a quiet place to eat and leave your puppy in peace while they eat to prevent them feeling anxious or protective of their food.
Animals feel reassured by knowing when they'll be fed. Begin a feeding routine from day one. During weaning, puppies require four meals a day and, until they're at least four months old, they'll require three meals a day.
It's important to understand nutrition and feeding in puppies. Young dogs benefit from 3 or 4 small meals a day, instead of one or two big ones. You can utilise food rewards during training sessions and subtract from their main meal. This can help to avoid overeating.
HOW TO SAFELY TRANSITION TO A NEW DIET
Once you’ve decided to make the switch to another food, we recommend a gradual transition. By slowly easing your pet onto their new food, you will help avoid stomach upsets. Generally, this process takes about a week, and it’s always a good idea to monitor your pet to make sure it's going well.
Begin by introducing the new diet as a low proportion of their old diet, then gradually alter the ratio of old food to new food over the period of about a week until your pet has completely transitioned to the new diet. For the first couple of days, work with a ratio of around 25% new food to 75% old food.
If all the signs are good after a couple of days, start to alter the ratio of new food to old. Gradually increase the percentage of new food so that it is 50/50 after four days, then 75% new food to 25% old after six days. Finally, if your dog is tolerating the food well, start feeding them on 100% new food after seven or eight days.
RATIO OF OLD FOOD TO NEW FOOD OVER 7 DAYS
DAY 1
DAY 3
DAY 5
DAY 7
25%
50%
75%
100%
YOUR PUPPYS FIRST VET VISIT
You may need to take your puppy for a check-up after their first few days settling with you. The vet will set up a vaccination schedule for your pup, as they’ll need to be vaccinated before they can interact with other dogs. They'll also advise you on everything from worming to nutrition.
If you are unsure about their health status, taking your puppy to the vet for a check-up a few days after you bring them home is really important. If you’re well prepared, it’ll be a positive trip for your puppy and it's good opportunity for you to learn more about how to care for them.
SOCIALISING YOUR PUPPY
Part of your responsibility as a pet owner is to help your puppy get used to the world and feel confident in new situations. You can help to socialise them by gradually introducing them to new experiences.
Here are a few ways you can begin socialising your puppy in their first week with you: introduce new sounds, encourage your puppy to explore, travel in the car, acclimate your puppy to being handled and use a crate. Introducing your puppy to new people and other animals is a great way to prepare them for the encounters they’ll face as they grow. But it’s crucial to do this in the right way.
Enrol in Puppy Preschool at your local vet clinic!
