For those of us who have experienced dog companionship before, we know that little comes close to the unconditional love that our pets can give us and the enjoyment that they bring into our lives. Dogs get us out and about each day, they give us a sense of purpose and they provide us with endless hours of fun. If you have decided that your family is now ready for a dog, then you might well be looking around at the various breeds and puppies available. Getting a puppy is a big step and a commitment for everyone in your household, and the work and effort involved should not be underestimated. It is like bringing a newborn home, but a newborn with teeth and no diaper! However, with the right preparation and training it can all go smoothly and you will have a wonderful, confident dog as he matures. That is why today we want to share with you a guide to those early days with your new puppy, to set you both up for success during the puppy months.



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Research the breed before you choose



Whether it is a loveable labrador puppy or an adorable dachshund puppy that you have your eye on, do take the time to research the breed that you are looking to get. Whilst it is true that you can train and bring up puppies to be the dogs that you want them to be, dog breeds do have certain traits that are inherent within them, through hundreds of years of breeding.



For example, a Border Collie is going to have a strong herding instinct, whilst a Bloodhound has been bred to hunt and will have an impulse to follow scents. Some dogs are natural diggers and will destroy your lawn, whilst others are always going to find the nearest lake or even a muddy puddle to leap into.



Some breeds will need more exercise than others, some are better with kids than others, some have certain health risks associated with them and so on. Carry out your research into the breed and do take the time to chat to a few breeders and owners to get a good feel for the dogs and ensure that you are making the right choice.



Once you are settled on the right puppy for you, you can contact reputable breeders and await news of your new addition.



Prepare before bringing puppy home



Before you even have your puppy in your arms, there is plenty that you can be doing to prepare for success.



Concentrate on safety first, so you need to puppy proof your garden and then your home. Ideally your puppy will be kept in a small enclosed area when it first arrives home, to allow you to make that a safe area for them. Remove anything that you do not want them to chew and make sure that it is within easy access of the yard or wherever you want them to use as a toilet. Ideally it should have wipe clean flooring as there will be accidents!



You will need to get a bed, crate, food and water bowls, collar and tag, leash and plenty of toys, particularly chew toys. You might need to get food, too, though many breeders will supply this to ensure that puppy continues on the same diet that they are used to whilst they settle into their new life with you.



You should then take some time to read one or two puppy handbooks so that you get a feel for how you are going to train them so that it is effective and moves as quickly as it possibly can.



Finally, arrange a vet appointment within puppy’s first week with you and get insurance in place for him.



The journey home



The day that you bring your new puppy home is a very exciting one, we know that. But it can also be a very scary one for your puppy, so be mindful of that and try to keep things as calm as possible.



If you have young children, it might be best for them to stay with a relative while you collect puppy to keep the journey quiet for him. Take blankets or towels, bags and wipes with you, to make puppy comfortable on his way home and to be prepared in case of any travel or anxiety sickness.



The first day at home



As soon as you arrive home with puppy, take him straight to his designated toilet area and pop him down there. As he has been on your lap in the car he is likely to need to go and this is a good start for him.



You can then introduce him to his new space in the house and your family members. Some puppies are comfortable taking all of this in and will start to play and explore, whilst others might be more reticent and sedate. Take it at your puppy’s pace and allow him time to rest. Puppies need to sleep for around eighteen hours a day at this point and an overtired puppy is quite similar to an overtired toddler, so try to avoid that!



At bedtime, your puppy is likely to settle a lot faster if he is near to you. This will be his first night without his littermates and mother, in an unfamiliar place, so he will be understandably upset if he is left alone. You can always move him further away from you as his confidence grows in the coming days and weeks, but it would benefit him and the bond you will form together, if he can be near to you at all times for now.

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Puppy training



Your main focus for training in this first month will be toilet training. We would not recommend using newspaper or puppy pads as you are teaching your puppy to toilet inside. You need to take him outside very regularly to relieve himself, after meals, after playtime, after he wakes up and around every half an hour in between. Use your chosen cue when he does his business so that he associates the word with the action and praise him.



Your puppy will want to bite you often as he plays, and this is something you will want to train him out of within the first month. Always have a chew toy to hand and when he goes to bite you, offer him that toy. He will learn that he needs to chew toys, not toes and fingers!



You will then need to teach a few basic commands, such as ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and ‘leave’ and clicker training is usually the most effective way to do this. This is also a good time to get him booked into a puppy class.



Socialisation, socialisation and socialisation



As your puppy settles in and adjusts to his training, one of your main priorities needs to be socialisation. We know you are handling toilet and clicker training and trying to stop him eating everything he sees, but you also need to get socialisation right as you have a very small window of time for this one.



Puppies have a no fear stage between the ages of around eight to sixteen weeks, and during this time they need to be positively exposed to everything that you can think of that they are likely to encounter during their everyday lives. People, sights, sounds, places, experiences, animals and household noises all need to be ticked off your list so that you are able to raise a confident dog.