Puppy Tips

Below are some additional tips, expanding on some of the things you need to get to prepare for your pups homecoming. You can find further information about these topics in our Training and Puppy Care sections.

First Night Home
Your puppy will understandably have some anxieties about being in a new home, away from his mother, littermates and the humans that were familiar to him. He may be scared or confused when he realizes they are no longer around. Think of how you would be if all of a sudden you were taken from everything familiar and placed in a strange new world. It would be pretty overwhelming! You may find that he cowers in a corner or that he doesn't want to be away from you. Your first few nights with him may be a bit trying, but kindness, patience and understanding is extremely important.

Here are some things you can do to help ease the separation anxiety:

   If at all possible, take a blanket or a few soft, plush toys to your breeder before you pick him up, so that they get the smell of mom and his littermates on them. Give the items to him at night so that he is comforted by the smell.
   Place a hot water bottle and a ticking clock under his bedding. Litters sleep piled together next to mom, so this will replicate their warmth and heartbeats.
   Sleep nearby so that he knows he’s not alone.
   Have a nightlight nearby.

Crate
The crate will be your’s and your pup’s best friend during the housetraining stage. Many people are adverse to getting a crate for their pup because it feels like they are putting him in a cage. On the contrary, dogs like confined spaces and feel secure when they have a place that is enclosed to retreat to. If you’ve spent any time around dogs, you’ll notice that they like to find tight spots to relax in and you will often find dogs napping under stairs, porches, furniture and tables. The crate simulates the wolf den in the wild. You’ll find that once your pup becomes used to the crate, he will retreat to it when he wants to nap, have some alone time, is scared or doesn’t feel well. This is his own personal space.

Purchase a crate that will be large enough to fit him at his adult size and that comes with a divider. This prevents you from having to spend extra money on several different sizes of crates. Puppies grow very quickly, so he will not be spending much time in a smaller sized crate. Pick one that has an easy to clean tray liner and is durable enough to last puppy’s lifetime. At his largest, you want him to have enough room to be able to turn around and stretch out. Use the divider to make the crate area that he has access to smaller, again, ensuring that he has just enough room to turn around and stretch out. During the housetraining period, you do not want to make the space in his crate large enough for him to eliminate in, then still have a spot to sleep. Dogs, by nature, will not eliminate where they sleep if they can at all help it. As puppy grows, move the divider to accommodate his increase in size so that his space remains comfortable for him. Buying a crate with a divider also means that puppy does not have to get used to a brand new crate, reducing anxiety and stress from a change in his environment.

You don’t have to purchase expensive crate liners for your pup. Old blankets, towels and comforters will do the trick to provide comfortable bedding. In fact, until puppy learns not to chew his bedding, it’s probably better that you don’t purchase an expensive liner or else you’ll find that you’ll have to replace it when he uses it as a giant chew toy.

Place the crate in an area of the house where puppy can have a comfortable corner, but still be part of the main activity of the house. He will more likely be quiet in his crate if he can still see you and the things that are going on around the house. To increase the coziness of the crate, drape towels or dark sheets across the back of the crate and then another one draped over the top and hanging down the sides. This blocks out light and will help to make your pup feel more secure in the crate. During the day, lift up the side of the sheet that is exposed outwards, so that he has full view of what is going on while there is daytime activity. At night, when it’s time for bed, pull the sheet back down over the crate. This signals to your pup that it’s time for sleep and he should lie quietly in his crate.

Once puppy is housebroken, if you can afford the space to keep the crate around, do so. It will be like his own room where he can go when he needs a few moments peace or when he's not feeling well. You may even find that he sleeps better in the crate than outside of it.

For more tips on using the crate see: Crate Training section in Training.