Fun & Frustrations: Some Tips on What to Expect When Bringing Home a New Puppy

Adding a puppy to your house or family can be an exciting time. They're cute, fluffy, playful, and endless entertainment. But they're also a new responsibility, a new threat to existing pets, and a new fixture of your home. The following tips are a few general guidelines and suggestions to consider when bringing home your new fur baby. As always, if you have any specific concerns with your new puppy, contact your vet as soon as possible.

General Tips
You want to consider all of these BEFORE you bring your new puppy home. Taking care of these four things before the little guy or gal is running around the house will make their welcome much more enjoyable.

• Schedule an appointment with your vet as soon as you know when you'll be getting them. You'll never get to know your real puppy if they're not acting themselves. But you just got them, so how will you know? A sick puppy will have difficulty being trained and adjusting to new environments. A vet can make sure your new puppy is healthy, growing, and developing as it should.

• Remember, puppies are babies. Just like human babies, they require lots of attention, lots of food, and lots of rest. Make sure your home and family are ready for this addition, and is an environment that can support your new family member.

• Make a crate training plan. Crate training can be a positive experience, for you and the puppy. Dogs instinctively enjoy having a safe place where they can sleep and rest. Make sure their crate is in a place and set up where the dog can treat it as their den. You want to have it somewhere near people, so they can hear and possibly see you as you go about your day, but you also want it in a spot where they won't be overstimulated. Make sure you ignore their whining and crying, and only approach them or let them out of the crate once they've settled down, positively reinforcing their behavior.

• Don't forget about your other pets, too. Make sure you take their adjustment into consideration as well. Maybe try a meet-and-greet before you bring your puppy into the house. And continue to pay attention to their needs after your new addition has settled in. Crate training may give you this opportunity to give your new pup alone time, and have the ability to give your other pets the attention they're used to.

Introducing Puppies to Homes with Other Dogs

Adding a puppy to any home... but adding a puppy to a home with other dogs can bring added difficulties. Consider these tips as you introduce your established dogs to their new roommate.

• Location, location, location. Where you choose to introduce your puppy to any other animal matters greatly to how they're going to react. Other young dogs may not have had time to firmly establish their territory so they may be okay meeting the new puppy inside, but in a large, neutral area (nowhere near their established sleeping area). Older dogs have had a chance to settle in and can consider your entire home their territory. Try introducing older dogs away from home, in a neutral location. For multiple dogs, young and old, introduce each one to the new puppy individually. You'll be able to control them better, and the new puppy won't feel like they're getting ganged up on.

• Give them the best chance to get along. Shared spaces should be clear of any personal toys or favorite blankets. Dogs possessive and jealous nature can take over and this may spark a fight. Though often easier said than done, feed and give treats to each dog separately. Also supervise every interaction the dogs may have. Until you're sure, you shouldn't just let the dogs out to play in the backyard unsupervised. You'll want to watch the puppy for fatigue, too. A tired puppy can get upset if it doesn't have the chance to rest. Just like a human baby, they need naps too.

Introducing Puppies to Homes with Cats

Much like introducing a puppy to a home with other dogs, getting your cat and new pup to meet can present a different set of challenges.

• Controlled contact. Make sure your puppy is leashed or crated when your cat is first introduced to them. You'll be able to stop any quick advances or lunges that may scare the cat off. The more at ease the cat can feel, the more it'll stick around and get comfortable with the dog. This could take several weeks, but so long as the cat is continuing to eat, drink, and otherwise remain healthy, don't be too concerned if it takes a while for the cat to completely warm up to the new dog. Be sure to trim the cat's nails, especially if its taking more time for them to warm up to each other.

• Provide an escape route. Create a safe haven for your cat if it decides it needs to escape. Shelves, stairs, or a gated off area can provide a place for a cat to feel secure, yet able to observe the new dog. Make sure the route to the food, water, and litter box (if applicable) are not blocked or potentially guarded by the dog.

• Perfect training opportunity. Use the time you're commanding and training your new puppy as a good opportunity to have the cat around. The puppy should be calm and listening to your commands anyway, so it might be the best chance for a cat to further examine their new roommate.

• Follow through with continuous training. A dog is never done training. Continuous and universal training help reinforce the commands you've given them. Include time with the cat in this continuous training. Don't stop doing something because you're sure they're trained, always follow through with training you've established from the start.

Preventing Future Puppy Problems

Starting off and establishing good training in a new puppy will go strides in preventing future issues with your new dog. Consult your vet before adopting a new puppy, they know your animals almost as well as you do, and an outside observer might be able to offer some advice that will make your transition smoother. Preadoption counseling might also be available through vet clinics and shelters. Make sure you supervise your new puppy with every interaction they have with a housemate. The two may be fine when you're watching, but one might be bullying the other when your back is turned. All pets should have a safe space to escape to, if need be. Make sure crates are available for dogs and puppies, and high shelving perks, or a gated off space at least, for cats. With positive reinforcement and realistic goals, you'll have an easier time introducing a new puppy to your family.

Credit: Information from Dr. Laurie Bergman, "Advice for Clients with New Puppies" featured in Applied Behavior, NAVC Clinicians Brief, March 2011.