Congratulations on your decision to add a canine member to your pack! Dogs are loyal, loving creatures who can bring great joy and purpose to your life, but raising them takes work. Your puppy will need your guidance to learn how the world works, understand how they fit into your household, and to grow up as a flourishing, well-adjusted adult. 

Building your special bond starts the moment you bring your puppy home, and you must set the right tone during their first few days. The Neighborhood Veterinary Centers team offers our top tips for helping your new puppy settle in seamlessly.

#1: Set up the house for puppy success

Before your puppy comes home, ensure you have all their necessary items in place. We recommend allowing your puppy in only a few specific areas where they have all their necessities and limiting access to carpeted rooms or those with valuables until they are reliably potty trained. Consider purchasing the following items:

  • Food and water bowls
  • High-quality puppy food
  • Leash, collar, and training harness or head halter
  • Crate for sleeping and safe confinement
  • Pen for quiet alone time or self play
  • Beds and bedding
  • Toys, treats, and puppy-safe chews
  • Cleaning supplies and poop bags

#2: Enforce the puppy’s rules from day one

Your puppy may cry or whine during the first few days, because they are not used to being alone—their littermates previously provided comfort—but they will adjust in time with your love and comfort. Do not give in to the cries if they break a rule you are trying to establish. 

Night-time crate training tends to be the easiest rule to break, but try to avoid setting a dangerous precedent. You can reduce nighttime crying by placing the crate near your bedside, and giving your pup a special treat or toy only at bedtime. You can also find stuffed toys with an artificial heartbeat that will make them feel less alone. Also during the first few days, you should enforce rules about where your puppy is allowed (e.g., specific rooms, furniture), where they should potty outside, and basic manners (e.g., no jumping up during greetings, no biting during play).

#3: Keep a consistent daily puppy routine

Consistency and routine are paramount to helping a new puppy adjust, and they also make potty training considerably easier, because the pup’s body learns to function on a regular schedule. Plan for frequent potty breaks every few hours day and night, keeping the times as consistent as possible and recruiting help from neighbors, friends, family, or dog-walking services to maintain the routine. 

As time goes on, your puppy’s bladder control will improve, and you can reduce the frequency that you let them out. Also, schedule feeding, playing, wake-up time, bedtime, training sessions, and quiet alone time into your puppy’s day, remembering that puppies sleep most of the day and you don’t have to schedule every moment.

#4: Make introductions slowly to avoid overwhelming the puppy

Introducing other pets or many household members at once may overexcite or overwhelm your puppy. Instead, make one-on-one introductions, at your puppy’s pace. For pets, first allow interactions through a baby gate, and then a few face-to-face minutes before gradually building up the time they spend with each other. Always supervise new pet interactions and stop them immediately if you see anxious body language—a large dog can quickly injure a small new puppy.

#5: Book your puppy’s first veterinary appointment

Veterinary care is extremely important for your puppy’s health and development. Plan to book a veterinary appointment in the first week your new puppy comes home, to give them a few days to settle in before their big trip. Allow plenty of time during this first visit, because our team will discuss many different medical and behavioral topics and provide take-home information and goodies. This visit sets the groundwork for your pup’s future and will provide peace of mind that their growth and development are on track.

The first few days are the hardest for new puppies and their owners as they get to know one another and adapt to a major lifestyle change. You can help your puppy—and family—adapt to the new changes with a consistent schedule and by enforcing the rules and boundaries from the start. 

Contact a Neighborhood Veterinary Centers location near you to set up your new pup’s first veterinary visit and start them off on the right paw. Then, stay tuned for additional posts this month that will guide you through the toughest parts of your puppy-raising journey.