As I said before, I am ALMOST ready to send in my puppy application! I am getting a little nervous, and I'm afraid that the puppy will do something that I'm not ready for. Any tips or suggestions about what to do when you first get your puppy? And what to watch for? All answers GREATLY appreciated.
Here are some things I always try to remember when I am getting a new puppy:
ReplyDelete1. Take a little while in the beginning to get used to your puppy. Don't worry about teaching her everything right away- a year is actually plenty of time to get everything done. Potty training will take up a lot of your time any ways
2. Always have peptobismol tablets and/or baby rice cereal (For one reason or another most of the puppies get diarrhea when they are young and not being prepared for it can be... well, messy)
3. Listen to your leader! They know a thing or two about raising puppies.
4. Baby gates or a wire play pen make life SO much easier.
5. Have fun! Exposing your puppy to new sites sounds and smells is always exciting! I think at times I am a little obsessive- I have litterally planned vacations based entirely on what the dog needs practice with! We will be taking Carrie to San Francisco sometime over winter break to expose her to more traffic and birds
I think Carrie gave you lots of good ideas! I would say sometimes we plan so hard and so much that we miss just enjoying them when they are little. So, just give yourself some room to just simply enjoy them. As well, as giving yourself the space to make a mistake or two. No one is perfect and no puppy will ever be perfect, and although we always strive to be that way and raise the perfect puppy... it's impossible to expect perfection out of them or us. And things will always happen.
ReplyDeleteHaddie is our first puppy - and she's been with us for 2 full months.
ReplyDelete*They grow fast - take LOTS of pictures.
*Enjoy cuddling your puppy, they won't be spoiled because they grow too fast.
*Treats, treats, and more treats.
*You won't be perfect, and neither will the puppy, you will be a Team that will learn from one another.
*You are the leader, no matter how cute your puppy is!
*Enjoy, Laugh, Relax, and have FUN!
THANK YOU GUYS!!!!!!!! :) I promise, and you can hold me to this, I WILL take LOTS of pictures.
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