Some Useful Tips For Surviving The First Few Days With Your New Puppy.

Congratulations, you have decided to take home a new puppy and you are in for a world of fun, but also lots of responsibility. Think of it as bringing home a new member of the family like a new baby and you will get an idea of what lies ahead of you. This is not to put you off bringing a puppy home, it’s just to make you aware of how your life will change when that cure, little rascal becomes part of your family. Much like you would child proof your home for the new arrival, the same applies to a puppy. It’s going to want to have a good look around and it’s going to want to taste and chew on things.

The most important thing to do when you first get your puppy is to get the right pet insurance and once you have that, you have the peace of mind knowing that if anything happens, your new member of the family is covered. Next, you need to start the training immediately and to take the puppy home, you need to have the right container for that. Crates are great for this because this will be its home for the next while and it needs to get used to being in it a lot.

If you follow the advice that I will now impart to you, everything should go fine for the next 30 days. Here is what you need to do.

• Get yourself to a store that specialises in puppy pet supplies because you are going to need a lot of stuff to keep your puppy occupied. It’s all new to this little guy, so he is going to chew on your shoes and slippers and some of your furniture as well. Get some chew toys and some snacks to keep it happy and reward it when it shows good behaviour. If possible, get a small cloth and rub it on the mother and the other puppies if they are available to you. This will put their scent on the cloth and allow your puppy to feel safe.

• Before taking your new member into the house for the first time, make sure that it goes to the toilet. Walk around the garden until it does and then take it into your home. This is your opportunity to create a bond, so play with it, rub its tummy and feel its paws, face, ears and get it used to your touch. Maybe start the grooming process to get it used to the feel of the brush. Puppies get excited at times like this and they are going to want to pee or poo, so take it outside after about 15 minutes or so.

This is an exciting time for both you, your family and your puppy. Make it feel welcome, but make sure that it understands what’s OK and what isn’t. This is a crucial time in your relationship and you need to get it right the first time.