Well, the exciting moment is here! You are bringing home your new puppy. You are convinced that your current, faithful dog will love the puppy as much as you do. But there are several important things that you want to do before you bring the puppy home.
Your first order of business would be to go to the veterinarian for a vet visit. This is imperative so that the vet can check your puppy's stool sample, give any needed vaccinations, and listen to the heart to rule out any defects. Some veterinarians will automatically deworm your puppy, too.
There are several school of thought on how soon to allow your puppy to interact with other dogs, including your own older dog. This is something that you need to discuss with your vet so that you can follow their recommendations. Now that we have visited the vet and been given a clean bill of health, we can go home!
I recommend arranging the actual meeting of the puppy and your older dog to take place in a neutral area. If your older dog is a little protective over letting a curious puppy in your home, this will help create a more harmonious relationship. Introducing them in your home can create a situation where your new puppy is a little too curious or rambunctious for your older dog's taste.
Hopefully, before you pick up the puppy, you have already brought home a crate. This is where you want to feed your new puppy. All puppies should be crate-trained. When puppies live with their breeder, they often are used to sharing a bowl with their littermates. Given this habit, it is a better idea to feed your puppy in the crate, and she will then be more likely to go into her crate willingly. Feeding her in there teaches her to associate something positive, her food, with the crate. Now, some puppies do not like the idea of using a crate, but the advantages are numerous. One, it makes housetraining easier. Two, if your dog ever gets sick and has to stay at the vet's overnight, you are making the situation stress-free for your puppy because they will be used to sleeping in confined quarters.
Make certain that you have separate toys. You don't want the puppy taking your older dog's toys. That is another cause for a fight.
One thing that will help you keep tabs on your new puppy and stop her from harassing your older dog is to keep a short leash attached to her flat, buckle collar. This way, if she starts getting into mischief, you can stop her by using her leash.
Don't be alarmed if your older dog puts her in her place. They just need to work out their relationship. However, be cognizant of their interactions. If yyour older dog is too stern, be prepared to intervene on the puppy's behalf.
Once the puppy has begun to settle in, start looking for a training class. The best place to find a trainer near you is to consult the International Association of Canine Professionals. They can be found at http://www.dogpro.org/ or by calling 1-877-THE-IACP.
Your first order of business would be to go to the veterinarian for a vet visit. This is imperative so that the vet can check your puppy's stool sample, give any needed vaccinations, and listen to the heart to rule out any defects. Some veterinarians will automatically deworm your puppy, too.
There are several school of thought on how soon to allow your puppy to interact with other dogs, including your own older dog. This is something that you need to discuss with your vet so that you can follow their recommendations. Now that we have visited the vet and been given a clean bill of health, we can go home!
I recommend arranging the actual meeting of the puppy and your older dog to take place in a neutral area. If your older dog is a little protective over letting a curious puppy in your home, this will help create a more harmonious relationship. Introducing them in your home can create a situation where your new puppy is a little too curious or rambunctious for your older dog's taste.
Hopefully, before you pick up the puppy, you have already brought home a crate. This is where you want to feed your new puppy. All puppies should be crate-trained. When puppies live with their breeder, they often are used to sharing a bowl with their littermates. Given this habit, it is a better idea to feed your puppy in the crate, and she will then be more likely to go into her crate willingly. Feeding her in there teaches her to associate something positive, her food, with the crate. Now, some puppies do not like the idea of using a crate, but the advantages are numerous. One, it makes housetraining easier. Two, if your dog ever gets sick and has to stay at the vet's overnight, you are making the situation stress-free for your puppy because they will be used to sleeping in confined quarters.
Make certain that you have separate toys. You don't want the puppy taking your older dog's toys. That is another cause for a fight.
One thing that will help you keep tabs on your new puppy and stop her from harassing your older dog is to keep a short leash attached to her flat, buckle collar. This way, if she starts getting into mischief, you can stop her by using her leash.
Don't be alarmed if your older dog puts her in her place. They just need to work out their relationship. However, be cognizant of their interactions. If yyour older dog is too stern, be prepared to intervene on the puppy's behalf.
Once the puppy has begun to settle in, start looking for a training class. The best place to find a trainer near you is to consult the International Association of Canine Professionals. They can be found at http://www.dogpro.org/ or by calling 1-877-THE-IACP.
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