Getting home a new puppy is incredibly exciting, Duh! It’s an enormous step and a huge commitment. The first 48 hours with a new puppy can help set the tone for your time together in the future. However, a LOT of people have incorrect expectations and are generally not prepared for the amount of work the new puppy will need. I have listed out a few things that are going to help you set your expectations right and will guide you into making life easier for both of you.
THINGS YOU NEED WHILE PICKING UP YOUR NEW PUPPY
The appropriate age to bring a puppy home is 8-10 weeks. It’s crucial for the puppy to spend the 1st 8-10 weeks with their mother and littermates so that they’re weaned off and done with early socialization. While there are a plethora of things you’re going to need for your new puppy, you’ll need the following supplies primarily to ensure a smooth ride home –
- A travel-safe dog carrier
- Warm blankets and towels
- Bags to carry the stuff that the breeder/ shelter will give you
- Poop bags
- Paper towels
- Standard (preferably simple and soft) Leash and collar (If it’s an older dog)
- Portable water bowl/ bottle
- Seat belt tether
The above-listed items are some of the most essential items that must be kept ready for your puppy’s arrival. And then, there are some things that may not be counted as essentials, but would make your puppy incredibly happy; toys being one of them.
Raising a puppy can be expensive as it is. Managing vet bills, food, and other necessities for your new pup is expected to create a visible dent in your wallet. In this scenario, what if I were to tell you that you could save a ton of money on dog toys and treats?
Bark Box, a subscription service that delivers a box of dog toys, treats, and chews to your doorstep each month, is a great option that would guarantee ample toys for your pup, customized to his taste, each month.
They include a variety of toys in each box, such as plush toys, rubber toys, interactive toys, and more. This variety helps in keeping your dog’s interest by offering different textures, shapes, and play experiences. Bark Box also allows you to customize your subscription based on your dog’s size, preferences, and any dietary restrictions for treats. This ensures that the toys provided are suitable for your specific furry friend.
FURTHER READS: NEW PUPPY SHOPPING CHECKLIST
If you’re picking up your dog from a breeder or another home, ask for the pup’s favorite toy, blanket, or anything that the dog has been in regular contact with. A familiar scent in a new environment, around new people, can be very comforting for a dog.
YOUR CAR RIDE HOME
Steps to decrease stress during the first 48 hours with your new puppy starts with the car ride home. It’s tempting to hold your tiny puppy in your arms, on your lap, wrapped up in the blanket, but the safest option would be the crate.
Make the crate as comfortable and cozy as possible by layering up with blankets and towels. Secure the crate with the seatbelt tether for further safety. If possible, let someone accompany you to pick your pup up. The process of picking up a new puppy can be exhausting because of the sheer number of things to be ensured and done. Having someone with you can help ease this process.
Stop for Breaks
If it’s going to be a long ride home, consider stopping for quick potty breaks. This will also help avoid car sickness in your puppy. Supplies like paper towels and poop bags would come in really handy in case of puppy accidents in the car.
Avoid feeding your puppy anything on the car ride. Provide water if necessary.
Avoid visiting places like pet stores or friends’ houses on your way home. Your puppy is already overwhelmed while leaving his previous base. New people, places and experiences will only make it worse. Take your puppy straight home.
TIPS TO SURVIVE THE FIRST 48 HOURS WITH A NEW PUPPY
1. Crate training from Day 1
Stepping into a new environment with no familiar faces can be intimidating for anyone, let alone a tiny puppy. In such situations, a puppy must have a safe space to call his own. Instead of putting a fluffy bed or a crate mat inside, consider adding some of your unwashed clothes, bedsheets, towels etc to get the puppy accustomed to your scent. Give your puppy multiple short durations in the crate throughout the day. Let it be a sanctuary for rest and settling down.
FURTHER READS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO CRATE TRAIN YOUR PUPPY
2. Keep your new puppy’s world small in the first 48 hours
It’s important for a new puppy to explore and interact with his new surroundings. However, it’s not necessary to give access to the whole house all at once in the first 48 hours. It can confuse your new puppy, increase the likelihood of potty accidents and possibly overstimulate your pup on Day 1.
Give your new puppy access to only one room, preferably the one that has access to the door/ potty area. This will make it easier for your dog to track his potty space from anywhere in the room and will avoid accidents.
FURTHER READS: HOW TO CALM YOUR PUPPY DOWN?
3. Have a designated area for potty
Potty training is the first thing you should be covering in the first 48 hours with a new puppy. If you don’t provide your puppy with a designated potty spot and take him there repeatedly, he’s going to find his own spots around the house and keep having accidents there.
Puppies, despite the high energy, love a predictable routine. This is especially true while potty training. Furthermore, the more frequently he pees in a certain area, the stronger his scent gets in that spot. This is one of the most important aspects of potty training.
4. Track his potty times
It’s imperative to take your puppy to his designated potty spots multiple times a day and positively reinforce peeing in the right spot. However, you would make things much easier on yourself and your puppy if you start tracking his pee and potty times.
It’s not rocket science; your puppy relieving himself is a consequence of multiple things that happen throughout the day. Eg- A puppy always pees first thing in the morning, as soon as he wakes up. Other times would include after meals, during play time, after short naps and after drinking water.
If you’re observant, you will also be able to recognize signs like circling, sniffing and wandering off, etc.
FURTHER READS: EFFECTIVE TIPS TO QUICKLY POTTY TRAIN YOUR DOG
5. Provide chewing and licking outlets
If you’re planning on getting a puppy, you must know that your puppy’s teething phase is going to last a while. Sinking his teeth into something is going to be your puppy’s NEED. Provide ample outlets and a plethora of different surfaces to keep your pup’s jaw engaged. Coconut husk, branch of a tree, old shoes, plastic bottles are just a few examples of chew toys you can DIY at home.
Licking is a self-soothing mechanism for a dog when he is bored, anxious or lonely. Providing a licki mat with some peanut butter/ paste on it can really ease an anxious puppy on his first night.
MAKING SURE YOUR PUP GETS THE ABSOLUTE BEST!
With a new puppy, comes new paranoia! When it comes to puppy food, pet parents don’t like to mess around! While on some nights, we may have no qualms in having the oiliest of junk food for dinner, as pet parents, we would never want our puppies go to bed with anything less than a gourmet of wholesome, nutritious food.
Unfortunately, sourcing such nutrient-rich food for dogs may be a challenge for many! Ollie Pet Food, works with veterinary nutritionists who help them formulate balanced and complete, human-grade recipes, abiding by the AAFCO standards.
Once you’ve completed their quiz, they serve you meal recommendations based on your pup’s age, weight, breed, activity, and any allergies. And since you know your pet the best, you can customize any part of your plan, at any time.\
FURTHER READS: LOW TO NO COST BRAIN GAMES FOR DOGS
6. Don’t crowd the puppy
Getting a puppy is an incredibly exciting time, I totally get it. You’re so excited that you want all of your friends and family to meet the pup and fall in love with him. But, hold your horses! Crowding your puppy in the first 24-48 hours can be really intimidating for him.
He barely even knows you, how is he supposed to feel comfortable with so many new faces and scents around him?
When you get a new puppy home, it’s imperative that your give him ample time, especially in the first 48 hours, to get used to your scent and everything else about you. By doing so, you’re establishing yourself as a safe haven for your pup. You, then, become the familiar one who he can turn to in case of slightest discomfort or anxiousness.
SOME FAQs
WHAT SHOULD I DO THE FIRST NIGHT WITH A NEW PUPPY?
Between 7-9 weeks of age, a puppy might need midnight potty breaks. At 10 wks, he should be able to hold his bladder through the night. It’s natural to want to coddle the puppy on his first night away from his mother and littermates. However, make sure to let him sleep in his crate for at least a few hours, if not the whole night. This will be your first step towards building a positive association with the crate, setting it up as a more positive and safe space and making him a little more independent.
FURTHER READS: FIRST NIGHT WITH A NEW PUPPY
To make the crate experience even cozier and warm, line the base up with some blankets and towels of your own to get the pup accustomed to your scent. Snuggle buddies, especially the ones with heartbeats can help make the pup feel at home.
IS THE FIRST NIGHT WITH A NEW PUPPY THE WORST?
Getting a new puppy home can be an overwhelming experience for the puppy and the pet parents. Be prepared for a little bit of heartbreak as your puppy might whine quite a bit on his first night away from his mother and littermates. A good night’s sleep will be a distant dream for the first couple of nights, at least till the puppy feels a little bit at home in his new environment.
On his first night, keep your puppy’s world small by limiting his access to only one room of the house. Keep it so till he reliably starts peeing and pooping in the right spot. This will not only help speed up the potty training process, but will also avoid overstimulation due to over-exposure on the first night.
WHAT IF MY PUPPY CRIES AT NIGHT?
Be prepared to embrace utter exhaustion in the first 48 hours with your new puppy. Relocation is a big transition and it’s normal to have some issues on the first few nights.
Your puppy could cry on his first night due to multiple reasons. Little puppies have tiny bladders. One of the reasons could be that he needs to relieve himself. Other possible reasons could be a sudden change in routine, need for reassurance, need for physical comfort, looking for mother/ littermates. It’s okay to comfort your new puppy in the first 48 hours multiple times at night. But don’t make it a habit as puppies are quick to catch on to what gets them attention. It’s imperative that your dog learns to settle down on their own in the crate at night.
Exercising the puppy just before bedtime, taking him out for a quick potty break just before you put him to bed for the night, 15-20 minutes of mental stimulation and/or chewing before bed can help tire your dog out and ensure a good night’s sleep.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR A PUPPY TO GET USED TO A NEW HOME?
This question is highly subjective and depends on the puppy and the pet parents. It generally takes between 2-3 weeks for the puppy to start feeling at home and start showing their true nature. Typically, the younger the dog, the lesser time it takes. Once you get your dog home, don’t waste a single day in getting your new puppy integrated into his schedule.
Dogs respond to a disciplined schedule better than anyone else. Keep their meal time, playtime, walk time and crate time fixed every day. Nothing makes a dog feel more at home than a predictable routine.
Generally, a new puppy would get adjusted to their new home and people in a span of a couple of weeks. But an older or a rescued dog may take much longer as they’re usually set in their own ways and have a plethora of learned behaviors and emotional responses.
FURTHER READS : HOW TO WELCOME AND TRAIN A RESCUE DOG THE RIGHT WAY
The first 48 hours with a new puppy can be daunting for the puppy and pet parents alike. It’s okay to make a few mistakes as long as we’re learning from them and striving to make life better for our little monsters.