Bringing home a new puppy – or a fully grown dog! – is one of the most exciting days in your life. It’s a new friend, a playmate, and a loyal companion who can change your life in all sorts of wonderful ways. It can also be an overwhelming day – you need to settle your dog in its new home and make sure it’s comfortable and happy. This is the foundation that will define your whole relationship with your new dog, so it’s important to think carefully and get it right.
Scent
Scent is one of your dog’s most important senses and that means you can use it to help your new pet feel at home. Bring blankets or toys from its previous home with you when it comes home. This means it will have familiar comforting smells in those crucial early days while it adapts to your care.
Stay Calm
While getting a new dog is exciting, showing that excitement can be really overwhelming for a small puppy. Try to remain calm, and don’t shower it with all the affection you are feeling. Your new dog has been taken away from everything it’s familiar with, maybe even its family. You need to give it some time to adjust.
Walkies
While very new puppies need to have their vaccinations before they can be taken for a walk outdoors, a long walk with your new dog is a great early step for all sorts of reasons. It will help your dog to burn off some of its energy and rest easier in its new home. It will also help to get it used to the new sights and smells in the local area so it can start to feel normal and like home.
Keeping Healthy
Dogs are prey to numerous health conditions and many of them aren’t serious and can be relied on to clear up on their own. The important thing is being able to identify what symptoms are telling you something is wrong so you can take your dog to the vet when it really needs it.
One example is tummy trouble – lots of dogs will suffer upset stomachs occasionally, and you’ll have to clear up some vomit or diarrhea. But if you’re complaining ‘my dog has diarrhea’ on a regular basis then there might be a deeper issue affecting your dog, and whether it’s disease, diet or injury, it’s your responsibility to help out your new canine companion with some expert medical help.
