Day 1 with your New Puppy

I strongly recommend that for the first 3 or 4 days your puppy spends time with just your family so it learns where it lives now and who his safe people are so that when he is scared he knows where safety is. If you have an existing dog give the puppy some time to settle in with out it and then monitor them closely. Your dog may think this is a new toy and be too rough so keep an eye on them. 

Soak the dry food in hot water until it is a bit soft and chop in a few table spoons of canned food, like to crumble freeze dried nuggets onto the kibble. In a week or so after the puppy settles in you can add a bit of hemp or salmon oil. Feeding should be morning, noon, and evening as your puppy is hungry. Start out with about 1/2-3/4 of a cup of dry food and increase or decrease as needed. It has been eating out of big bowls with the family so will need to learn to eat on its own now. It will eat more now than as an adult so don’t under feed. If it leaves food you know you can serve a little less but if it cleans up the food you might want to try a little more. You can add new things to the diet once the puppy is settled in and doing well. Real food with a side of Kibble. Canned food, chicken, liver, beef, pork, veggies, fruits, healthy treats, freeze dried nuggests. 

Your puppy is pretty good on pee pads, and is getting the idea of going outside when given the chance.  You might want to leave a puppy pad near your door for awhile, be diligent and take it out every hour or so. Always after waking up and a short while after eating! The bladder control on a puppy develops slowly! be patient and consistent. They will catch onto pooping out doors sooner than peeing. You can put a pee pad in their ex pen as well. If your puppy is far from the door, carry them out to the spot as they can’t “hold it” until they get out the door.

Pick up puppies under the tummy and support the bum, hold close so they feel secure. Don’t lift by the front legs, little joints are slow to grow and be strong. Give this instruction to your family and friends. Your puppy bites! it bites toys, you, hard cookies because it is teething and busy. Wear shoes or slippers, socks and children long sleeves for the first while. When the baby teeth fall out in a couple of months biting stops. Give them something else to chew on besides you! Some butter on your hands will encourage licking rather than biting. Worth a try!

Stairs should be for when he is a little older, walks should be short and interesting. Meeting other dogs should be safe and if the other dog is older and bigger don’t let your puppy be its toy.

Your puppy’s name is music to his ears! Always say it in a positive tone and not as a correction. Imagine your name being called in a negative way, soon you wouldn’t like to hear it anymore. There is the old joke about the two dogs meeting on the street, the first on says,” Hi,my name is bad dog”, the second one says, “ Hi, my name is go lie down”. His name is never a command, it has no meaning. Say words the puppy will learn that require a response. Sit, Off, wait, stay, come, stop, quiet, these words have meaning for you and the puppy.

 Hey! is a great word to correct and get attention, not their name!

Don’t leave your puppy unattended for long! They are not used to being alone. They will be happiest sleeping by your bed in his crate, I prefer wire crates, for where ever you are during the day. Use your exercise pen attached to the crate, it’s so handy, you can leave food, water. lots of toys, and always the big cuddly toy.

Always go outside with your puppy, never leave it unattended., especially if your yard has no fenced secure area.

Don’t trust your existing dog with it unsupervised; it is no match for an older friend.

My favorite advice from Cesar, the dog whisperer:

When you bring a dog into your life, don’t just think of what you want from him. Think first of what you need to give this dog to make him happy under your roof.

Start by thinking of your dog as an animal, it will do things animals do, then as a dog, it will do things dogs do, then as a breed, you have an Australian multi-generation Labradoodle and it will want to be friends with most people but remember, dogs need and deserve personal space, then as a name, the best thing your puppy will hear. Fulfill your dog’s needs in that order. In my experience, once you have fulfilled these needs of your dog, he will automatically want to fulfill your needs in return. 

Your puppy can play rough. it may see you and your children as a litter mate and seem a little aggressive, they are very aggressive with each other. Re-direct your puppy, don’t allow it to dominate you or your children. Teach it how to play with you without getting rough.

Memorize and use the 50 tips and you will have success with your puppy. You are the person who chooses what your puppy can do, not the puppy

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Have a wonderful day with your new puppy! It will love you forever……. You are his world.

Thanks so much!