When you decide to get a dog or a puppy you should prepare for a change in your life. As you would make a home child proof you should consider making it dog proof.
1. Move breakables away from dog nose and tail level. The new dog will want to explore their new territory, and will probably be very excited. Moving precious breakables helps ease your strain. Given a week or two the new pet will relax and so will you.
2. Check fences and gates. Think about putting a poster near doors and gates to remind friends that you have a new dog. Just in case they walk in and surprise your new dog or leave a gate open and let the puppy out.
3. Read lots of books about dogs in general and specific breeds if you want a pedigree dog. Some breeds have specific problems. It is best to learn about them BEFORE you invest time, love and money on your pet.
4. Make friends with your pets Veterinarian and their staff. A good veterinary doctor will welcome your enquiries about your new pet. If possible even get your veterinarian to look over your pet BEFORE you buy or adopt them. It is a sad fact that in a world full of puppy mills the cute puppy you fall in love with might be a very sick puppy.
5. Prepare for a few sleepless weeks if you have a new puppy.
I was brought up to leave the puppy alone on it's first few nights in a new home. However that is easier said than done and I admit after an hour or two the screams of a new, lonely puppy away from it's siblings is not pleasant.
My first night with Polly, who was nine weeks old at the time was awful, until I went to sleep with her on the bathroom floor. In the morning I found her lying on my shoulder, five pounds of cute black fluff, eyes closed tightly. If you do choose to leave your puppy alone, put him or her in a room with an easy to clean floor. Trying to get puppy poop out of a carpet every morning is no fun for you or the puppy.
Following my night on the bathroom floor I decided a new method was needed. So I went to a local TV shop and got a cardboard box, the largest they had. You might find one at U-Haul stores at a reasonable cost. I set the box beside my bed, in the bottom I placed a layer of newspaper, just in case of accidents. Make this layer about one inch thick. Also I found an old shirt which I wore for the day. Wearing the garment covers it with your scent. It will be the puppy's bed and so the puppy will associate you with comfort. Some also suggest covering a loadly ticking clock, but this might be more annoying to you than comforting for the puppy.
Immediately before you both go to bed, let the puppy out to relieve itself. Then bringing it to the box place it inside with the lid open. The puppy can then hear you as you move in the night. They might scratch and whimper a little but much less than locked away in isolation.
In a few nights you can move the puppy box to whereever its bed will be or you can provide the puppy with a crate which will be his or her home, crate training at a young age is easier and is useful if you need to travel with your pet.
1. Move breakables away from dog nose and tail level. The new dog will want to explore their new territory, and will probably be very excited. Moving precious breakables helps ease your strain. Given a week or two the new pet will relax and so will you.
2. Check fences and gates. Think about putting a poster near doors and gates to remind friends that you have a new dog. Just in case they walk in and surprise your new dog or leave a gate open and let the puppy out.
3. Read lots of books about dogs in general and specific breeds if you want a pedigree dog. Some breeds have specific problems. It is best to learn about them BEFORE you invest time, love and money on your pet.
4. Make friends with your pets Veterinarian and their staff. A good veterinary doctor will welcome your enquiries about your new pet. If possible even get your veterinarian to look over your pet BEFORE you buy or adopt them. It is a sad fact that in a world full of puppy mills the cute puppy you fall in love with might be a very sick puppy.
5. Prepare for a few sleepless weeks if you have a new puppy.
I was brought up to leave the puppy alone on it's first few nights in a new home. However that is easier said than done and I admit after an hour or two the screams of a new, lonely puppy away from it's siblings is not pleasant.
My first night with Polly, who was nine weeks old at the time was awful, until I went to sleep with her on the bathroom floor. In the morning I found her lying on my shoulder, five pounds of cute black fluff, eyes closed tightly. If you do choose to leave your puppy alone, put him or her in a room with an easy to clean floor. Trying to get puppy poop out of a carpet every morning is no fun for you or the puppy.
Following my night on the bathroom floor I decided a new method was needed. So I went to a local TV shop and got a cardboard box, the largest they had. You might find one at U-Haul stores at a reasonable cost. I set the box beside my bed, in the bottom I placed a layer of newspaper, just in case of accidents. Make this layer about one inch thick. Also I found an old shirt which I wore for the day. Wearing the garment covers it with your scent. It will be the puppy's bed and so the puppy will associate you with comfort. Some also suggest covering a loadly ticking clock, but this might be more annoying to you than comforting for the puppy.
Immediately before you both go to bed, let the puppy out to relieve itself. Then bringing it to the box place it inside with the lid open. The puppy can then hear you as you move in the night. They might scratch and whimper a little but much less than locked away in isolation.
In a few nights you can move the puppy box to whereever its bed will be or you can provide the puppy with a crate which will be his or her home, crate training at a young age is easier and is useful if you need to travel with your pet.
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