Your puppy is home at last

Home at Last

- DAY

Somehow you made it home. You've been fretfully awaiting this very special moment. The excitement level is probably pretty high, so you now need to take a few deep breaths. Okay exhale.............. Too much anxiety can alarm or frighten your new arrival. Even though you want to rush in and give your newest member the full tour, hold your hounds.

Remember: Dogs don't see their environment with puppy eyes; they sniff it with their cute little noses. Exploring a complete home could take hours and would be overwhelming.

Pick one room ahead of time, clean it, decorate it with bowls and bedding, and take the new pup there initially. Share his curiosity as he explores the room and speak to him sweetly. If your puppy has an accident or grabs something inappropriate, don't correct him. He's too disoriented to retain anything so soon, and you'll just frighten him. So...... RELAX. This is just the beginning.

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Rub a frozen stick of butter on your palm and encourage your puppy to give "kisses". Say the word as he licks your hand. This makes his first associations of home friendly and positive. You're also conditioning him to come forward when you reach out to him, not back up or jump at your face. (You can repeat this trick with family and friends in the days to come).

You may be wondering what to do with the rest of your household. If you have some anticipating eyes waiting for you at home, the next few paragraphs may help.

Keep the Children Calm

Talk about excitement. This day may be on a future "fondest memories of my childhood" list. However, your mission is to keep the children calm. Too much squealing and loving in the first five minutes can be overwhelming for a puppy. Explain the situation to your children ahead of time and ask for their help in making the puppy feel comfy.

Set Limits. Make a rule that they can follow quietly and speak gently, but all rough and tumble, shouting, and fighting is banned. (This may be your last peaceful moment for a while, so make sure you enjoy it).

Have a Pow-Wow. Gather everyone together and create a large circle by spreading your legs so your feet touch. Place the pup in the center of the circle and let him approach each person on his own. Discourage all unfair attention-getting ploys.

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Don't over-stimulate your new puppy with hundreds of toys and too many people. If he is enthusiastic and wants to explore, go with him. If he wants to sit in a corner all day, just mill around the room and pet him as a reward when he ventures out. Don't pet him if he's cowering in a corner - you'll just reinforce that behavior. If you pay attention to a timid dog, you end up with a timid dog.

Forget your friends' advice

Your friends will be the hardest creatures to control. They all have ideas on the best way to raise a pup. Don't follow your friends' advice. What works for one person and his dog probably won't work for you, and if you follow everyone's suggestions, you may confuse your puppy, not to mention yourself. If you need guidance, seek out a professional, and remember we are always here to help.

Now for those guests: (your friends will want to come over to visit your new arrival) - once your puppy has calmed down, encourage guests to get on the floor or sit in a low chair. Bring your new puppy over and cradle him in a sitting position. If he's too excited, offer him a distraction chew toy to help him calm down. By ignoring him when he's excited and petting him when he's calm, you're getting a head start on encouraging good manners.

Make harmony with your other pets

Don't expect your resident pets to be wearing party hats when you pull into the driveway with the new arrival. They probably will not be so ready to share your enthusiasm for the new family member.

Other Dogs

Older dogs do not enjoy sharing their space with puppies. It is always advisable to make the first introductions on neutral ground before bringing them together in your home.

Be prepared for a lot of bluffing - showing of teeth, raised hackles and shoulder pawing, when the two meet for the first time. It can look pretty scary but does not usually escalate into a fight, so stay calm and do not interfere. (Don't interfere unless you see an unusually aggressive response, such as, glaring eyes, withdrawn lips, and a growl that starts in the throat or belly). Here are some other harmless behaviors you may see:

Some older dogs will growl or paw at the puppy, this is a good sign, he is showing puppy who's boss.

Sometimes new dogs shriek if the resident dog even comes near; again, do no interfere. If you comfort the puppy, it may alienate your resident dog and make the relationship between them get off to a very rocky start.

Keep the hierarchy harmonious, pay more attention to your resident dog, greeting and feeding him first. As long as he feels like he's still number one in your heart, he should cope just fine.

You may find it hard not to meddle and feel protective of your new puppy, remember, think like a dog. You are following dog pack rules now.

Cats

Umm......, cats have mixed feelings about new dogs. Some cats head for the highest object in the house and stare at you disdainfully. Some wait confidently for the curious pup to get close enough for a good, hard bat to the nose. In either case, keep your response low-key. Overreacting will unnerve both animals.

If your cat can't get to grips with this new arrival, keep them separated and bring them together slowly. If your cat runs under the bed, and the puppy starts to bark, do not reprimand the pup. Give him a few minutes, this is usually enough time for him to get bored and quit. If you reprimand him, he may start to dislike the cat, which would not be a good thing. A teaching lead is a good idea in the house, especially a house with cats. You can teach him not to chase the cat using this. Very important for a sight hound.

Warning: Sighthounds, for obvious reasons love to chase. Be cautious when your cat and puppy/adult dog are in the garden together. The thrill of the chase, and your wolfhounds natural instincts could result in an unpleasant accident.

Other animals

If you have caged animals, like birds, rabbits or guinea pigs, don't bring them out immediately. Let your pup get used to you first, and show him the cages when he's in a sleepy mood.

The first 24 hours

The first 24 hours with your new pup can be a little odd. After all the build up and excitement, reality suddenly hits. Some puppies jump right into the swing of things, others prefer a more reserved approach. Don't compare your new pup to others you have known, and don't worry if he seems too much of anything. Too shy, too cautious, too rambunctious. Because you, your home, your children and other pets are all very new to him. He's just trying to figure out what's going on.

If he wants to sleep, let him, wolfhound pups need plenty of rest. At meal times, put his food and water near his sleeping area and leave him alone for 15 minutes. Don't make a fuss if he won't eat, he will when he's ready. Not that puppies usually take much persuading.

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Remember to take his food away whilst he's devouring it, he needs to get used to this. You need to stop any possessive growling from this young age. Also do this with his favorite chew toys. Take them away occasionally when he's really enjoying them, then give them back.

Puppies need to go outside after a meal to eliminate.

Always ensure your puppy has plenty of clean water available. (When very young, you may want to reduce his intake before bedtime, but be mindful that if your puppy looks thirsty, he probably is).

Ideally, your puppy should sleep near you at night, by your bedside in a large open-topped box or crate that he can't climb out of. He may whine the first few nights, but he'll feel a lot safer beside your bed than alone in another room. If he whines, lay your hand in the box or on the crate to calm him.

Warning: I can really feel your temptation to bring your new puppy up onto the bed. Don't do it, at least not for now. When your puppy is fully grown, you can allow him on the bed with permission, but definitely not now..........

If you feel your bedroom is out of the question, the kitchen is the next best place. Turn off the lights, maybe play some classical music softly and be ready to walk him if he cries. Awww....... the joys of puppy parenthood.

You may need to get up 2-3 times in the night to go potty. If this happens, quietly take him to his spot and then back to his enclosure. Don't start playing games at 3.00 am unless you like that pattern.

What to expect in that first week

Having a puppy is a big change, and the first week is a whirlwind. Even though it's only human to envisage every piddle on the carpet as a lifelong habit, try not to feel overwhelmed. The most important thing is taking care of your puppy's needs to eat, play, piddle and poop. Just like a newborn child. Here are a few things you can do this week to help your puppy get off to a good start:

Help your puppy learn his name. Place some cheerios in a cup and shake it as you call out his name. (Avoid using his name if you are disappointed)
Direct your puppy to his bathroom spot using a word like outside each time you take him to his spot.
Put butter on your hands (don't over do the butter) and say "kisses" to encourage your puppy to kiss and not nip.
Try and bring your puppy home at the weekend so everyone who is normally in the household is around.
If you work, take a week off, so you can slowly accustom your pup to being left alone, a little at a time, gradually building up to a few hours.
Find a veterinarian - caught you. This you should have done long ago.

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