I Just Bought a New Puppy... Now What Do I Do???

A new puppy is fidgety, stubborn, unruly, nosy, noisy, chewing on everything, and yappy. However, inside every unmanageable puppy is a puppy waiting to hop into its adult dog suit and become a regular member of your family. When you first buy a puppy, name it! Chances are good that the first night your puppy is in its new home, both of you will get very little sleep. You can hardly blame your dog for having difficulty sleeping.

Dogs are creatures of habit and routine. He/she will miss its mother and litter mates and your puppy will feel uncomfortable in its new surroundings. He/she will feel this way until they form a bond with you, this will not take very long! Like a young child, your puppy has little control of their emotions, even though it might cry in the middle of the night. Scolding him/her will only make them fear you even more. If your puppy cries for you to come to them during the first few nights, your constant appearance will comfort him or her. It is very important for your puppy to have a safe place to sleep, free from drafts and harm.

Many people let their pups sleep in an exercise pen, and although this is a good choice, puppies settle down quicker in a crate. They are warmer and snug in there too. Once your pup is older, out of the teething stage, and completely housebroken, chances are that he will rarely use a crate except to travel. If you cannot bear to hear your puppy cry throughout the night, you might want to take the softhearted approach and place his crate next to your bed. There, he will know that you are near, and you can place your fingers into the crate and soothe him if he whines during the night.

Most puppies will quickly go to sleep; however, some determined pups might refuse to settle down. If you become very irritated with your pup, place the crate in a separate room in your home and leave the puppy there for the night with a small amount of food and a little water. Never hit your puppy for crying.

Here are a few puppy care tips that may help your puppy feel more comfortable during his first night. Let it sleep with a tee-shirt that you have worn during the day. This allows the puppy to adapt to your scent. Also, when you arrange to pick up your puppy, ask the breeder for a soft toy or cloth that was with the puppy's mother and litter mates, and place it in his sleeping quarters. The familiar smell can be comforting to the pup. You can also leave a dim night-light on so the pup can see his bowl if he becomes hungry or thirsty. Be sure not to leave too much food or water overnight, or the pup will probably awake because he has to potty. If your pup is having trouble sleeping soundly in his crate, place a sheet over the front door of the crate. Leave the side air holes uncovered. The pup will soon learn that when the door is covered, it is time to sleep for the night. If your puppy sleeps in the same area as another dog, he will settle down much quicker, taking his cue from his new friend.

Some people choose to allow their pups to sleep in bed with them. Remember, this will quickly become a habit that will be difficult to break later. If you allow you puppy to sleep in bed with you, make sure that this is something you want to continue when the pup is fully-grown. It is easier to train a young pup, than to re-train a grown adult dog.

I hope that this information helps, Danielle Settineri