Taking Care of a puppy:
Your 1st Night Together

Taking care of a puppy is a lifetime commitment that starts with your first night together. Remember, the first night with your new puppy is exciting for you but may be scary and overwhelming for a dog who has either been taken from his mother and siblings or who has had a less than perfect beginning in a shelter.



Bringing home a new puppy is exciting but it’s important to be calm and make your puppy feel as safe and comfortable as possible.

Tips for the first night with your puppy:

• Show him his potty area as soon as you get him home.

• Show him his bed. It’s a good idea to start him out in a crate. Once he’s potty trained you can let him sleep in your bed if that’s your preference.

• If you can’t keep the crate in your room, make him feel secure by leaving a familiar item with him like a shirt or a blanket. You can leave a nightlight on or some low music to sooth him.

• Play with the puppy before bed to get him nice and tired.

• Don’t give any food or drink close to bed time to reduce your puppy’s need to go to the bathroom.

• Make sure he eliminates just before bedtime.
  

• Don’t coddle him when he cries (and he will). You may have 1 or 2 sleepless nights but it will be well worth it in the long run to have a well behaved dog. If you give in to your dog on Day One, you are sending a powerful message that HE is in charge; NOT YOU.

• Don’t overwhelm your new puppy by introducing too many people or things on the very first night. Understandably, you want to show off your new dog, but do it slowly.

Enjoy this time – they grow up REALLY fast and don’t forget to pick out the perfect name for your new puppy.

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