Bringing a new puppy home is always an exciting experience. But, bringing up a new puppy isn’t an easy feat. Many new puppy owners wonder what they have gotten themselves into in the first couple of days after bringing their new pet home. You’ll have to be ready to deal with typical puppy behavior such as biting, jumping, whining, chewing and pooping on the carpet, but don’t worry – after a few months of the right training and care, it’ll all be worth it. The things that your puppy experiences now will affect him for the rest of his life, so it’s important to be prepared to give your new friend the best start. Here are some top tips that every new puppy owner can benefit from.

Ways to Give Your New Puppys the Best Start in Life

1. Get a Crate:

Crates don’t look great from a human perspective, but for your puppy, they are a safe, comfortable place to go and sleep, eat treats, or just chill out. And, since dogs instinctively won’t soil their own beds unless it’s impossible not to, crate training your puppy will make house training much easier and give you somewhere safe to leave pup when you’re not at home, so you don’t have to worry about her hurting herself or chewing something that she shouldn’t.

2. Keep Your Puppy Close By:

At least for the first few days, it’s a good idea to keep your puppy close by at night. Let them sleep in their crate so that they can get used to it from the start, but place the crate in your bedroom, or sleep downstairs with your puppy. The whole experience of moving to a new home, being away from their mum and litter, and being on their own for the first time is very stressful for a little pup; having you close will help them feel safe and calm in their new environment.

3. Pick a Potty Spot:

Toilet training is something that you can get started with straight away, and the sooner you can get your puppy into the routine of doing their business in the garden, the better. Bear in mind that you should be careful if you’re letting your puppy outside to do their business before they have been vaccinated; if there’s a chance that any other dogs (other than ones you already have at home) are going to be using the garden, it may be a wiser idea to use puppy mats in the meantime until they are vaccinated. Try to pick the same spot in your garden when you put your puppy outside to use the toilet, as this will get them into the habit of choosing that spot every time.

4. Get Them Vaccinated:

The sooner you get your puppy vaccinated, the sooner you will be able to take them out on walks and help them use up some of that puppy energy. Check with your vet as soon as you bring your new puppy home when the earliest time you can get them vaccinated will be. Some vets will allow you to bring them in for vaccination as early as the first day that you bring them home whilst others will ask you to wait for a few days to a week. Once your puppy has had their first set of vaccinations, you will need to wait two weeks for their second set, then another week before you can take them out.

5. Set a Daily Routine:

Like most animals, dogs prefer a regular routine and your puppy will be much happier at home if he knows exactly when he’s going to be fed, go outside for the toilet, play games, and go for walks, etc. If your puppy knows what he can expect from every day, housetraining will run much more smoothly for you both.

6. Play Plenty of Games:

Keeping your puppy occupied and entertained throughout the day will help burn off their high energy levels and keep them from doing too many naughty puppy things, like chewing your shoes and cables. Before your new puppy arrives, make sure that you are well-prepared with a selection of chew toys, balls, tug toys and cuddly toys that your new pup can get her teeth into. Plus, toys are great for training – many puppies will respond to toys as a reward for learning new things, and it’s a healthier alternative to giving treats every time.

7. Get the Right Insurance:

The last thing that you want is for your new puppy to fall ill or hurt themselves, leaving you worried and with a massive vet bill. So, it’s a wise idea to look into pet insurance to make sure that your pup is covered for any unexpected medical expenses that may arise. Puppy insurance is especially important as you will find out; puppies are into everything and can sometimes land themselves in trouble when your back is turned whether they’re climbing, chewing, or eating something that they shouldn’t. And, as much as you’d like to, you may not be able to keep an eye on your puppy all the time. So, make sure that you find suitable insurance for dogs for your peace of mind. You can find dog insurance, tips, and more at https://www.everypaw.com/.

8. Enrol in a Puppy Class:

Once your puppy has had her second set of vaccinations and it’s been a week, she’ll be ready to go out on walks – and attend puppy classes! Most puppy classes are available for pups up to six months old, although you can get classes for older, cleverer puppies to attend once they pass that age. Puppy classes are not only great for teaching your pup basic obedience such as sit and lie down; they’re also brilliant for socialising with other puppies and showing her how to behave around other dogs, which will be essential as she grows up. Even if you have older dogs at home, giving your puppy the chance to socialise and play with puppies his own age is a great idea.

9. Practice Separation:

Although your puppy is the cutest thing ever and you really don’t want them to leave your side, it’s crucial that she learns to be OK by herself. Once your puppy has adjusted to being in her new home and is settling in, it’s time to start practicing separation and getting her used to being alone. After all, there are going to be times where you’ll need to go somewhere you can’t take your pup, and you don’t want him to be stressing out without you there. In fact, letting your dog be glued to your side all day can encourage unhealthy issues such as separation anxiety, which isn’t nice for you or your pup. From as early on as you can, let your puppy spend some time alone in his crate or a puppy-proofed room in your home. Leaving the TV or radio on can help your pup settle better on her own.

Getting a new puppy is an exciting process and a big commitment. Your new pup is a baby who’s relying on you for a healthy, happy life and starting it off right is important. If you found these tips useful, we’d love to hear what you thought!