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We wanted to touch base on a common issue that breeders come across with new owners.
Realistic Expectations
You see the breeder's pictures and videos and the pups are all social. They are quiet in the pen. The breeder shows you videos of them being totally relaxed, happy, playful. Everything looks amazing and you bring your puppy home.
Then reality hits. The puppy may cry in the crate for the first few nights making you tired 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 overly excited playful children you have at home. The puppy refuses to walk on a leash. Many are wondering, "How did my perfect puppy turn into a nightmare?”.
So, let’s discuss realistic expectations of when a puppy goes home. First of all, the puppy has been in the breeder's home since birth. They had their mother and often littermates. They had their routine, were taught expectations and were completely in their comfort zone.
Now suddenly they are taken to a totally new environment. Picture yourself being dropped into an unknown country, often in a different part of the world. You know only a few words of their language. Different trees, animals, smells, temperature, and people. Now in the middle of this we are switching up your routine, deciding to have a party with people you don’t know, and asking you to do jobs you have no idea about. Overwhelming to say the least.
This is what every puppy goes through when going to their new home. Stress manifests in different forms. From not eating, reluctance to play with and greet people. Being apprehensive at the vet’s office or as strangers reach for them. Diarrhea, vomiting and depression can occur.
So, what can you as a new owner do to help your little one acclimate?
- Most puppies take 3-4 weeks to acclimate to their new home. Repeat after me, THREE to FOUR WEEKS sometimes even longer! Not 1 or 2 days. I can’t stress this enough about how much time is needed for a dog or puppy to feel comfortable in their new home!
- 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 to 2 weeks before inviting people over.
- Ask guests to sit on the ground and let the puppy approach them. No squealing and grabbing the puppy.
- Set up a good routine (mealtime, potty, rest, play, training, grooming, etc.).
- Restrict the puppy to a small area of the house. This not only reduces them being overwhelmed but also allows you to watch them. You can do this by using baby gates to block doorways or an appropriately sized x-pen (exercise pen).
- Don’t expect an 8 to 13-week-old puppy to walk on a leash. Instead work at home with a leash where they are comfortable. Let them drag the leash, use small, soft training treats to encourage them to walk with you.
-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 ½ hours. We only move when they initiate the movement as they need time to take in the different environment.
- Understand your puppy needs time to see you as family. Expecting an immediate bond is unrealistic.
- Train your puppy in basic obedience such as sit, down, off, come, and wait at the door. This not only helps you to bond but the puppy to look to you for direction and input.
- Children are also big stressors to tiny fragile puppies, please keep an eye on puppy at all times when around children. Don’t allow children to handle or tease the puppy. Gentle play and petting are the best interactions between children and puppies.
- Lastly, be patient. Don’t declare “omg there’s something wrong with this dog”. Nothing occurs overnight. Puppies don’t know what they don’t know. It is up to us to train and guide them to learn what is acceptable behavior and what is not.
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! Also, use caution when taking young puppies that are not yet fully vaccinated out into public. If you decide to take your puppy to a store, pet store, or anywhere well-behaved, leashed dogs are allowed, you will want to carry the puppy so they do not pick up any illnesses from the floor or ground that their young, immature immune system is not prepared to handle.
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 which takes time, patience, and training. 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 behavior based on how another dog handled things. Lastly, try to see things from a puppy’s perspective and adjust situations accordingly.
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