The first few weeks after taking your puppy home are vital. It’s normal for them to get anxious about being in a new environment. So it is important to make them feel comfortable with you and your family. Negative experiences can have long-lasting effects on your puppy’s growth and development; you need to introduce your puppy to your home to show they are in a positive environment. Help your puppy settle into their new home and family with these tips from Blissful Paws.
Make Sure Your Home is Puppy-Proof
Before bringing your new puppy home, the house must be prepared to keep them safe. First, you will need to get them a new crate, food and water bowls, and collars to make them comfortable in your home. If you want to set boundaries in your home, use baby gates to section off places you don’t want your puppy getting into. Introduce them to rooms in your house one at a time; we’ve found that this keeps them from getting confused or overwhelmed. Keep any windows and doors closed so they don’t run outside unsupervised.
Keep Things Out of Reach
You’ll need to remove any dangerous items from your puppy’s reach. Anything at your puppy’s eye level that you don’t want to be chewed on or destroyed should be moved to a safe location. Take away any harmful medications, cleaning supplies, poisonous plants, and cords that your puppy could accidentally eat. You should also keep any food (pet food and human food) out of their reach so they don’t eat at undesignated times. Goldendoodles are more likely to nip and chew at things they shouldn’t, so keep a watchful eye on them.
Have a Consistent Routine
Establishing an eating, sleeping, and potty training schedule will help your puppy adjust to their new environment. Puppies need a consistent feeding schedule to ensure they are getting the proper amount of nutrients to grow. In our experience, having a routine and training schedule will help them feel secure and confident with you, making them grow into a well-behaved dog. Not being consistent with a routine can cause them to become confused or act out, as they need a structure to get them acclimated to their new home.
Start Training Early
Starting training early will help your puppy understand the house rules. You need to determine the rules early on and be consistent with enforcing them. This will help them understand boundaries and learn obedience. Training your puppy will let the two of you bond together, give them treats or praise for good behavior to let them gain trust in you. Over the years at Blissful Paws, we’ve found that Golden Retrievers are relatively easy to train, especially when you start early.
Be Patient
This time can be very stressful for puppies as they are away from their mothers for the first time. At Blissful Paws, we’ve seen puppies become anxious when they are away from their moms. Be patient and understanding with them to let them know that they can be comfortable with you, helping them be less stressed in their new home. Use positive reinforcement consistently to create a positive environment for them. We encourage owners to have patience and keep up with positive reinforcement, as it will help their puppy adapt to their new surroundings and family.
Make Gradual Introductions to Other People and Animals
Introduce your puppy to new people and animals over time. We recommend introducing one at a time quietly, as doing it all at once can overwhelm them. We’ve found that it’s easier to make them comfortable with the other people who live with you, but introducing them to guests can be harder. Wait to introduce guests to your puppy until they are more accustomed to your house, then only introduce a few visitors at once to keep them calm. Let them approach visitors themselves, and give them a chance to get comfortable with each person individually.
Introducing Your Puppy to Your Kids
Both Golden Retrievers and Goldendoodles are playful and gentle with kids, they are known to form strong bonds with families. When introducing your kids to their new puppy, have them sit still and let the puppy approach them so it’s not as frightened. While kids can get excited that they have a new puppy, you need to prepare them for their responsibilities and ensure they understand their role in the puppy’s safety, growth, and development. Puppies are not toys, kids need to stay calm with the puppy and not tease or be too rough with them. Always supervise your kids when they are playing with the puppy, and make sure to teach them to pet, play with, and pick up the puppy gently. Let your kids know to leave the puppy alone when they are eating or sleeping.
Introducing Your Puppy to Other Dogs
If you have other dogs at home, you’ll need to get them acclimated so they can live together peacefully. You should introduce your puppy to other pets in a controlled and sensitive way. We recommend that when you bring your puppy home, have a blanket with your other dog’s scent on it so they can get used to it. When your dogs meet, the adult dog will smell familiar to the puppy, making the introduction smoother. Introduce your dogs to each other slowly, to avoid aggression. Supervise them to ensure they are behaving properly, and if they’re not, separate them. Your dogs should all have separate spaces to eat and rest, so they don’t get territorial with their comfort spaces.
Introducing to Dogs Outside Your Home
Socializing your puppy when they’re young will help their behavioral development, shaping them to be a friendly dog. Golden Retrievers are known to be very social, so introducing them to other dogs will benefit them. We don’t recommend doing this right after you bring them home, but after a few weeks, you can introduce them to neighborhood dogs. Make sure all your puppies and dogs are vaccinated before introducing them to dogs outside of your house. Take them to the veterinarian early on to get them the treatments and shots they need.
Always Supervise
When introducing your puppy to your home, you should always carefully supervise them to keep them safe. Especially during the first few weeks, keep a close eye on your puppy while they’re figuring out their new home. You should supervise them when you’re showing them new areas of the house, when they’re meeting your kids, and when they’re sleeping. They also should not be left alone. Here at Blissful Paws, we’ve seen our puppies get separation anxiety when they are left alone for too long. Supervision will keep your puppies safe and protect your belongings, as they can get into stuff and ruin them if you are not watching them.
Find Puppies with Blissful Paws
The first few weeks with your new puppy are essential for creating a good environment for them to grow in. Introducing them to your home gradually will help them get comfortable with their new family. Looking for a new puppy? Check out Blissful Paws’ available Golden Retriever, Goldendoodle, and Mini Goldendoodle puppies that are ready to find their forever home. To learn more about caring for your new puppy, check out our puppy care page. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us!
