Your first day with your dog

Home introduction.

When you bring your dog home, everybody will be excited and your dog may get a little overwhelmed. Let’s take it one step at a time:

• First things first – take him out on his leash for a potty break. When he finishes, be sure to praise him and play with him for a few minutes.
• Introduce him to his new home on his leash, including his area.
• Take off his leash, give him a chew or a stuffed Kong, and leave him alone in his safe area for a few minutes.

If he howls, whines, or barks, wait until he has been quiet for at least ten seconds before speaking to or going to him (I know this may be hard for you).  Otherwise, he learns that whining or barking makes you appear and gets him out (then he is training you).

Start alone-time training now:

Get your dog used to short absences within the first few hours of his coming home. I know you will want to spend every minute with your dog when he first comes home, but it is better to prepare him for your normal daily routine right away. He needs to be relaxed, calm, and settled when he is alone—and this doesn’t come naturally to dogs, they are social animals.

How:

Leave your dog alone in his safe area while you leave the room/house. Vary the length of time you stay away from 30 seconds to 20 minutes and repeat throughout the day. If your dog seems comfortable, you can gradually increase the amount of time he is left alone.

Remember, it may take several days or weeks for your dog to make the transition to his new home.

Related articles:

Preparing for your new Puppy

House Training 101

4 keys to long term happiness with your dog

Preventing Aggression

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