When you are considering a new puppy or have already made the decision to bring a new puppy into your home to be apart of your family you can find more than enough books, DVD videos, articles, and even hundreds of information on the world wide web. Despite what you will find, remember the tried and true basics of bringing home a new puppy that has been handed down from one dog owner to the next! You will find that these traditional basic do’s and don’t's will more than be enough without spending hours at the library or book store or on the internet!
Do not ever strike your puppy no matter how unpleasant he may act! He is a puppy after all, and has the mindset of a human baby! He is also a stranger in your home and is away from his mother and surroundings he was familiar with and siblings to be with. Striking at your puppy will only traumatize him and condition him to be backwards in manners, aggressive, and unfriendly. Do not use other objects either to spank your puppy! This does not do anything but make them more fearful and you are doing psychological harm to them! Puppies should NEVER be struck or spanked by your hand or object! No physical punishment should be used at all! You will also want to get a wire dog crates and a dog crate cover to keep your pet safe and secure.
Do not leave cherished and valuable items laying around. The old saying that “Puppies will eat anything”, is TRUE! Puppies can make quick chew work of socks lying around, cigarettes, I-Pods, Cellphones, knick knacks, and anything else laying within their grasp! Such as with cigarettes, many things your puppy can chew up can be dangerous to them, and can even cost them their life! So keep these things up out of puppy’s range! By keeping hampers for wayward socks and other garments and enclosed shoe racks or putting shoes in a closet or enclosed area away from puppy will save you there. Your I-Pods, Cellphones, cigarettes with ash trays, and breakables that are on the floor or a small table that is easily accessible for your new puppy needs to be placed in a higher shelving area or counter top away from your pup!
Don’t allow every visitor that comes by the house to handle your puppy. You should even restrict some family members from handling the new puppy, at least for the first week or two. If too many human hands pick him up then he may become a nervous dog that could have negative socialization issues. As an added concern too many hands handling your puppy can hamper early training. You may also need a dog coats if you live in an area where its colder.
Don’t pick your new puppy up by his forelegs. Children are the first to commit this crime as they are not as careful with small dogs as adults are. A puppy’s legs are still very delicate and can break or come out of place fairly easily if handled this way. The last thing you want to hear is your puppy shrieking in unbearable pain! The injury could be so severe that your puppy will not eat and will become listless which will require you to contact your vet immediately and possibly get them to the nearest vet office or animal hospital! Teaching your children the proper way to pick up the puppy will help prevent this from happening!
Don’t leave any holes uncovered inside of the house. Like cats, puppies are curiosity seekers and adventurers by nature, and would literally kill themselves if nobody was watching out for them.
Don’t leave any electrical wires where your new puppy can reach them. As mentioned above, puppies will chew and eat ANYTHING and EVERYTHING! There are literally hundreds of cases and stories of little puppies and dogs being electricuted by owners not having electrical wires left out.
These dont’s should not hamper your decision to bring home a new forever friend! A puppy is a wonderful and exciting addition to any loving home! Just like with our young children, we have to look out for a puppy’s well being and safety! So DO take these precautions and DO love your puppy and have fun! This is a great time for your family and the new puppy!
