09/01/2025
For all new puppy owners. Try not to not have unrealistic expectations. Edited by C Montgomery.
⭐ ADVICE FOR NEW PUPPY OWNERS…….⭐
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When puppies head to their new homes, I wanted to touch base on a common issue that breeders and trainers come across with new owners.
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⭐ Unrealistic Expectations ⭐
You see the breeders pictures and videos and the pups are all social and cute. They are quiet in the pen. The breeder shows you videos of them being totally relaxed, happy, playful. They don’t smell or bite. All looks amazing! Then you bring your puppy home and you experience the ‘puppy blues’…….
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Reality hits! The puppy may cry in the crate for the first few nights making you tired, anxious and agitated. The happy social puppy is refusing to greet the half dozen overly excited friends you invited over to see your new puppy. Or the rowdy, excited, playful children you have at home. The puppy refuses to walk on a leash. The puppy may be frightened of your friend’s dog that came to visit. Your old dog does not accept the new puppy straight away and is grumpy.
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Many are wondering how did my ‘perfect dream’ puppy turn into a nightmare?
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⭐ So, let’s discuss realistic expectations for when a puppy goes home⭐
First of all, the puppy has been in the breeder’s home since birth. They had their mother and littermates. They had their routine, were taught expectations and were completely in their comfort zone.
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You have been excitedly waiting for your pup for weeks, months or years, and you already love your puppy. You are a stranger to your puppy – it takes time for it to get to know, trust and love you.
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Now suddenly the pup is taken to a totally new environment. Picture yourself being dropped into an unknown country away from your family. You know only a few words of their language, and feel lonely, scared and isolated.
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Different house, yard, animals, smells, and people. Appliances & ambient noises sound different, the house is strange, and the people do not sound or behave the same as the breeders house.
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Now in the middle of this we are switching up the pups routine, decide to have a party with people they don't know, and ask them to do jobs they have no idea about. Overwhelming to say the least.
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This is what every puppy goes through when going to their new home. Stress manifests in different forms. From not eating, reluctance to play and greet people, growling or barking. Being apprehensive at the vet’s office or as strangers reach for them or come through a doorway.Lack of appetite, diarrhoea, vomiting and depression may occur.
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⭐ What can you as a new owner do to help your little one settle in? ⭐
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Most puppies take 3-4 weeks to acclimate to their new home. Repeat after me - THREE to FOUR WEEKS, sometimes even longer! Not a 1-2 days. I can’t stress this enough about how much time is needed for a dog or puppy to feel safe and comfortable in their new home!
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🐶 Do not take your pup visiting friends, or shopping on the day you collect it. Go straight home.
🐶 Understand your puppy needs time to see you as family and feel safe. Expecting an immediate bond is unrealistic
🐶 Puppies need their own safe, quiet place to eat, sleep and rest.
🐶 Set up a good routine. Give your pup time out to rest and recharge undisturbed.
🐶 If your pup wriggles when you hold it, put it down. Do not squeeze tighter or restrain it. It may want to toilet.
🐶 Limit guests during the first week. We understand you are excited to show off your new baby but they need time to adjust. Plan on waiting 1-2 weeks before inviting people over.
🐶 Ask guests to sit on the ground and let the puppy approach them. No squealing and grabbing, or picking up the puppy. No following or chasing a puppy that wishes to retreat.
🐶 Do not take your pup to visit your friends’ houses until it has settled in well to your home.
🐶 Restrict the puppy to a small area of the house. This not only reduces them being overwhelmed but also allows you to watch them easily, and helps with toilet training.
🐶 Train your puppy using positive methods, food and play. This not only helps you to bond but helps the puppy to look to you for direction, input and fun.
🐶 Don’t expect an 8-16 week old puppy to walk perfectly on a leash on the street or park. Instead work at home with a leash where they are comfortable. Let them drag the leash, use treats to encourage them to walk with you. Work on this inside, and in the yard first.
🐶 If your puppy is refusing to walk give them time. My first trips to town with puppies a walk around a small block took 1 hour. We only move when they initiate the movement as they need time to take in the different environment. The best walks are ‘sniff and strolls’.
🐶 Do not start puppy school for 2 weeks after your pup comes home, as this can be very stressful if they do not feel safe with you yet.
🐶 Children can be big stressors to tiny fragile puppies. Please supervise your puppy at all times when around children. Make their crate/pen/sleeping area a dog only area.
🐶 Outings should be planned at puppy speed. So while you might imagine a fun walk around the lake in reality your puppy might only be able to handle walking a short distance that day. Most outings for me take a long time, as I am often just standing still as the puppy cautiously explores the new environment. Patience is key! Reward your pup for ‘checking in’ with you.
🐶 Puppies have poor impulse control and short attention spans. Be patient, this will improve as they get older.
🐶 Most puppies will have accidents inside (sometimes for weeks or months). This can be physiological, they are teething, having a growth spurt, feel unwell, or they just got distracted. Be patient and never scold a pup for an accident. Just calmly clean it up, and tell yourself to be more vigilant next time.
🐶 Never punish a growl ! Pups are used to vocalising with their littermates and mother to communicate. It does not mean they have a ‘bad attitude’. They have no idea that humans do not like hearing a growl. Your pup is telling you it feels uncomfortable. Pause to reflect on why your pup is having this emotional response, and alter your behaviour, or the environment to help your pup feel safe.
🐶 Remember, if the puppy was wonderful at the breeder’s house but now is struggling, you as the owner, need to help the puppy adjust. This takes TIME, patience and training.
🐶 Be patient. Don’t declare “omg there’s something wrong with this dog”. Nothing occurs overnight. You have brought home an infant dog that will take time to educate.
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Have realistic expectations and give the puppy positive experiences. Each puppy is an individual, don’t compare your current puppy to past pets and judge their behaviour based on how another dog handled things or behaved.
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Lastly, try to see thing’s from a puppy’s perspective and adjust situations accordingly. Building a good relationship takes time, but is worth the effort! 🐾
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