How to prepare for the arrival of a puppy at home?

A puppy will soon join your family. Leaving his mother and siblings, he may feel lost. You have many questions about his adaptation. Our advice to welcome your puppy in the best conditions.

In what conditions to welcome your puppy?

Keep in mind that the puppy has lived 2 to 3 months with his mother and siblings and that separation represents an upheaval in his young life. Being in a new place with strangers can make him anxious, so his arrival should be in a calm environment. Be careful not to frighten him with great joy, childish cries and excessive handling. These first moments in his new environment should not stress him. Pet him a little and let him explore the rooms he’s allowed to enter quietly. Don’t go around the neighborhood showing him off to everyone, and don’t invite all your friends and neighbors. You can do that later. It’s best to schedule his arrival at a time when you’ll be available, such as during a weekend or vacation.

What room should he sleep in?

A puppy gets restless but tires quickly and wants to be able to sleep in peace and quiet. Prepare a personal corner for him to rest and observe. It should be away from a high-traffic area but still allow him to see members of the household where he’ll feel safe. Can you keep the puppy in the room for the first night? Sleeping next to you may reassure him. However, keep in mind that this attachment will have to be broken a few weeks later and separation may be difficult. At first, the puppy – missing his mother and siblings – is likely to cry. Hold on and try not to go to him, or he may get used to whining to get you back. He will usually stop crying within a few nights. In the opposite case, you can use pheromones of appeasement in the form of diffusers.

Which bed to choose?

Once you’ve found the right place, you can arrange his bedding: basket or mattress, the main thing is that he feels good in his new home. Select a model adapted to his size: big enough to allow him to move but narrow enough and with high enough edges so that he feels surrounded and safe. Stuff the bed with cushions or a blanket to accommodate his size. If possible, place a textile that is infused with the scent of his birthplace. A blanket or stuffed animal will also make him happy. Remember that young dogs like to pick through anything they find. For this reason, choose a sturdy basket that will withstand his fangs and banish wicker models where he could ingest small chewed pieces. Moreover, a puppy is not potty trained before 3 to 6 months, so his bedding must be washable or removable. Finally, the bed is his domain: don’t pet him, handle him, wake him up or make him play when he’s resting there.

How to feed your puppy when he arrives?

A 2-month-old puppy is weaned and can therefore eat solid food. The best way to avoid digestive problems is to give him the same food he was fed until then. If you then want to change it, make a gradual transition by mixing the new product with his usual food. Increase the amount for 8 to 10 days, until you reach exclusive use. You will give your puppy special kibbles in fractions of 4 or 5 meals until he is 3 months old, then move to 3 meals a day until he is 5 months old and finally to 2 meals a day. For the choice of the bowl, choose a stainless steel or unbreakable ceramic model. For his water, choose a container with a non-slip underside so that it doesn’t slip on the floor and heavy enough not to be spilled. It is generally recommended to feed your puppy after you. If you accept his presence during your meals, he should not ask for anything. If you have some leftovers, put them in his bowl once the meal is over and nothing while you are at the table.

How to react to the first mischief?

As soon as he arrives home, your puppy will chew on all sorts of objects, furniture and even your hands. Don’t make fun of him because he might take your laughter as encouragement to do it again. To avoid accidents, there are precautions you can take:

• Close all exits leading to the outdoors to allow your puppy to explore his domain safely;
• Put in a safe place any cleaning products or food (chocolate, for example) that could be toxic for him;
• Put fragile objects and plants out of his reach;
• Put fragile objects and plants out of his reach; Close the garbage can tightly and place it in an inaccessible place;
• Protect electrical wires that he could nibble on;
• Put away shoes and slippers that he may tear apart.

If your puppy does something wrong, remember that he should never be punished unless he is caught in the act.

When is the puppy’s first outing?

Your puppy usually arrives in his new family at 2 months of age and you may wonder if you can take him out until he is fully vaccinated. It is essential to give him new and positive experiences as soon as he is 8 weeks old. As such, you should know that the first injection of the vaccine protects your puppy against diseases (you’ll then need to give him the other two essential primary injections as well as the booster shot one year later).

Initially, it is recommended that you walk your puppy carefully: don’t let him smell other dogs’ feces and put him in contact with other healthy, vaccinated and sociable dogs. Equip him with a harness, a fixed length leash and take advantage of his light weight to teach him to walk without pulling!