Welcome Your Newcomer
Provided by Purina
Helping your new friend adapt to his new home will be easier if you plan ahead.
If you have all the puppy's basic needs in place you can focus on introducing him
to his new surroundings and begin his training.
Do your shopping in advance. If your choice is a puppy, you'll need a collar and
leash, a crate (a great aid in housebreaking), brush or hand mitt for grooming,
toys that will be safe for him, a bed, as well as non-tippable, easy-to-clean food
and water bowls.
If the puppy is to be housed outdoors, choose a well-insulated doghouse large enough
to accommodate the puppy at his full-grown size. It should be located on a high,
well-drained site protected from the wind. Choose a location that provides outdoor
shade during the summer.
You'll want the proper diet on hand to meet the special nutritional needs of your
rapidly growing newcomer. Please remember: puppies benefit from a food formulated
for their specific needs.
Select a veterinarian for your new puppy as soon as possible. Ask dog-owning friends
and neighbors for recommendations. Choosing a veterinarian who’s located nearby
is convenient and saves time if an emergency should occur.
The best time to bring your newcomer home is at the beginning of a weekend. If possible,
add a few vacation days. This gives you time to acquaint your puppy with his new
home and to begin housebreaking and other training.
Make arrangements with the person from whom you’re getting the puppy for the time
you will pick him up. Avoid bringing home a new pet during busy times such as birthdays
and holidays. Family members are generally too busy with the festivities to devote
adequate time to help a puppy become comfortable in his new home. Ask that the puppy
not be fed prior to pick-up time. This helps avoid the puppy becoming car sick on
his way home.
Once he’s arrived, remember that your puppy needs to adjust to strange new surroundings
and people. Children can become especially excited. Explain to them that their new
companion needs time out for naps. Show children how to pet the newcomer and the
proper way to pick him up.
A puppy should be closely supervised and taken outside to relieve himself after
eating, following naps and play periods.
As soon as possible after you adopt your puppy, take him to your veterinarian. At
this time, a schedule can be worked out for needed vaccinations to protect him from
a number of viral and infectious diseases. He should also be examined and treated,
if necessary, for external and internal parasites.
Bring any immunization information you may have received when you adopted him to
your veterinarian to begin a case history for future reference. It's a good idea
to keep your own medical record. You may need it for reference if your pet's veterinarian
is not available.
Choose a name for your newcomer and use only that name in calling the puppy. In
teaching a puppy his name, as in all training matters, 100 percent cooperation of
all family members is essential. When a puppy is sent mixed signals, he can become
confused and not respond to any of the contradictory signals.
Remember these key words and you'll enjoy your new friends for years to come: Gentleness.
Care. Patience. Consistency. Praise. Love.
