Bringing home your first puppy is an exciting and joyful experience!
At Sappy Paws, we pride ourselves on giving each puppy the best possible start, from early sleep training to beginning their potty training journey. Now, it’s time to continue that great foundation in your home.
Here are some helpful tips to make the transition as smooth as possible for both you and your new furry family member.
Welcoming Your First Puppy: Tips for a Smooth Transition Home
1. Establish a Routine Puppies thrive on consistency, so setting a routine for feeding, potty breaks, and bedtime will help them adjust more quickly. Try to keep mealtimes, walks, and bedtime at the same time each day to create a sense of security for your pup.
2. Continue Sleep Training At Sappy Paws, we introduce our puppies to kennel bed sleep training early on, so they’re already familiar with a structured bedtime. When transitioning to your home, keep their sleeping space quiet and cozy. A crate can provide a safe, den-like environment, which many puppies find comforting. Placing a warm blanket and a soft toy in their crate can help ease the transition. We send all our ups home with a blanket that smells like their litter mates which helps them feel more comfortable!
3. Reinforce Potty Training Since our puppies start potty training before they leave for their new homes, they already have a head start! Continue taking your puppy outside frequently—especially after eating, playing, and waking up. Using positive reinforcement, like treats and praise, will help them learn faster. If you’re using a potty bell, encourage your puppy by showing them to ring it before heading outside.
4. Socialization is Key The early weeks are crucial for socialization. Exposing your puppy to different people, sounds, car rides and experiences in a positive way will help them grow into a well-adjusted adult dog. Puppy classes, short outings, and gentle introductions to new environments are great ways to continue this process. Keep in mind they need to be fully vaccinated before walking in public areas; please talk to your veterinarian about safe environments.
5. Provide Plenty of Mental and Physical Stimulation Puppies are full of energy and curiosity! Keep them engaged with age-appropriate toys, puzzles, and interactive playtime. Training sessions using simple commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “come” will help build their confidence and strengthen your bond.
6. Be Patient and Loving Adjusting to a new home takes time. Expect a few accidents and some moments of frustration, but remember—patience and positive reinforcement go a long way. If your pup has an accident, calmly show them the mess and then take them outside immediately to show them the right area. Puppies also teeth! Have lots of chew toys available so they have options other than your shoes :)
Your puppy wants to please you and will learn faster when encouraged with love and consistency!
At Sappy Paws, we’ve given your puppy a great start, and now it’s your turn to continue providing love, guidance, and care. Enjoy this special time as you build an unbreakable bond with your new best friend!
Have questions or need support? We’re always here to help! Reach out anytime—we love seeing updates from our Sappy Paws families!!
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