New Puppy Top 10 Tips!

Welcoming a new fur baby home is exciting! The first week can be full of surprises for you and them if you’re not prepared! So, we are here with our New Puppy Top 10 Tips! to help you put your best paw forward!

1. Get Puppy Supplies Before the Puppy!

Pick up all your supplies that will be needed to ensure you and your new puppy is ready no matter what! You will need basics like.. A collar and ID, food designed for puppies, water bowls, lead, poop bags, calming aids, a bed, chew toys. Don’t forget puppy pee pads!

2. Puppy Proof Your Home

Make sure your home is safe before your puppy arrives. This means you should cover or lock away anything dangerous your puppy might chew on, like electrical cords and cleaning supplies. Don’t forget to put away items like shoes that won’t necessarily hurt your puppy, but you really don’t want to be turned into chew toys either.

3. Keep Your House Calm

Your Puppy might be feeling stressed by all the new sights, scents and sounds along with the separation from its mother! So, keep your house calm and avoid adding to your puppies’ stress and let them get used to their new environment.

4. Take Them Outside and Let Them Explore

Once you get home, Take your new puppy outside into your garden or outside area so they can go to the toilet! Be sure to reward them with a positive tone to your voice to let them know that going to the toilet outside is good!
After your puppy has been outside. Take them inside to an area that is safe and blocked off. Then let them get used to their new environment and sniff their surrounding in their own time.

5. Supervise At All Times

Make sure you have eyes on your puppy at all times while they are getting used to their new home and garden. Allow your puppy to come to you for comfort than you seeking it as some puppies may find it extremely overwhelming with too much human contact straight away if they aren’t used to it yet!

6. Show Them Their Bed

Put something that carries your scent in your puppy’s bed and a blanket to snuggle into. Placing a clock with a loud tick nearby can also help as it mimics their mother’s heartbeat.

7. Toilet Trips!

Most puppies have little to no bladder control and typically have to go to the toilet straight after eating, drinking, sleeping, or playing. It is important to bring them to the same toilet spot outside. Use the same command such as “toilet’ etc. while taking them so they can start learning. Also, be on the lookout for signs that they need to go to the toilet such as them spinning around or sniffing the floor.

8. Visit A Vet

Getting your new puppy into the vet within the first couple of days is important. This is to check their overall health, schedule their first vaccination (if they don’t have, they already) and make sure they are getting the correct food. You may need to take your puppy for a check-up after their first few days of settling with you. The vet will set up a vaccination schedule for them, as they’ll need to be vaccinated before they can mix with other dogs. And they can also advise you on everything from worming to nutrition. Check out our in-house vet here!

9. Reward Good Behaviour

Start rewarding good behaviour and let your puppy know that what they are doing is correct! Pet them while they are sleeping. Give them a treat when they are resting quietly – so they know that when they get the attention they are to be calm. Ignore them if they are barking (unless they want to go to the toilet)  ). Dogs will do the action that gets the attention, so it’s good to start training him early. If you ignore your puppy when he’s quiet and only pay attention to him when he barks, then he may feel less obliged to act calmly in the future.

10. Puppies First Walk!

Once your puppy is vaccinated and ready to go on its first walk. Be sure to choose the correct collar/ harness and lead. Ask your vet’s advice on the best type for your puppy. A retractable lead is useful at first so the collar doesn’t constantly pull on your puppy’s neck. Make sure the collar fits well and can’t slip over their head.
Pick a calm quiet area for your puppy’s first walk outdoors where they are not likely to be frightened by loud noises or busy footpaths.

Keep it Short! – Limit your puppy’s first walk to around five to ten minutes so they don’t become overtired or overwhelmed. You can build it up to 15 to 20 minutes over the coming days and weeks.