Puppies
The First 24 Hours
During the Day
The first day can be a little strange. After all the anticipation and
preparation, the little creature is finally in your home. Some puppies jump
right into the swing of things, others have a more reserved approach. Don't
compare him with other puppies you've known, and don't worry if he seems too
rambunctious, too cautious, or too anything! This is all very new, and he's
trying to figure out what's going on. If he wants to sleep, let him sleep;
put him in his crate with the door open. At mealtime, put his food in or
near his crate and leave him alone for 15 minutes. If he doesn't touch his
food, that's okay. It's probably just his nerves! After the meal, give him
some water, then walk him outside or to the papers.
Have an easy day. Don't overstimulate him with 300 toys and millions of
people running in and out. Give him some adjustment time. If he is
enthusiastic and wants to explore everything, go with him. If he wants to
sit in a corner all day, just mill around the room, pet him for venturing
out. Don't pet him if he's cowering in a corner - you'll reinforce that
behavior. If you pay attention to a timid puppy, you'll have a timid dog.
If your puppy has an accident or grabs something inappropriate, don't correct
him. He's too small and disorganized to retain anything, and you'll just
frighten him. Relax! You're doing fine. This is just the beginning.
During the Night
Ideally, the puppy should sleep near you at night, in a large box or
crate by your bedside. He may whine for the first few nights, but he'll
feel a lot safer here than if he's alone in another room. He will probably
need to get up one to three times during the night to eliminate. Quietly
take him to his spot and then back to his enclosure. Don't start playing
games at three o' clock in the morning.
If sleeping in your bedroom is out of the question, crate or enclose your
puppy in a small area like a bathroom or kitchen. Turn off the lights, leave
on some classical music, and be ready to come down and walk him if he cries.
Ahhh, the joys of puppy parenthood!
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