Journey HOME, new environment, new experience, new life

 

Your puppy is 8 or 9 weeks old now, has first vaccinations, is microchipped and has health checks done by a vet and ready to join your family. 

The journey home may be your puppy’s second time in a car. It’s important your puppy feels comfortable so they are not anxious about future car rides. If possible, it’s best to take someone to comfort your puppy while you’re driving. In case if you are collecting your puppy on your own, please prepare a pet carrier or a dog crate to ensure safety while you are driving.

If your journey back home takes more than 1 hour, it is good to have with you:

• small water bootle
• a bowl, couple of puppy toilet pads
• cleaning supplies (as cleaning wipes, hand sanitiser and small bin bag)
• poop bags
• harness and leash
• training treats

Your puppy may cry and bark during the car ride, is very common, as the new environment, sounds, and movement can be overwhelming for them; it's likely due to anxiety or feeling insecure in an unfamiliar situation. There are some tips how to help them to settle in the future. Play calming music, give them their favourite toy, or offer treats when they're quiet. You can even start by letting them explore the car while it's stationary to build a sense of comfort. Teach the `"Quiet'' Command: If your dog starts whining, calmly say ``quiet'' and reward them when they stop.

 

Be prepared before bringing your puppy home

 

The first thing you’ll need to do is puppy-proof your home and make sure it’s the dog-friendly space, making sure that anything harmful such as cleaning products, cables and anything else they shouldn’t chew, is well out of paws’ reach! Don’t forget that your new furry friend will grow quickly, so stairs or furniture that might be out of reach on the first day might soon become accessible to your pup.

You’ll also need to make sure your new arrival has their own space set up, by creating a place for their resting area. A crate can be great, as it gives them a secure base to explore from and can help with their toilet training. Make sure it’s in a quiet place where they won’t be disturbed or in the way, with lots of blankets and bedding to keep them warm and comfy. If you’re planning for your dog to share your room or bed, it’s still important to give them a safe area where they can rest at other times, especially if you’re not planning on giving them access to the bedroom at all times. 

Once you’ve sorted out their resting space, you’ll need to decide where your puppy is going to eat. This should be in a different place to their sleeping area, and remember to store their food somewhere they can’t reach!

If there’s any areas of your house you don’t want your puppy accessing, or if you want to limit when they can access them, you might want to look at installing baby gates. They’re a great way to teach your dog where they can and can’t go. It’ll also help keep them safe and enable your puppy to see you if you go into a room they’re not allowed in – which can be very reassuring for them while you’re helping them get used to time alone!

If you are going to restrict access to certain areas, make sure you set clear boundaries for your puppy from day one as it’s very confusing if they’re allowed to go somewhere sometimes but get told off at other times.

Making sure your garden is secure is also really important so that your puppy can play safely outside. Make sure there’s nowhere they could squeeze through or dig under a fence, and check for poisonous plants and other garden hazards.

 

Create a checklist

 

As well as puppy-proofing your home, you’ll need to make sure you’re prepared with all of the supplies your puppy will need. Here are some things that your list could include:

• A crate and/or bed
• Food and water bowls
• Puppy food (we will supply you with puppy food that will cover next two weeks)
• Harness and leash 
• Dog car seat belt (not necessarily if you have pet carer or crate for car boot) 
• Chewing toys
• Puppy pads for toilet training
• Poop bags
• A brush or comb for grooming
• Toothpaste (one for dogs!) and toothbrush
• Dog shampoo

Blankets (we will provide a blanket with mum's scent on it, please do not wash fro the first two weeks or until it's too dirty)

 

Setting up some Ground Rules

 

You already prepared bed/chill out area, food and water area and secured your puppy by creating a dog-friendly environment in your house and secured your garden, WELL DONE! Now it's time to think about setting up some ground rules.

Before your puppy comes home, you have some decisions to make. Will they be allowed on the sofa? Are there certain rooms they can’t go in? Are they allowed on the bed?

You need to set some rules and make sure everyone at home knows what they are – and sticks to them! Consistency is key when training any dog and your puppy will be learning all the time. You need have these rules set and make sure they aren’t broken. Imagine how confusing it will be for your puppy if they’re sometimes allowed to do things like sit on the sofa but other times not! Just like for us, it’s much harder for your puppy to break a habit than make a new one.