It’s a moment of great happiness when you are welcoming a new puppy into your home. But, remember it’s not only a bundle of joy but also a load of responsibility that you have to take care of. The first few days, weeks and months is the crucial time for your pup’s development.

If you’re bringing your pup from a shelter home or a breeder take a towel or a blanket with the scent of its littermates for making him feel secure. When bringing a new pup home, take care that all your family members are ready to accept the little one.

These simple yet important things can help the transition of your pup into a healthy dog much easier.

A Crate for House Training

A crate for your puppy is safe abode, where he feels secure, comfortable and relaxed. Never use the crate for time out, rather make it a place for solitude and safety. This will also keep your home out of mess created by your puppy.

Note: Little puppies younger than 6 months of age should not be kept in crates more than two or three hours, except at nights.

Potty Training

It’s important that during starting months only you train your puppy about littering. It is important to spend more time with your puppy this way you will able to praise or reward him when he eliminates in an appropriate place.

It may sound like a big task, which involves too much of time but this little investment when your puppy is small is worth spending as you need not have to check on him when he grows into an adult.

Teaching Citizenship

According to a dog trainer Laura Garber – puppies in their first 16 weeks grab many things. During this sensitive learning period, providing socialization skills is quite easier. This is a time when you can introduce your puppy to all sizes of people as well as other animals such as dogs and cats.

Give some treats to people to give it to your puppy, this helps your puppy recognize good things associated with all kinds of individuals and avoids your puppy to grow up into an aggressive dog.

Combat Resource Guarding

Puppies usually mark their territory around their food bowls, toys or favorite people. Helping your puppy to come out of this resource guarding behavior is helpful for your puppy and family. During the growing phase of your puppy, associate yourself and your family members with good things when approaching your pup guarded object. Take care that your children show caution when nearing puppy’s toys or food.

Encourage Bite Inhibition

One of the most crucial lessons is teaching puppies not to bite. Behavioral problems including biting are the number one reason why most of the puppies are transferred to shelter homes. Making your puppy realize your place as a pack leader will help him remember that he must obey you and earn your respect, which will help him to behave properly.

Provide Exercise

For puppies overall development, induce new experiences. With the use of puppy toys, puzzle food and appropriate playthings; help stimulate your puppy’s mind. Also, give plenty of outdoor exercises. Bored puppies will tend to behavioral problems or engage in inappropriate behaviors.

Through your caring nature and proper care, your dog will learn his place in your home. Your loving hand and consistent support will help your puppy to grow into the best dog.