Adjusting to New Surroundings

Easing Stress

Now that your house is puppy-proofed you are ready to bring him home. This is an exciting time for your family, but remember that your new dog will be understandably nervous. It is best to pick up the dog in the morning, so he'll have a whole day to get used to you before his first night alone. Try not to leave your new dog alone for long, a good time to bring him home is during a vacation if you normally work during the day. You and your dog need this time to bond. If you can't be with your dog for a while, you should put him in a crate. You should also have a bed ready for your dog where he can go to get some quiet time and feel secure.

Most likely, the first thing your dog will want to do is investigate and explore. Let him do this so he gets used to his surroundings. Once he's explored for a while, you should take him outside to urinate - it's never too early to start housetraining. You should already have a food and water bowl ready, with water available at all times except at night. You can give your dog his first meal soon after he arrives home, but you may want to give him less than he'd normally get because he will be nervous.

If you have other dogs in your household, their first introduction to the new family member should be on neutral territory, such as a park. For at least a week, the other pets and your new dog should be closely supervised. If you have children introduce them to the new dog slowly and remind them to keep their energy level down because it will make the dog less nervous. For the same reason, you shouldn't subject your dog or puppy to loud noises in the first few days. You can play with your dog right away, but puppies should not be over-exercised because this can cause problems in bone and muscle development. Make sure any toys you get are puppy-safe, for example no ball should be smaller than a tennis ball, to prevent choking. Chew toys are a good idea, especially for a teething puppy. Don't give your dog old socks to chew on or you'll soon find that all your socks have holes in them and are strewn throughout the house!

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