First Night Nerves

Your new puppy is about to arrive, family members are excited about the new addition to the family, whilst your aim is the integration of the puppy as smoothly as possible.

To make this a successful challenge you are going to have to channel your own emotions, control the behaviour of your family towards the dog and find ways to insure the high level of energy your newcomer will have, are positively satisfied.

Ensure your children know, not to pick the puppy up unsupervised, not to disturb him whilst asleep, not to scream or jump close to the puppy, no feeding the puppy, and no yanking, tugging or pulling.

Plan things so all family members train the puppy in the same way!

When the puppy arrives let him meet other pets you have, this is better if done on neutral territory, in the garden as against the house. Carefully supervise the first meeting with your cat, as the cat will more than likely hiss and spit to show who is boss.

The first night will be very lonely for your puppy, missing his dam and litter mats. Hopefully the breeder will have given you a blanket that has the scent of the dam and other pups on it. This will make a good bed for the first night.

Plan where the puppy will sleep, and where you will be.

Prepare the puppy for the night, by taking him outside to relieve himself. Settle him down in his bed - probably a high sided box for the first nights. Stay with him, but remain quiet and calm, avoid eye contact! Should the puppy cry loudly, take him outside to relieve himself. Puppies do not like to dirty their beds. Praise him when he has performed. Take him back indoors and return the puppy to his bed. No doubt the puppy really will want to play, but do not relent to this!

Hopefully, with determination on your part, within a few days your new puppy will have become use to his new sleeping arrangements.

Puppy Fact Files

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