After giving it much thought, and having reviewed many puppies, you have found the pet of your dreams and now want to bring it home. Good! But before you do, there are several points which you need to give thought to, if you want a seamless transition from his previous kennel. What are the preparations you will have to make? What do you need to do so that the dog understands the "rules" he will have to follow at his new habitat. Let us try taking you through the first few days with him.
Before you start out for the shelter or kennel from where you are picking him up, there's some stuff you should buy or get hold of. First and foremost would be an old bath towel. This will serve a dual purpose. You can arrange this in your car seat so that your new friend can sit comfortably on it and, in case of accidents, you can also use it to clean up the mess.
Secondly, you'll need a nylon slip collar. Measure the dog's neck and add three inches for the proper length so that it is long enough to go over the dog's head. These collars are quite safe and very easy to use. You will also need a leash made of either leather or nylon. These will principally help you control your dog and also keep him near you when you are taking him out to potty or walking him to your car. Finally, keep an ID tag attached to his collar right from the very beginning.
On the way home with your dog, place the bath towel on the seat next to you, but not on your lap. That way, he will know from the start that he is expected to sit next to you and not on your lap. If you think that he is beginning to feel lonely, just place your hand on him and that will make him feel as if he is with his siblings. There is no need to pat him as the effect sought to be created is that he is lying next to them and they would obviously not pat him.
If your ride home takes more than 2 hours, ensure that you have a dog bowl and a bottle of water with you and if the trip is an overnight one, you will need a second dish. Plan out the little dog's meals in advance. Find out what food he has been eating and purchase sufficient quantities of it to give him on the way.
Also, if the journey is long, stop your car every 2 hours, get out with your new dog at a rest stop or a park and walk around with him on the grass. You have the collar and leash so there is no worry about leading him around in the direction that you want. This will allow him to stretch his legs and to potty if he needs to. You could be saving a mess being made in the car.
When you are checking out whether he wants to potty, start establishing a routine right away. If you have named him, start using his name to call him and use a cue word which will mean " Its the time to potty". This cue word can be anything that you feel is appropriate and it will establish the potty routine. Just make sure that you don't use a word which will not mean something else later in your dog's training as that will confuse him.
Once you reach home, bring him out of the car on a leash and walk him around your yard. Let him do what he likes during this time. He can sniff. He can pee as many times as he likes as he will be basically marking out his territory at this stage. Just ensure he does not overstep the boundaries of your yard. If he is about to do so, jerk him back sharply about 6 to 8 inches and say "No" firmly.
After about 15 minutes of this, enter the house with him. But before doing so, say something with "House" in it in a very happy voice. This will establish that you want him to come into the house whenever you utter this cue word. You will have to go through this routine every couple of hours for the first 7 to 10 days. Remember, you mustn't let him out of the house by himself and always have the collar and leash on him when you bring him out.
On your first night at home together, show him where his sleeping spot is and see to it that this is established in his mind. Then take him out for one last walk before you go to bed. Encourage him to potty. Then set the alarm for 4 hours. When the alarm goes off, take your dog out for a walk and give him the cue word for pottying. Repeat this process after 4 more hours. He will soon realize that if he wants to do potty, he will have to do it when you take him out for the walk.
The most important thing that you must establish with your dog is a routine. This will help put your dog at ease as he will know what exactly is expected of him and when. And also, remember to be calm and patient with him if he doesn't get the routine right the first time. It's all new to him so establishing the routine will take a little time. If you shout and scream at him, it will only confuse him and compound your problems.
This should basically be how you spend the first few days with your new doggy. Keep in mind that the five most important things that are paramount are :
-- Take your dog to his potty place as soon as he gets up. -- See to it that he gets regular meals about 10 to 12 hours apart. After you feed him or give him a drink, take him to his potty place. -- Take him to his potty place after every session of play time or any form of exercise. -- Before he goes to bed, remember not to give him any water for 2 hours beforehand. -- Take him to his potty place just before he goes to bed.
If you follow these suggestions carefully, you should have a happy time of it with your pet.
Nancy Richards has been a dog lover for the past 12 years. She has owned and handled dogs of different ages and have helped many fellow owners in training their dog.
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