new puppy Archives - Biscuits & Bath

A mouthy puppy is completely normal. Puppies perceiving everything as a chew toy is a natural part of their development. It is their way of learning the world, similar to babies discovering objects by touching. You will see this behavior especially during playtime, which can include nibbling on hands, feet and clothing. Save your hands, shoes, furniture and clothing from unwanted puncture marks from the dreaded puppy mouthiness.

Tips to combat your puppy’s piranha teeth

Not every pup learns the same way but here are a few ways you can help them understand that your hands aren’t toys.

Make a high pitch ‘Ouch’. This would be similar to their littermates yelping from rough play. You can praise, if they move away or start licking you.
Make your hands boring by stop interacting with your pup and move away. Once they have calmed down a little, bring out a toy, such as a rope tug, to encourage rough play with the toy instead of your hands.

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Having trouble leaving your dog alone? Check out this post on tips to curb Separation Anxiety

Puppy mouthiness have you at your wits end? Meet with one of our trainers to guide you through this stage and beyond.

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.

Your puppy is home, has their own space, and is comfortable – what next? Check out this week-by-week guide to check in your and your puppy’s progress!

Hi there!

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You’re about to em”bark” (see what we did there?) on an amazing journey with the newest member of your family: your puppy! Taking care of pups in these formative months can seem like a huge undertaking. After all, puppies require the same ( if not more) attention and care as the average human newborn!

Puppies are delightfully playful, adorably mischievous, and wonderfully affectionate. Bonding and training at this time is what lays the groundwork for your incredible relationship, so It’s important to seek guidance and do your research to ensure a happy, healthy puppy that grows into a strong, behaved, and loving “man’s best friend”.

And that’s the motivation behind our new blog series, Puppy 101. We’re giving you a free guide to your first months as a proud puppy owner. Development in the first 8-16 weeks of a puppy’s life is critical. We’re here to make rearing easy with guidelines for training, hygiene, playtime, and more!

Don’t get overwhelmed by the wonderful process that is puppy rearing. The experience is incredibly rewarding, and something you-and your puppy-will never forget! So stay tuned for all the info we’re about to throw at you- and feel free to email, call, or stop by one of our locations to ask any and all questions you may have!
Have any dog care and puppy-rearing questions? Ask us in the comments below!

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Week-by-week: A fun filled first year with your dog