New Puppy 101
The early days with your new little family member are important. Here are some tips on how to get it right!
What’s the right age?
7-12 weeks is the best age for a puppy to be adopted. At less than 7 weeks of age, pups should be with their moms and littermates to help with canine socialization.
How do I introduce my puppy to the family?
It’s tempting to smother a new pup with love and invite friends and family to do the same. However, you can overwhelm a pup with all that affection and cause anxiety. It’s best to let a pup settle in first before meeting all those people. It’s also smart to keep your pup confined to a small area of your home at first. Pups feel safer when they have a small area that is theirs. Once they get used to their surroundings and are house trained, you can start letting them access to the rest of your home.
Do I really need a schedule?
Following a routine can ease a new pet’s anxiety and help you determine her natural patterns. Feed and walk your new dog at the same time each day. For a very young puppy, you’ll need 3 to 4 meal times, and 6 to 8 short walks per day. You also need to take your pup out after each meal. Don’t forget; accidents will happen and how you react matters. Yelling and scolding can be confusing to a new puppy’s development. Instead, reinforce good behavior with treats when she goes outside and withhold them when she has an accident.
Let’s puppy-proof!
You have likely already done some puppy-proofing, like hiding electrical cords and gating off certain areas. Watch your pup carefully for the first few days, so you can see what you may have missed. Maybe the little one is drawn to your houseplants or starts chewing on those dining chair legs. Paying close attention will allow you to make adjustments and cater to specific troublemaking tendencies. And don’t forget, if your pup’s not supervised, she should be in a crate or safe gated area.
Go see your veterinarian!
Bring your pup to see the vet as soon as possible to confirm that she’s in good health and up to date on her vaccinations. Make sure you bring all the medical records provided with your puppy so that your veterinarian can make the best health plan for you new pet. Generally vaccines are started between 6 to 8 weeks of age and repeated every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 weeks of age. Don’t delay if you adopted your puppy right after she had vaccines; she still needs to be checked for worms and started on parasite prevention right away.
