Picking up a new pooch is a truly exciting time. You want to spend as much time with them cuddling, playing and making sure they’re well fed that you might forget some of the other important aspects of welcoming a pup (or pups!) into your new home.

You may not have thought about toilet training, proper sleeping arrangements and getting the best, yet reasonably cheap pet insurance, so let’s take a look at how to welcome your new doggo to their new home!

Take some time off work

Puppies need to feel loved and welcome at their new home. Most puppies have never been away from their families before, and moving in with a new one can be challenging! Therefore, it’s a good idea to take a little bit of time off work (if possible) to be there for your puppy in their new home! You don’t have to rush into training them, as little doggies get tired from just moving homes, but be sure to show them the love and attention they need to be happy in their new surroundings.

Be patient & consistent with your pup

Little puppies often don’t know the rules in life and especially those of a new house – so be patient with them! Avoid the temptation to scold them for doing the wrong thing – they just don’t know any better yet. For social, yet undesired behaviour like chewing at your hands or shoes, avert your attention (talking, patting etc.) then continue when they stop the unwanted behaviour.

If they are chewing something they shouldn’t, be sure to immediately direct them towards their chewing toy – this is really the only thing they should be learning to chew that isn’t their food!

Ensure they are well fed

Puppies, like humans, need good quality, nutritious food to be happy and healthy. There is really no use in buying the cheap supermarket food – it’s simply not very good for them and won’t provide the sustenance they need to grow properly! You might want to provide your new pup with a fresh-cooked diet, as these contain whole food ingredients that provide doggos with the vitamins and minerals they can easily absorb.

Otherwise, pet stores are now stocking high quality dog food that contains wholesome ingredients and less, or none, of the unhealthy “fillers” of now obsolete dog food.

Get crate training

You may not necessarily want to put your new dog into a crate – that’s understandable – but by crate training your dog early, you will be providing them with a space that will quickly become familiar and comfortable with. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to properly crate a little dog, so begin by guiding your puppy into the crate with treats from the get go. If they are happy to relax in the crate for some time, feel free to give them another treat – this way they will associate the crate with goodies and be happy to stay there!

Train in short bursts

You may want to initiate a serious training schedule as soon as you bring your doggo home, but dogs simply don’t respond as well to constant training. Instead, provide short, sharp bursts of training, starting with the classic commands like “come” and “stay”. You can then incrementally start to bring in new commands for different parts of your doggo’s life!