While the holidays can be quite busy, it can also bring more time at home 
with the entire family. This can be a reason why some people choose to bring a new puppy into their home. If this is you, you want to make sure you are setting up your puppy, and family, for success!
(as a reminder- a puppy should never be given as a present unless you are fully prepared)
Most puppies will come home around 8 weeks old. This may seem young, but your puppy is never too young to start learning. Make sure that you do not wait to start training your puppy. This can be basic cues (simple ones like sit, down and hand targeting aka touch), as well as potty training and leash training. Make sure to always use positive reinforcement to train your puppy. This is extremely important not just because it’s scientifically proven to work, but it also starts to create a positive relationship between you and your puppy. Great relationships are built on clear communication and trust, and the same goes for our dogs! If you feel a bit overwhelmed (and that is totally normal) always feel free to reach out to a trainer.
Setting boundaries at home early will definitely set your puppy up for success. Puppies should never have free roam of the house this young. It just invites a whole host of issues- practicing unwanted behaviors, getting into EVERYTHING, and potty accidents (to name a few). Make sure your puppy has a designated spot in the home for them. This can be things such as a crate or playpen. Have your puppy in their space when you can not keep tabs on them. It’ll help prevent those issues while also teaching your puppy how to spend time without you, which is extremely important to start at a young age. Teaching boundaries also goes for human family members too, especially children. Children under the age of 10 should never be left alone with a puppy. This doesn’t mean your young child can’t train and interact with your puppy, you just want to make sure you are watching everyone while doing so. Teach children how to interact with a puppy correctly, and what to do when overwhelmed (especially with teething puppies!). Agreeing on rules and boundaries with all family members is important too. Is your puppy going to be allowed on the couch? On the bed? What cues/words are you using for training? By getting all of the human family on the same page, you’ll be setting everyone (including your puppy) up for success.
Socialization early in your puppy’s life is extremely important too! The critical socialization period for a puppy is when they are 8-13 weeks old. This can seem tricky since young puppies are not fully vaccinated. Just because your puppy isn’t fully vaccinated yet, doesn’t mean you can’t socialize them. Enrolling in a puppy class can absolutely help, under the guide of a trainer in a controlled setting. When at home, you can have your puppy meet new people, listen to sounds they’ll hear throughout their life (such as the doorbell, knocking on the door), and looking out the window watching the world go by. Your puppy should also get out in the world to socialize. You can put your puppy in a carrier, wagon, puppy stroller or even carry them to take them for a “walk”. This is a way to keep them healthy and safe but still show them the world beyond their front door. You can take your puppy to a parking lot to watch the goings on. Either looking through the car windows, or sitting in the cargo area of a larger car with the back open lets your puppy safely take in everything. Be creative! You want to show your puppy as much of the world as you can during this important time, while being safe.
Bringing home a new puppy can be stressful but also exciting and fun! By making sure you are starting off on the right foot – and paw – and you’ll be on the road to success.
