5 Top Tips to Success for Bringing a New Dog Home
The first day! This is really the first step in setting the stage for a strong bond with your puppy and a long and lasting relationship. How to bring your new puppy home, how to let it say “hello” to its new residence are key features of basic puppy training that you want to give your full attention.
Although the how of bringing your new puppy home is important, keep it light and have fun. After all, your puppy, like you, is full of excitement and anticipation. This is one of the best times you’ll ever share with your dog.
I could probably write a book on this, but I’ll try to keep this short and give you the essential steps to guide you through this wonderful first day.
To begin, let’s talk about supplies. Here is my stripped down basic list:
- A special space to put your puppy when you have to be away for a short time and can’t watch it. This will be an area where it will be safe for the puppy to make its toilet before you start potty training. It must be large enough for the puppy to walk around, have a separate place to sleep, and enough space to make its toilet when you are not there to take it outside.
- This is not essential, but I suggest having a camera on hand to record these special moments for the future.
- Food
- Bowls for water and food
- I.D. Tags (to be obtained as soon as possible)
- a few toys
- bedding
- Supplies to clean up after your puppy
Step One
Identify all belongings you do not want the puppy to have contact with and remove them, if possible, from immediate access.
Step Two
Bringing your new puppy home. Take the time to give it an introductory tour or your residence. Put a leash on the puppy and guide it throughout the space. During this stage, you want to introduce it to the layout of your residence.
Step Three
As you lead the puppy around your house, apartment, or dorm room, give it a quick tug on the leash and make a sharp sound when it shows interest in things that you want the puppy to avoid. This is not to be a rebuke,or scold, or punitive in any way. Do not use the word “no” at the point because you do not want the puppy to think that its name is “No.” Whenever your puppy does something that you approve of, give it lots of praise.
Step Four
After you are satisfied that you have familiarized the puppy with its new surroundings, show your puppy its food and water bowls and the place where it will be eating and drinking. Do not change this location around, as you want the puppy to feel secure in knowing where its food and water will be. Show the puppy its bedding, and let it sniff and become accustomed to it. The puppy will very quickly realize that the bedding belongs to it and gladly assume ownership. If you have a crate, you can let the puppy begin begin sniffing it and going in and out at this time. No need to worry about crate training yet, but if you have it, just keep it around so that the puppy starts getting used to its presence. Later, the puppy will easily and happily assume ownership of it.
Step Five
When you feel your puppy has sufficiently accustomed itself to the immediate environment of the house (or apartment or wherever), you can begin letting it say “hello” to the surrounding outside environment. I suggest letting your puppy be at least 8 weeks old before you take it out in busier city locations. I also suggest making sure that you have the puppy immunized before taking it out in order to be in compliance with city health codes.
In all interactions with your puppy, whether you are bringing it home for the first time or not, treat your dog with firm, assertive affection. If you follow this basic structure for bringing your new puppy home, you can be confident that your puppy will have a smooth transition from the kennel to its new home.
Discover step-by-step instructions for basic puppy training and the essential steps for understanding all aspects of dog and puppy training preparation. Find out how I became master of my own pack, and how you can do the same. Your dog will love you for it!
