The day you bring your puppy home is certainly a big one! Ensure your pup settles into his new home with our essential advice.
Last-minute check
You should have spent the weeks between choosing your puppy and the collection date making sure that your home and garden are puppy-proof, and you have all the equipment you need for his precious first few months. But, before you leave to pick him up, make sure you give the house one final check to ensure that nothing has been left lying around that shouldn’t; the bins have been emptied, there are no plates with scraps of food left on them within his reach, and that the house and garden are generally tidy. It’s a good idea to also put his bowls out (ensuring one is full of fresh water), have his crate or bed in place, and his toys ready and waiting for him.
Keep calm and carry on
It’s important that you set aside a whole day to bring your new arrival home so you can dedicate this time to settling him in, and the day is as stress-free and leisurely as possible for your pup — you don’t want to be rushing around and getting yourself into a flap, as this could rub off on your puppy and upset him. If possible, clear your diary for the week following your puppy’s arrival, taking time off work or not making any big social plans, so you can truly get to know each other and put time into training, socialising, and so on.
Travelling safely
If your puppy is still young — around eight weeks old — the safest way to transport him home is by using a pet carrier with a cosy blanket inside (the breeder may give you one that smells of his family, which you can pop in once you get to their house). This will give him a safe and secure environment to travel home in. Some carriers can be attached to your car seat belt; make sure you choose one that is well-ventilated and big enough for your pup to stand up and lie down comfortably. If it’s a longer journey, make sure you have some food and water for him, and don’t let children handle the puppy if he’s nervous.
Paperwork
You should have arranged a mutually convenient time for you to pick him up with the breeder or rescue — ideally this should be early in the day so he has as long as possible to settle in before his first night alone. Amid the excitement of getting your pup in your arms for the fi rst time, it’s important not to forget the more serious stuff — the paperwork! A puppy bought through the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme should come with a signed registration certificate, written advice on ongoing socialisation, grooming, feeding, worming regime, exercise, training, breed features and characteristics, a record of any immunisation, a signed contract of sale (including an explanation of any endorsements placed on the puppy), microchip information, and a record of any veterinary treatment he has had so far. Some assured breeders may hand over photocopies of health test results, but it is not a requirement. Testing or screening which constitutes recognised Kennel Club schemes, such as hip scores, elbow grades, clinical eye examinations, and many DNA tests, will be listed against the dam and sire on each puppy’s registration certificate. If you are rescuing a puppy, you will have to sign a document agreeing to certain conditions, but this varies between organisations.
Toilet time
It’s likely that you will have travelled some way to pick up your puppy, so the first job you will have when you get home is to take him outside to toilet and stretch his legs. If he’s made a mess in his travel carrier, don’t punish him for it — just give him a quick wipe-over and accept that his toileting habits won’t be under control just yet. He may also be very tired after his hectic morning of leaving his old home behind and travelling in the car, so don’t expect him to be in a playful mood as puppies spend a lot of their days sleeping.
Getting to know you
Spend time simply sitting in your puppy’s company and getting to know his personality. Don’t get involved in wild and full-on games, or constantly pick him up and stroke him. Feed him at the usual times recommended by the breeder — he’s likely to be still having four meals a day. If he seems off his food, don’t leave it down, simply remove it and put out fresh food during his next planned mealtime. Remember, any big problems and a good breeder should be at the end of the phone ready to answer your queries and offer advice.
First night
As the day draws to a close, both you and your puppy are likely to be exhausted! After your pup’s last meal of the day, and before you go to bed, take him outside into the garden to toilet, and then settle him into his bed or crate, making sure he has access to fresh water. If you are set on keeping him downstairs, in the kitchen for example, don’t make a big deal of saying goodbye to him and do expect him to cry for at least the fi rst night. Traditionally, new owners were advised to leave their puppy, but many owners now prefer to keep their puppy in a crate in their bedroom for the fi rst night, so they are able to give them verbal reassurance if they are upset and recognise when they need to go outside to toilet. Gradually, as your pup starts to sleep through the night, you can move him further and further out of the bedroom, fi rst to the doorway, then the landing, then the foot of the stairs, until he gets to the place where you want him to sleep permanently.
First day
Surprise, surprise — the fi rst task for the day is taking your pup outside to toilet! If he’s made any mess in his crate, clean it up so his sleeping area is clean for when he wants to go for a morning nap. Then, give him his breakfast. Just as with his fi rst day, spend time getting to know him, without bombarding him with affection. If it’s a nice day, let him explore the garden and take his toys outside so he can play with them if he wants to. Stick to the routine he is used to as much as possible; don’t attempt to change his feeding or sleeping times until he has settled in.
Arrange a check-up
Arrange to take your puppy to the vet’s for a general health check-up. Even if he appears healthy and full of life, it’s important for you to take him in case there are any minor or serious problems that you may not have picked up — hopefully, everything will be OK, and it will just be a positive experience for your puppy to be checked over without any invasive injections, or anything he won’t enjoy. If you take some treats with you too, and ask the staff there to feed them to him, this will also help build positive associations.
A solid foundation
The first few months of a puppy’s life are so important, and what happens during that time will influence his behaviour for the rest of his life. The breeder should have already put in the groundwork, but then it’s down to you to set your puppy up for the rest of his life. He should be introduced to as many diff erent sights, smells, sounds, and experiences from day one. Even though he won’t be able to go for walks until his 12-week vaccinations, that doesn’t mean that you can’t desensitise him to noises in the house, such as the vacuum cleaner. Carry him outside so the big wide world doesn’t hit him like a ton of bricks on his first walk, and plan trips out in the car so this becomes normal for him.
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