When bringing home a new puppy or dog, many people are surprised at how much energy it takes to look after their brand new pooch.
A new puppy must be constantly supervised to ensure it doesn’t chew on electrical cables, choke on tiny objects, make a mess on the carpet, get trapped in small spaces, eat things it shouldn’t... the list goes on!
This article explains the basics of bringing home a new puppy, when to start various aspects of puppy training, and the definitive new puppy checklist.
When to Bring a New Puppy Home
Most dog breeders won’t separate puppies from their mom until it is at least 7-8 weeks old. Any sooner and the puppy can be nervous and have issues settling into its new home.
Equally, puppies should be living with their new owners by 12 weeks, when they start forming strong attachments. It’s a narrow window of opportunity.
Bringing Home a New Puppy in the Car
The car journey home is not as upsetting to a new puppy as people often think. It may be confused by the strange car noises and vibrations but is usually fine if it sits on someone’s lap and hears soothing words. Have it sit on a towel in case of any accidents – or on longer journeys, a little car sickness.
When to Start Puppy Training
Don’t worry about puppy training for the first day or two; the new puppy already has enough on its mind. The young pooch may be nervous about its strange new home and will stick to its new owners like glue. It relies on them to interpret this confusing new world and protect it from any harm.
Training a new puppy can begin when it is settled in – you will notice its behaviour change from nervous and quiet, to curious and playful. To learn more about puppy training, read Housebreaking a New Puppy.
The New Puppy Checklist
Here is the definitive new puppy checklist. Think about this carefully before bringing home a new puppy and remember the young dog can’t be left home alone without some initial crate training.
Things a new puppy needs right away:
- Newspapers / puppy training pads
- Paper towels for cleaning up messes
- A blanket to lay on
- A dog bed
- Food and water bowls
- A wire crate for puppy training
- Puppy toys and chews
- Carpet stain remover
- Puppy food (may be supplied by the seller)
Things a new puppy needs within a few days or weeks:
- A grooming brush
- Nail clippers
- A small, adjustable collar
- A short leash
- A long leash for puppy training
- A flea collar
- Roundworm tablets
- An ID tag with home phone number and address
Further Reading
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