Tips for settling your new puppy or small dog breed.

It doesn't matter whether you are bringing home a new puppy, or a new rescued dog, remember that you are not best mates yet, you are virtually strangers.  Being in a new home can be daunting and even scary for your pet: a new environment with new people, new smells, new sounds, away from the familiarity of their old family, mother, brothers and sisters.

Before you bring your new puppy or dog home make sure you;

1. Dog-proof your home - Make sure your house and garden are safe and escape proof. Bear in mind objects that could be swallowed or chewed, exposed power cords, blind cords, poisonous plants etc.
2. Provide a safe secure environment for eating and sleeping - Even if you don’t believe in having dogs inside your house, it is not advisable to leave the dog outside alone on its first few nights, as they may fret, bark and try to escape from the yard to find company. Make sure the dog is secured somewhere, such as in a crate, laundry, or garage where it has a comfortable warm bed, water and toys.
3. Have toys to chew on - Especially for new puppies who chew everything when teething. A good suggestion would be a firm rubber toy of an appropriate size, or tug-of-war rope. Don’t overdo it – it is better to have just a couple of toys so your pup can become attached to them and enjoy them more.

When you first bring the dog home, it is always a good idea to take a few days off work, or at least have the weekend to help settle your new dog or puppy in. You need to provide plenty of attention and interaction. Don’t rush them, timid pets may try to hide initially, but when they start to feel more comfortable, you can begin to show them more affection, play gently with them and spend time together in the yard, playing games, and just hanging out with them whilst they explore their new home and yard. Grooming can be useful as a means of calming and getting your pet used to being handled.

Supervision. Don't spoil your pet by constantly cuddling or carrying them around, or allowing them to lie on your bed. They need interaction, but also need to learn that they are safe even when there is no physical contact, or when they are alone in a room or outside. Initially when not supervising your new pup or dog, keep them either inside, or confined to their safe secured environment where there is a comfortable warm bed, water and a chew toy. Slowly train your new pup or dog to be unsupervised in the back yard. Firstly do it while you are home and give it something to do to keep it there, such as a bone or stuffed Kong, watching it from inside your house. Over the next few days, gradually increase the time that the dog is left unsupervised in the yard. Always give it an activity to do, such as a treasure hunt for food treats, a raw bone, a stuffed Kong, or a treat ball.  

What to do the first few nights when the lights go out and all is quiet;

1. Play with your new puppy or dog just before bed to tire them out.
2. Make sure they have been fed and gone to the toilet.
3. Place in their bed either their favourite soft toy, a piece of dirty clothing or shirt you wore that day to provide a familiar smell, a ticking clock to remind them of their mothers heartbeat, a hot water bottle to keep them warm, or a radio turned on for noise, to help them settle and sleep.
4. Don't ever reward them by paying them attention, or going to them, if they bark, whimper, or cry before going to sleep, they are just seeking companionship. This should stop within 2-3 nights.
5. If you have a new puppy and it wakes up during the night whimpering, or crying, after it has been sleeping, you may need to take it to the toilet. New puppies have weaker bladders than older puppies and dogs and this should stop as they get older.

Children and other pets. Use caution when introducing a new arrival to children and existing pets. The first meeting should be initially at a distance and carefully supervised. Allow your new puppy or dog time to adjust to their new environment and surroundings.

When introducing the children to the new puppy or dog, have them sit down with a small treat on the palm of their open hand, and call the dog or puppy over. Teach the children how to pat and stroke the dog by patting it under the chin and throat, and not on the top of its head. Then take the focus off the dog by giving the children another activity. This way the dog can get to know the children at a pace it is comfortable with. It can be extremely dangerous for a child to hug your new dog or puppy, as dogs view this as a dominant/aggressive action and depending on the temperament of the dog, it may retaliate and bite the child, may feel threatened and try to escape, display submissive behaviours such as urination, or may start to actively avoid and dislike being around the child. Also teach the children that when the dog is sleeping, or just lying on its bed, that it is to be left alone, so that the dog learns to like children and not feel harassed, or threatened by them

When introducing the existing pets to the new puppy or dog both the new and existing pet should receive the same amount of attention. Allow the older pet to sniff around the newer pet and calmly reassure them remaining relaxed but cautious. When feeding or giving treats to new and existing pets, make sure the existing pet is given theirs first, or given in separate areas, to show the new pet that the existing pet is higher in the pack order and to avoid conflict.

For further tips and information on small dogs go to:

www.allforsmalldogbreeds.com