You brought home a precious little puppy, and you are smitten already. Â Oh my gosh, I totally get it! Â If you had researched online, you may have a long checklist of what to do and what to train your puppy. Teaching him to sit, walk nicely on a leash, sleep in a crate, go potty outside or on a pee pad, and exposing him to 100 new things before next month (socialization) may be on your list.
But wait. Remember, you just brought home a little baby. You have basically taken him from the only home and only family he knew, brought him into a foreign land, with creatures who do not speak his language. Everything will be different, possibly scary for your puppy. Even if you brought home the social butterfly, it can be stressful. For you too.
The First Week
Woaza, that can be overwhelming! I am here to tell you…take a deep breath, relax, and don’t pressure yourself or little buddy. This is all new for all of you.
Instead of focusing on puppy training milestones, that first week, focus on helping your puppy to feel safe and secure, understood. Help your puppy to meet his basic needs.
THIS week is your puppy’s orientation to your home, your family, your environment.
Among your first lessons to teach should be learning that you are the source of good things. That you are trustworthy and predictable. That fun happens here.
Don’t rush. Low key is better.
Your extended family and neighbors may want to meet your little bundle of joy. You may want your puppy to meet everyone. All of that is awesome…just hold off for those first days, and then do introductions in small numbers without pressure. Instead of holding your puppy and passing him on to greeters, allow him the choice of whether to interact.
Your puppy is going to need sleep for most of his day (upwards of about 20 hours). Give him quiet space to take naps. I like to begin early teaching the crate is a comfy, safe space for resting, without pressure…gently him to cuddle on the soft material while sitting beside it, with the door open. Â
Manage and supervise your puppy to prevent rehearsals of unwanted behaviors. Gates and playpens are important, and so is keeping him in sight and easily reachable whenever he is awake. You may need to take your puppy outside quickly to go potty.
Speaking of pottying, taking your little one out often is key because he does not have bladder control or knowledge yet of where to go. You are teaching your puppy to go on a certain substrate – grass – so lots of practice is the way to go. What goes into a small body must come out of that small body, and it does not take long. At least once an hour, more frequently for tiny and active puppies.
Give him toys to play with and things to chew.
Try to be home with your puppy as much as you can as this is a crucial time for assuring his need for safety is met. With my own dog, when I first brought him home, I needed to leave for a couple hour commitment that first weekend, I had a sitter stay with Dawson.
At bedtime, have your puppy’s crate beside your bed and plan on getting up in the middle of the night to quietly and calmly take him out to go potty. Then right back to sleep.
Be kind to yourself too.
It is tiring and can be stressful for you too. Puppy naps are great times for your personal time to get what you need to get done.
Know you will make mistakes and it will be okay.
Cherish the moments that make you laugh, that give you joy. And your little buddy will too!
