Doghouse UK

The New Arrival

This section may seem very long, but I feel that it is an important section, as the initial relationship formed between new puppy and master or family can have a positive or negative effect on you all for the rest of his life with you. It is true that you have to understand each other and know what each expects of the other.

Arriving home with your new dog is an exciting time, particularly for any children in the family. The dog however is in strange surroundings with strange people. He will naturally feel a little apprehensive so it is best to allow him to settle quietly into his new home without too much fuss at first. Allow him to sniff around and familiarise himself with the new sights, sounds and smells in your home. If you already have other dogs or cats introduce them to the new arrival carefully to avoid jealousy. Remember that your old dog is used to your affection so you must not neglect him in favour of a new adult dog or puppy who is not used to you yet and will not resent you paying attention to another who is well established in your home. Children should be made to understand that puppies are not toys and should be treated with respect.

Make sure that your home is safe for a puppy by checking that all electrical cables are out of his reach, and small gaps in the garden fence are mended so that he cannot escape. A young puppy could soon wander away and be lost as his homing instinct is as yet undeveloped. Also check your garden for toxic substances such as weed or slug killer, and make sure the garden pond is covered so that he cannot fall in and drown.

It is important that your new dog or puppy has his own bed in a quiet, draught proof area. This will provide him with a place to rest and a sense of security as he recognises it as his own territory.
There are many expensive dog beds on the market, but do not make the mistake of spending a great deal of money on a fancy bed for a puppy. Puppies may have tiny teeth but they are very sharp and can quickly demolish a plastic or whicker basket. A simple cardboard box with one side cut down is ideal for a puppy. A thick layer of newspaper in the bottom of the box, covered with an old blanket will give warmth and can be easily cleaned daily. Some people place an old clock close to the puppy's bed as the ticking may simulate his mother's heartbeat and provide comfort. A well wrapped, not too hot, hot water bottle (preferably of the old stone type) can be placed in the puppy's box for him to snuggle up to as he would his mother.

A new puppy which has just left the security of his mother and litter mates will be very lonely, bewildered and distressed on his first few nights alone. He will howl loudly. It is difficult, but if you don't want your puppy to sleep with his human family, then you must ignore him. It can be upsetting to listen to the wails of your new 'baby' but if you go to him he will only howl louder when you leave him again and take longer to settle down. The only thing is to steel yourself and don't give in. After a few days, when he realises that he has not been deserted, he will settle down and sleep quietly through the night.

Information on how to deal with howling and barking while you are out can be found on the Problems page.

A young puppy does not require organised walks and will have sufficient exercise playing in the house and garden. At any rate, do not take him out until he has had the protection of a full course of vaccinations. Fatal diseases can be picked up easily where an infected dog has previously walked. The unprotected dog does not have to be in direct contact with the carrier of the disease in order for him to catch it. Do make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible after taking him home, to have him checked over and discuss when is the best time to vaccinate him.
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A dog should have his own food bowl which is washed separately from your own.
He should not be fed leftovers from your plates, but any scraps you give him should be placed in his own bowl after you have eaten yourself. Tit bits should not be given between meals, but an occasional dog treat to aid in training is acceptable. Never give sweets or chocolate to a dog as these can be harmful to his health as well as bad for his teeth. Discourage any form of begging while you are eating yourself.
If you give him an occasional treat, always make him 'sit' or 'lie down' etc. after he has learnt the commands before giving him the treat. Don't get into the habit of immediately giving him a treat on your return from a shopping trip or he will expect one every time you walk into the house and rifle through your bags. If you have bought him a treat, quietly unpack your bags and make sure he is not excitable before giving it to him.

Information on how to deal with begging can be found on the Problems page.

Feeding.
You will have been advised by the breeder of your puppy, or former owner of your new adult dog, on what type of food he is used to being fed and how often. If you wish to change his diet do so gradually, mixing a little new with the old every meal until it is all new. A sudden dietry change can cause an upset stomach.
Puppies up to the age of about 12 weeks should have 4 small meals a day. 2 of the meals should consist of meat, either raw or cooked mixed with puppy meal. The other 2 meals should consist of milk mixed with cereal or puppy meal. Tinned puppy food mixed with puppy meal is an ideal substitute for the meat meal if preferred, and for those of us who prefer to feed complete dried food there are several brands of puppy mix available. Stock can be added to soften this type of food for a very young puppy. This may also make the food more palatable. A hard dog biscuit is ideal for a puppy to chew on as this helps with teething. A large marrow bone, raw or boiled is also beneficial from time to time, but never give any dog small, sharp bones.
From 12 weeks to 6 months your puppy should be fed 3 meals a day, having gradually increased the amount of food given as he grows and decreased the amount of meals. Breakfast should consist of the milk and cereal meal, the 2 subsequent meals being the meat and meal or the complete dried puppy food.
From the age of 6-12 months your puppy should be eating just 2 meat and biscuit or complete dried food meals per day. Milk is unnecessary now unless he particularly enjoys one drink a day.
Some adult dogs do well on just one meal per day, but others prefer 2 meals. Many feeders of complete dried food fill the dog bowl with the recommended amount of food per day each morning and the dog simply eats whenever he requires food throughout the day. Fresh water should be available at all times.

Toys.
A dog should have his own toys and learn to differentiate between what is 'mine' and what is his. A puppy needs to chew in order to exercise his teeth and gums. He will chew on anything he can find, so your shoes and anything else you do not want to see destroyed must be kept out of his reach. Learn to be tidy if you have a puppy or young dog in the house. Do not give him an old slipper to chew on as he will not understand why you are angry with him when he chews the ones that you wear.

Information on how to deal with destructive chewing can be found on the Problems page.

There are many proprietry dog toys available in pet shops and the Nylabone products are very good as they begin to take on a bristly appearance the more they are chewed and this helps massage teeth and gums.

The more expensive Kong or similar type toys such as treat balls can keep a food orientated dog occupied for a while as small treats are placed inside and the dog has to work at the treat ball or Kong in order to gain his treat. These also stimulate the mind and make a dog think.

Inexpensive Rawhide chews give hours of entertainment to a dog of any age but beware of the shoe shaped ones as the laces tend to be swallowed whole by some dogs and can cause problems.

Most dogs enjoy playing ball with their master and throwing a ball for a dog to retrieve is a good way of exercising him either in the park when he gets older, or in the garden as a young puppy. Balls must be chosen with care as even a quite large one when slippery with saliva can easily become lodged in the back of a dog's throat and prove almost impossible to remove, often causing the dog to choke to death. I did have the harrowing experience of witnessing this once when I was on a routine visit to my vet. A large German Shepherd was rushed into the waiting room with a tennis ball stuck in the back of his throat. None of the vets could remove the ball despite doing their best to do so. Sadly the dog was dead within minutes.

Playing with your puppy.
When they are not asleep young puppies love to play. A wolf puppy plays with his brothers and sisters, parents, aunts, uncles, older siblings from earlier litters, rodents, birds etc. He is brought up in a loving family environment. A young puppy's human family takes on the role of the wolf family when he leaves his mother and litter mates to become part of your pack. Your puppy must have regular interactive playtimes with his new family as this develops his character and helps him form a bond with you. When the puppy is very young gently roll him over onto his back, tickling his tummy and pulling lightly on his legs. Glide your hands over his sides from his neck and lightly wrap your fingers around his tail, till you reach the end. Gently but firmly massage his neck and chest area and pull at his ears. Do not be too rough with a young puppy. He will appreciate hard play as he gets older. During more active playtimes roll a ball for him to chase. If you call his name when he picks it up, and say "Fetch it!" he will learn to retrieve without even realising it. Tell him "Drop it!" when he returns to you and carefully take it from him. Throw his newspaper filled sock and watch him shake it when he has 'caught' it. You can play a gentle tug of war with him, but do remember that he still has his puppy teeth, and pulling too hard can damage them.

Reprimanding your puppy.
Most very young puppies are not too naughty, but still may need an occasional scolding. I am not in favour of wielding a rolled up newspaper around and smacking a dog of any age with one. I have seen even old dogs terrified by the sight of someone innocently lifting a newspaper. A dog should respect his master, not be frightened of him. The best way (I find) of reprimanding wilful naughtiness in a young puppy is to firmly grasp the puppy by his neck with both hands, one at either side, and shake him. A light tap on his nose also works, but you must hold him firmly by his neck with one hand, not chase him around to do it. As you do this, say something like, "Bad Dog!" but growl the words sternly. Often, even growling alone works wonders. These are the natural ways. Wolves do not go to the newsagents!

These methods are intended for use in scolding young puppies. Information on how to deal with older, adolescent puppies can be found on the Problems page.

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Your new puppy is settling into his life with you, but every dog, and most owners, need basic Training.