“I’ve been Doodled!” the homecoming…
- Posted on 19th September 2010
- in Featured
- by jvfairbanks
The Ride Home:
Depending on your delivery option (picking up from us or from the airlines) you should plan on bringing a few things with you to help transition your puppy. Each of our puppies comes with a plastic airline approved crate for transporting.
The day you get your puppy is always something special. Don’t forget your camera, your cell phone (so you can call me and tell me all is well) and be ready to be reduced from an adult state to a child state as you greet your new family member. Remember, this day is magic and there will come a time when “training begins” but this is the first day of bonding with your new adopted family member. Be kind and gentle, remember this is their first time away from the familiar and take your time.
Keep your ride home as gentle and relaxed as possible. Ask someone to drive you if possible. You may want to cover your car seats with old blankets and if possible allow your puppy to ride in your lap or next to you keeping your hand on them.
Try not to enforce any whining as this sets the stage for attention getting behavior. Some is to be expected and if the trip has been a long one, you may want to put the puppy on the floor at your feet to allow the car vibrations help lull them to sleep. Bring with you the following items:
- Bottled water is something we suggest to slowly get your puppy use to your water.
- Puppy wipes and old towels are used to clean up your puppy during transport. (it is also a good idea to bring a plastic bag to dispose of any thing “stinky”). The old towels can also be used as a blanket for your puppy if your like me and need mothering immediately after shipment.
- A collar and a leash for your puppy. Airlines do not allow a puppy to travel with a collar. A sliding adjustable nylon collar between 12-15 inches (they slide smaller) is good for our puppies.
- A cardboard box lid; lined with newspaper. This is where you can place the box lid in your trunk in the event the puppy has to “go”. Everyone who has pets shipped puts their puppies down to do their thing and not everyone is as careful as we are with parvo and other doggie critters. Doing this keeps your baby “clear and clean” until they can be fully vaccinated.
Puppy’s New Home:
When you first get home take your puppy to the area you have designated as the potty zone. If they do go praise them lavishly. Then allow the puppy to walk around a little and explore. Of course the will be a little disorientated so let them sniff and check things out keeping a close eye on them from a distance. Keep the introductions to your household quiet and unforced and let the relationship between your family slowly unfold. Now is not the time for discipline but for gentle assurance, distractions if starting to chew, and light play. For the first days it is important not to overwhelm your puppy with new visitors and allow the puppy to learn the new pack.
Children will all want to pick up the puppy and pay lots of attention to them. Allow them to learn now to let the puppy come to them and allow their relationship to blossom over time. Remind them it’s a whole new world for the puppy and you have a lifetime for their relationship to develop. Don’t allow the children to pick up and carry around the puppy. Do you research to assure the puppy and children get off to a great start.
If you have cats, keep the cat in one area and wait until the puppy has been tired out to first introduce them. Again, do you research and find out from your vet suggestions of making proper introductions.
Usually your puppy will not be interested in eating so hold off feeding the puppy until they are more settled. We will ship you a supply of what we feed our puppies so you can gradually over time switch over to the food you and your vet decide upon.
Shortly after eating and drinking expect your puppy will need to “go”. I usually suggest about 8 minutes and will give you specific times for your puppy right before leaving us. This is also suggested after vigorous play. They are very young and can not control their elimination. It is more a method of being trained yourself to time the event, and condition the puppy to the spot that is selected.
Remember, your puppy is still a baby and expect the puppy to need naps and sleep time.
