Keeping a new puppy is a rewarding experience, but it can also be a challenging one. You’re committing to take on a new member of the family and care for them for the foreseeable future. This can be a nerve-wracking experience for new puppy owners, but with a little preparation and knowledge, you can have a rewarding experience with your new puppy. Here are some helpful tips for new puppy owners to keep them calm and comfortable with the transition.
Having a new puppy in your household is exciting, but also can bring a lot of stress. Your puppy is a brand-new addition to the family, so it’s no wonder you’re feeling a little panicked about everything. There are many things you need to learn as a new puppy owner, but it’s not as hard as it seems. Follow these puppy tips, to have the smoothest transition possible. Your puppy will thank you, and you’ll have a happy, healthy dog to call your own.
7 Tips for New Puppy Owners
When you first bring home your new puppy, you probably have a million questions. From crate training to housetraining, you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, right? Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us. New pet parents tend to go through a period of hyper-awareness, particularly in regards to their animal companions.
But, there’s nothing wrong with that; it’s a natural reaction to welcoming a new member of the family! Here’s a list of helpful tips that will help you become the best new puppy owner you can be.
Don’t overwhelm your pup
As a brand new pet owner, it’s natural to want to do everything right away. You want to be an expert at potty-training and crate training before the sun goes down. But, you need to put in a little bit of effort at first in order to reap the benefits later.
Your new puppy is going to learn a lot of information and pick up a lot of habits during their first few months of life. You need to be patient with them and make the effort to help them understand what you’re trying to do.
Feed your pup first
Feed your puppy first thing in the morning, and then again at around 4:00 p.m. This will give them a long window of time in which to eat, and then eliminate before they’re done.
While it might seem counterintuitive to give your dog a break while they’re eating, doing so will give them the time they need to chew and digest their food properly.
Play with your pup
While it’s true that your new pup isn’t going to understand everything you say to them, they’re capable of learning a large amount of information simply by associating different sounds and words with actions.
You can use this to your advantage by playing with them for short periods of time.
Walk your pup first thing in the morning
If you walk your pup first thing in the morning, you’ll give them a chance to eliminate and get used to the idea of going outside before you bring them inside.
You don’t want them to think that the yard is their “toilet”. You want them to associate the outside with good things, and then get used to smelling like you and other members of the household.
Teach your pup a couple new tricks
You can teach your pup a fun behaviour, such as “sit” or “roll over”, while they’re still young enough to learn.
This will make training easier when they’re older because they’ll already have an understanding of what you want them to do.
You can also teach your pup some basic commands, such as “get off the couch” or “stay”, at a young age.
Keep your pup healthy
Medical issues are common among pets, and can be especially problematic for puppies.
Make sure you have your puppy vaccinated, and avoid buying from breeders who haven’t done so as well.
Keep your pup on a healthy diet, and make sure they get plenty of water every day.
Stay ahead of the housetraining curve
Housetraining is one of those things that most people think about, but don’t talk about.
You don’t want to rush training your puppy, but you also don’t want to keep it a secret either.
It’s a process that involves a lot of patience and consistency.
Conclusion
As a brand new pet parent, there’s a lot to learn. You’re probably feeling a little overwhelmed and unsure of what to do.
There’s no shame in that; it happens to the best of us.
Thankfully, with a little effort and thought, you can become an excellent new puppy owner.
This list is a great place to start.