Bringing Puppy Home
Introducing Your Puppy To His New Home And Existing Family Members
Introducing you puppy to his new home is very important. You have to remember that this is a very stressful time for a young pup. They have just been removed from their mother and brothers and sisters. When you first bring your puppy home, show him where his food and water is, where his crate is, and his new toys. It will not take your puppy long to figure out where his own special place in his new home is. Always show your new puppy the respect of allowing this to be his space, do not let any one bother him when he is resting or napping.
When introducing your puppy to the rest of the family, make sure even the smallest child knows how to handle and interact with the puppy. Teach your children not to mistreat your new puppy, not to pull his ears or tail, not to poke at him, or make loud, threatening noises at him. Explain to the children that if they do these types of things the puppy may feel threatened and try to bite to protect himself. Just remember that to a puppy even the smallest child looks like a giant, very threatening looking. A good way to play with your puppy is to get down in the floor with him, you will look a lot less threatening.
If you have a baby in the house, the introduction needs to be totally different than with older children. To a puppy, a baby is a whole different creature than an adult or small child. They act completely different than any one else. Puppies need to be introduced to babies very slowly. Let the puppy smell something of the baby's, a blanket or piece of clothing. Bring the puppy closer to the baby a little at a time. Use the puppy's behavior to indicate whether to allow him any closer. Even if the puppy seems to accept the baby without any problems, never leave the two together unattended.
One other group that the puppy will need to be introduced to, that does not live in the house, but is just as important, is visitors to your home. When someone comes to visit, have your puppy in his collar and leash. When your puppy is very small, you want him to not be fearful of new people. You will also want your puppy to learn not to jump on people when they visit. Teach your puppy to sit before your visitor approaches him. Make sure your puppy is sitting quietly before the visitor gives him any attention. Teaching your puppy how to properly greet people when he is very young will keep him from being a fearful dog as he gets older.
Introducing your puppy slow and easy to his new surroundings will make him feel safe and secure. Your puppy will be looking to you for direction, comfort, and protection, so showing him from the very start will allow your puppy to become settled and his personality to emerge.