The First 48: Welcoming your new dog

Whether you just got a puppy or you welcomed an older dog into your home, congratulations! But you may be wondering… now what?! And we’ve got the answer for you. This blog post is a general recommendation of things to do, not do, and keep in mind while you transition your new dog into your home.

The biggest mistake that most people make in welcoming a new dog into their home is giving that new puppy/dog too much freedom too soon. Limiting your dog’s freedom early on helps you avoid having to begin your relationship in conflicting circumstances. For example, when raising puppies I like to utilize exercise pens to limit the dog’s access to things I don’t want them to get into— shoes, pillows, wires, etc. By keeping your dog in a space that is specifically tailored to there needs (toys inside the pen) you can prevent so many destructive habits from starting and you can prevent conflict with the puppy early on.

For older dogs, exercise pens can still be used, but you can also keep the dog leashed in the house. Having a leash on the dog in the house helps you redirect and regain control when needed. You don’t always need to be holding the leash, but having it on allows for a safer, more effective transition to the rules of your home.

Another thing that we recommend you do when welcoming a new dog or puppy into the home is to hand feed those first meals! Give your dog a reason to find value in you. It’s so common to hear that a dog isn’t “food motivated” and more often than not, this just means that the dog knows that there’s food waiting for them if they turn down what’s in your hand. By starting your dog or puppy off on hand feeding, you’re not only building relationship and trust, but you’re also laying a foundation for the ability to use food in your training— that’s huge! So put the bowls away, break out the kibble, and start hand feeding your dog their meals. Have them follow you around the house as you feed them, work on obedience commands, teach them their name— get creative!

Bringing a new dog home is often very exciting! And a lot of times, our family and friends are dying to get to meet the new four legged friend. We’d recommend keeping things low key the first 48 hours. Try to limit/discourage guests from coming over to see the dog in those first 48 hours so they have time to acclimate to the stress of transitioning. You want your puppy to feel safe and secure when you start to welcome visitors, and giving them some grace to settle in can make a huge difference!

Similar to inside the house, if you have a fenced in backyard we still recommend you keep your dog leashed in the back yard for a bit. This allows you to keep them out of areas that you don’t want them to get into, prevents a run away situation should you have a nervous/flighty dog, and will allow you to establish the rules of the backyard — when I say it’s time to go inside, we go inside. Otherwise, prepare for your new dog to make the backyard their new freedom zone where they can blow you off without any repercussions!

Start crate training! Right away! Don’t wait until your dog starts destroying things when you leave them unattended to decide to introduce the crate. Make the crate a part of their life from day one. Feed meals or treats in the crate. Leave the door open and allow them to explore the crate. Make sure your dog knows that the crate is safe and that it’s a regular part of their life. Having a crate trained dog can be a life saver! Literally!! If you need help with crate training, set up a consult with us!

Create and commit to a routine. You don’t need to have things strictly scheduled, but have an idea of how you want your days to go based on your work schedule, and abide by your rules. Don’t let your dog or puppies emotions dictate your schedule! Be firm in your boundaries and create a healthy relationship with your dog.

And finally, enjoy them! Congratulations on your new friend. Owning a dog is such a rewarding experience and through training you’ll see exponential benefits! No one should have to raise their dog alone, so if things get tough or if you want to have someone to coach you through the process, we’d love to help you! Submit an inquiry through our website and one of our trainers will get in contact with you.