How to Introduce a Puppy to Your Home
Getting a puppy is a huge decision and responsibility. While dogs can brighten up the mood of any place, it’s not all fun and games. Being a pet parent comes with a huge responsibility, so you should only get a puppy for yourself if you’re willing to shoulder that responsibility.
Before bringing a puppy home, talk to your family. If you are all going to be living under the same roof, it is best to be sure that everybody is on board with the decision to adopt a pup. Your family’s support and assistance will make introducing the puppy to his new home easier!
Stock Up on Essentials
It pays to be prepared. Read up on things that puppies need when they are starting their new lives in their new homes. Go shopping for supplies so that when your puppy arrives, he has all the comforts he needs at his disposal and finds it easy to adapt to his new life. Here is a list of things you can check off in anticipation of your puppy’s arrival.
- High-quality branded kibble
- Food and water bowls
- Good-quality leash
- A collar with an ID tag
- A crate or sleeping basket
- A litter box or pee pad
- A chewable toy
You can also puppy-proof your house, which means that you can temporarily cage off areas of your home and limit the puppy so that he doesn’t ruin any of your belongings. This puppy-proofing can be undone when your puppy is old enough to behave himself.
Socialize Your Puppy
Your puppy might be a little scared when he first arrives at his new home. Having so many new faces around can be nerve-racking for a little pup. Go around and introduce your puppy to his new housemates. Be gentle; you don’t want to scare him further by surrounding him with a lot of excited faces all at once.
Give him his space while each one of your family members can pet him and get him familiar with their faces. If you have any more house pets, this is a good time to introduce them to each other. Supervise their interactions carefully, as your old pets might be a little aggressive and territorial around the new puppy for a while.
Housebreaking
The younger the puppy is, the faster it will learn. Introduce him to his litter box or pee pad, so he knows where to go. This will be the first of the many training sessions you will have with your puppy, and this might be the most important one. Give him treats if he uses the litter box. By doing this, you will reinforce good behavior. When he is a little older, you can teach him how to do his business outdoors, but indoor litter boxes are good for small puppies that are still in the process of being housebroken.
Keep in mind that accidents will happen. A soiled rug, a chewed up cushion, and a broken vase might be part of your journey as a dog parent, so be patient. As the puppy grows older and more familiar with you, he will learn to obey commands and be on his best behavior.
Little puppies need a lot of love and attention, so be sure to give it to him. It is not advised to leave a small puppy alone at home for a long time, but if you need to go somewhere, you can hire a pet sitter or dog walker from Little Friends Pet Sitting and Dog Walking who can come over and supervise your puppy for you.