I Have a New Puppy-Now What?

Managing Your Puppy’s Needs

The first year with your dog is a year filled with exciting firsts, as well as challenging milestones. You are probably wondering what sort of changes you will have to make to your lifestyle with a new puppy, i.e., will they need to be drastic, how much attention and training does my dog need, and where do I begin? Don’t worry, we’ve got you!

a black puppy lying down with a blue ball in her mouth

Pre-Puppy planning, breeder, rescue expectations, and beyond Three Weeks Prior:

Discuss what your breeder or rescue is currently doing for the care of your puppy, set proper expectations.

Two Weeks Prior:

Schedule a session with a Trainer to create a schedule and start puppy-proofing your home. You should expect to go over
- How to create a “safe zone”
- Creating a dog’s schedule
- Creating a consistent language for the household
Set up a Zoom call with New York Veterinary Practice to discuss your dog’s Annual Wellness Plan.

Day of arrival – tips for success:

When transporting your dog, create a secure place in your car. This new environment is new to them and can be overwhelming.
Accidents may happen, it’s okay.
Do not let your dog run around your home at their own accord.
Do not give in to their whines or cute barks, this only stands to reinforce the bad behavior.

Entering Your Home:

Take your dog to their “safe zone,” setup during your puppy-proofing. Your dog should have access to go in and out of the crate. Put kibble or a treat in the crate so there is positive association with the area.
Based on the schedule established with the Trainer, put down food and water (do not leave these down for more than 30 minutes). This will help your dog feel more comfortable.
Introduce your dog to your family and household. Do not approach all at once as this can be overwhelming. Allow your dog to come to you.
Tour your dog around your home, avoid areas you do not want them to go.
Now is a good time to begin your brief period of solitary downtime in the playpen / crate
- Solitary downtime, or crating, should be no more than one hour per month of age
- Avoid exceeding nine to ten hours in a day (not including sleeping periods).
- This development is important for bladder control, preventing chewing / destructive behavior, and independence. A one hour period of aerobic exercises should follow these sessions.

Getting a New Puppy – How to prepare