A Puppy’s First Days At Home

The correct and quick adaptation of a puppy is the key to an adequate development of its socialization and fundamental in its learning related to the world around it. Understand the importance of a puppy’s first days at home.

A puppy’s first days at home can be a revolution.  Suddenly, we come across an animal that is still a baby and has needs that we need to meet. Try to make these days simpler by preparing in advance.

prepare the puppy’s arrival

Before a puppy’s first days arrive at home, we need to prepare.  The whole family must agree on who will take care of issues such as cleaning, food and water, veterinarian, walks when he can go out, etc.

Also keep in mind that the puppy occupies a place in the house.  It is important to be clear where the dog will sleep, where he will need and where/what he will eat.  The puppy is still very young, but it will do him good to adjust to a routine, thus making things easier.

It is necessary to make the house “toothproof”, stumbling and hitting with the tail.  Define what the dog can pull and break, as well as what you don’t want him to bite.  Cover or protect dangerous places. This way, you will facilitate the animal’s adaptation and avoid accidents. 

As the dog grows, you can return things to their place of origin, as well as change the rules and requirements with him.  However, keep in mind that a puppy’s first few days at home mean a change for everyone, better safe than sorry.

Create a health plan

Even if the puppy is healthy, you need to be prepared.  A puppy’s health plan starts with choosing a veterinarian who will see you when needed.  Also choose one that has an emergency service and, in the event of an accident, always have data and telephones at hand.

Talk to the veterinarian when the puppy arrives, or shortly beforehand, about your pet’s vaccination schedule and record.  Explain the breed or cross so that you can know if there are any congenital diseases to be prevented and record any necessary periodic reviews.

When the puppy arrives at your house, schedule a first visit to open a medical history and do a first deworming.  So, if the dog needs a medical checkup or is sick, you will already know the veterinarian and trust him. And if you pick the wrong one, you’ll have time to switch to a better one.

Even if the puppy is healthy, accidents can always happen. It is very important to know what to do if a veterinarian is urgently needed.  It is also important to know the vaccination schedule and create a health plan in advance.

development and socialization phase

When they arrive home, puppies are usually between seven and nine weeks old.  There is a stage known as the socialization stage. At this stage, there is the development of curiosity without fear of the new world around you.  So this is the best stage for discovering new things.

However, socialization is something that can be done without haste.  The dog is wanting to know new things, but may get fed up at some point. To introduce you to new situations, remember:

• New stimuli appear little by little and without much intensity.  For example, music: start with a quiet song and gradually increase the intensity.
• Give the dog the option to run away if he doesn’t like the situation.
• Don’t be in a hurry to make him face new stimuli, be patient and let him find his rhythm.

The socialization stage is perfect for meeting different people and animals. Introduce your dog to elderly people, children, bearded men, tall people, cats, rabbits, hamsters and turtles.  The things a dog learns until he is three months old will be seen as normal for the rest of his life.

If for some reason you weren’t able to take this step, don’t worry.  Your dog will be able to learn new things and experience different situations for the rest of his life.  You just need a little more patience.

A Puppy’s First Days at Home: Don’t Be Rigorous

We tend to be too strict with dogs, even when they are puppies.  During a puppy’s first few days at home, owners can focus too much on order and discipline, forgetting about equally important things.

Rules for dogs can be changed. If the dog does things wrong or misbehaves, he can stop doing that when he gets older.  When a dog is small, it’s more important to make him feel safe and cherished than to teach him never to climb on the couch.  Order can be taught later.

For example, he will learn to be alone when he is growing up. So it’s okay for him to sleep in your room for the first few weeks, if it makes him feel safe and peaceful. In the same way, he will learn not to climb on the sofa and to do his needs in the street when he is older.

During a puppy’s first days at home, we sometimes focus too much on discipline and overlook other more important things: his safety, health, and preventing accidents in the home.  Before imposing rules and orders, enjoy your dog’s sweetest age.