Taking Your New Puppy Home - How To Care For Him Or Her

The long awaited day has arrived! You are handed your precious, darling angel baby to cuddle, adore and love! It's time to go home little one.

Here you will find information to help you and your little one ease into life together. While I understand that everyone does things their way the tips you read here are what I do thus they are my tips to you. :) Take what helps and leave the rest.

Your litte one is 8 weeks old, that is still an infant! If you were bringing a human infant home where would you put the baby? On the floor?

No, that wouldn't be safe, there would probably be drafts, someone might step on him or her and there is no protection. After you have looked at, played with and utterly adored her the best place to put your precious one is her bed that you have specially prepared for all of her needs.

Let's see if it has all she needs:

Soft cuschion to lay on  - check
Blanket to cuddle in, on, with - check
Toys to play with - check
Stuffed animals to sleep with and or under - check
Chew toy for teething - check
Food - check
Water - check
A pee pee pad - check
Cage or pen covered on three sides to prevent drafts - check
Door to make sure puppy stays where you put him - check
Pen away from traffic flow of the house but where you can see baby - check

Let's see how our baby is doing:

Why is its pen the best place for your puppy 90% of the time for at least the first month or so?  Your puppy just left his or her mom, littermates and the environment that he grew up in. He was used to the sounds and smells. At your home now he has to get used to you, all the sounds, smells and being away from those he knew all at once. That is a lot to deal with!  Look at how terrified this puppy is. She has hidden herself under all of her stuffed animals. She feels safe there.  Give her time to adjust. It may take days or hours but let her do it at her pace.

In the meantime, talk to her while she is in her safe place (her bed). Reach in and pet her without moving her a few times.  Three or four times a day pick her up, hold her, cuddle her, rock her, do what you can in a slow soothing wat to let her know that she is safe.

When you're not sure what to do, think about what you would do if you had brought home a newborn. You would have a crib simularly prepared for her.

Just like newborns your angel baby will sleep 90% of the time. Make sure your environment is peaceful so that your baby can sleep vs being afraid.

Over the next month or so, his or her bed will become his safe place. Take him out to hold and play.  Allow him to eat in his pen. He sould be eating on his own by the time you take him home. I keep food available at all times for my babies. As they grow you will become familiar with their eating routine.

Want to let him play with toys on the floor? Here is how I do it to keep them safe and under control until potty trained. Put the handle of a walking leash under a table leg to secure it and the other end attached to the puppy. Give him lots of toys and a place to go potty.

Never allow yourself to become overwhelmed by the puppy for any reason! If you are tired, ill, exhausted or upset you will not be able to care for yourself let alone the puppy.  Take care of yourself. Always remember, you can put the puppy in his safe place at anytime for as long as you or he needs.

This is a good place to discuss emotions. There is no need to ever feel "have to's, guilt, pressure, overwhelmed or any feelings associated with your puppy other than joy! This is after all a dog not a human baby. Dogs do not have the needs that human babies do. Dogs need to know that YOU are in control, will provide their needs (food).  All they ever want to do is please you. They never feel neglected or any other negative feeling that you feel.  Don't project your feelings onto them. They are happy all the time.  Yes, they cry to tell you that they want out or attention or whatever but tend to their needs at your availability. I am not telling you this to sound mean. I am saying it to help you stay balanced and always realize the difference between a human vs a dog.

Here is some helpful information:

Canine Psychology and Behavior Resources

Slowly, over time, allow the puppy more and more freedom as he proves that he can handle it. With time and training he will be a treasured family member.

Stay balanced and both you and your new baby will be and feel joyful as you get to know each other. Enjoy your angel baby!