Struggling To Adapt to Your New Puppy?
If you’ve recently brought home a furry best friend, you’re probably well aware of the challenges that come with welcoming a new puppy into your life. Even experienced pet owners have trouble adjusting to new canine companions– There’s no denying that having a puppy can be quite the challenge.
Even if you’re struggling to adapt to your new puppy, there are some strategies you can implement to make the transition a lot easier. Below, we’ll dive into some of the most effective ways to welcome a new pooch into your life with ease.
Take A Break When You Need It
It’s normal to get frustrated when you have a puppy. If the constant accidents aren’t enough, the sleep deprivation that comes with having a puppy is sure to get to you at some point. However, it simply isn’t fair to take it out on your puppy.
Instead, create an area where you can confine your puppy safely whenever you need a break. This can be a playpen or crate filled with your dog’s favorite toys and blankets. Don’t keep your puppy confined for more than a few hours at a time. Rather, use the puppy safe place as a temporary place for you and your puppy to get some space whenever you need some time to refresh.
Keep A Routine
Puppies thrive on routines and are much easier to potty train if they intuitively know what time of day they’ll be going outside, eating, playing, and sleeping. While your puppy is learning the basics, commit to keeping a fairly regular routine to make the transition easier.
Exercise As Needed
You’ll want to make sure your puppy gets an adequate amount of exercise on a regular basis, especially if he is a high-energy breed. In addition to being important for keeping up your dog’s regular health, an exercised pooch is a less destructive one– Sometimes, dogs are destructive out of boredom. Keeping your dog exercised will make life at home a lot more manageable on an everyday basis.
Set Shifts
If you have more than one person in your household, make a point to discuss scheduling around your puppy. Since puppies require constant supervision, it may make sense to break down your schedule into shifts of when one person is or isn’t watching the dog. By clearly defining each person’s responsibilities, you’ll make the transition so much easier for the entire household, including your pooch.
Create A Pooch-Friendly Space
If you haven’t already, make sure to puppy-proof your home. This means thinking as if you were your dog and removing anything that could be easily damaged, eaten, or knocked over from your dog’s accessible space. Make sure your puppy doesn’t have free roam either– You can use a puppy playpen to create a controlled environment where your pooch can still run around safely while he’s learning the basics like potty training.
Seek Out Support
Even if you live alone, don’t feel like you have to do everything on your own. There are tons of dog walkers and sitters who have experience with puppies for whenever you need to take a breather. Moreover, investing in guidance from a dog trainer early-on can be extremely helpful. At the very least, weigh your options– If it’s not committing to a personal pooch trainer, you can seek out group training classes at your local pet shop.
Be Patient
Believe us, we know this adage is much easier said than done. However, if you can try and put your experience with your puppy into perspective, it can make it easier to adapt to the lifestyle changes associated with bringing a new furry family member into your life.
Remember that the most difficult part of puppyhood will likely be over within a couple of months. Your hard work training your pooch now will pay off in the long run without a doubt.
At the end of the day, don’t forget that you’re not alone. Raising a puppy can be extremely difficult regardless of your past experiences. However, with the help of some of these tips and support from trained pet professionals, your dog is bound to grow into a canine good citizen in no time at all. Enjoy bonding with your newfound best friend!
When you get your pup spay or neutered, don’t forget you can bank their stem cells to help them as they age. Learn More
