As soon as I found out I was bringing a puppy home, let alone a high energy working breed puppy, I set out to prepare our home and our lives for this major change. I will never understand how people are surprised with a new puppy, because it takes a lot of mental and emotional preparation to truly welcome an animal into your life. It is easy to assume potty training will be the majority of the trouble, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. My priorities were not gear, toys, clothes, and comfy dog beds. Puppies are reckless, they go through different emotional phases as they mature, and NOTHING is safe around them. Here is how I prepared for Chief, then almost two years later Chickie, to come home:
Time Off
I was fortunate at the time to have the opportunity to take the majority of the week off after Chief came home. I knew the importance of establishing a routine and wanted to lay that groundwork immediately. I wanted Chief to feel comfortable and have a sense of familiarity with his new life before I went back to work. I spent our first week together building our relationship and beginning his socialization. I made plans each day to take him somewhere new and to meet new people so that he was comfortable with new environments.
With Chickie, I didn’t take time off as my work schedule already accommodated her care needs. My husband and I worked together to split the responsibility and so far this has worked out extremely well for us. I make sure to utilize my three day weekends for training outings with her, as well as fitting in at least one outing on a weeknight to work on her confidence in new environments. She originally had trouble settling in her car crate, so we would bring her with us to pick up Chief from day school on weekdays that he attended. This exposure and repetition helped her learn that the car crate is a comfy place to be, and that she will always be let out in a timely manner. We have worked very hard to set a schedule for her to help her assimilate to her new life as seamlessly as possible.
Reliable dog walkers
When the time came for me to go back to work after Chief came home, he was still too young to go to Day School at My Dog’s Mind. I knew we needed dependable dog walkers to help him get through the work days. We found Freedom Pet Services that is run by a local woman who employs multiple walkers and LOVES dogs. I love this option because they are nearby, very personal, and with multiple walkers they always have someone available to fit your schedule.
Safe Outdoor Space
I am in no way implying that everyone who has a dog should have a fenced in yard, but consider finding a place where your new dog can run free and exercise. For years I avoided the cost of fencing in my yard. My rescue dog Vinny is not and will never be off leash trained so he was never outside without our supervision. When we found out we were getting a cattle dog, it was the perfect opportunity to pull the trigger. By some dumb luck, a fencing company was able to do the job and completed the fence the evening before Chief was brought home. It was such a joy to let Chief and Vinny meet in a neutral outdoor space. This was also a lifesaver for potty training.
Because Vinny can be sensitive about his space indoors, we utilized the fenced in space in the backyard to help him get comfortable with Chickie. He had plenty of space to engage with her if he wanted to, and walk away when he was overwhelmed. Today, Chickie and Vinny can often be found running laps and chasing each other in the fenced in part of the yard. In my opinion, this space for interaction was a crucial part in the success of Vinny accepting Chickie into our life.
Kennel for house
Puppies need a space to relax and learn to be calm. Chief would run around to the point of exhaustion if I let him. When he first came home, I didn’t truly understand the saying “a tired puppy is a good puppy”. I thought if I let him run around as much as possible and get all of his energy out that he would calm down. This could not have been farther from the truth. The more I let him wear himself out physically, the more wound up he became mentally. I utilized a kennel in our living room area for these times. When he seemed to be getting tired, I would kennel him and calm the environment. Sometimes he would cry and bark in protest of the kennel, and sometimes he would immediately fall asleep. Puppies need this space to reset and learn the “art of doing nothing”. Looking back, I should have used a crate instead of an open kennel to further limit the amount of freedom he was given at such a young age.
I decided to apply this to Chickie’s training and am happy to share that it was a great choice for her. The day we brought her home, we put her in a crate with a handful of high value treats and allowed Vinny and Chief to observe her from a distance as she took in the new environment. That crate remained in our living room for the first month she was home. Chickie seemed to enjoy having a place she could completely relax, and regular crating allowed her to quickly learn and anticipate her new daily schedule. When she could successfully settle in the crate at any time, we traded it out for a pen that is slightly larger. Although she is still learning to settle in the pen, she is enjoying having a little extra freedom.This practice is also a huge benefit to Chief and Vinny, as they can retain their own space in the house without worrying about Chickie bothering them all day long.
Established with vet
Veterinary practices seem busier than ever since the COVID boom of everyone getting a dog. It is important to be established with a vet before bringing a puppy home. As soon as we chose Chief, I set up an account for him with our current vet and scheduled his first few vaccine appointments. This is a critical time in their lives, and if something were to happen you want to have a vet that you trust to help navigate the situation. Chief went potty thirty times the first few days he was home. I was worried about the possibility of a UTI, so I called our vet and they happily saw him immediately. They loved him so much and provided excellent care, as well as reassurance that the frequency was normal and he was healthy.
For Chickie, we established with a new vet office that is closer to our house. I brought Vinny there and had a fantastic experience with the staff. They were extremely respectful of his space and accommodated his care wonderfully. Chickie has been multiple times now, and absolutely loves the attention she gets there. She is highly sensitive to handling (even snapped at the vet for daring to check her little ears), so we reviewed strategies together to help her safely receive care moving forward.
Food and monthly preventatives
Before picking up Chief, I asked our breeder what brand of food he was on so I could stock up and seamlessly transition him to our home. I also asked for a month of flea and tick and heartworm preventatives so we could be prepared until our vet appointments. It is important to establish an eating schedule immediately so your puppy can be as healthy and happy as possible to start their new life. For Chickie, we received a bag of her food from the breeder then used that to transition her to Oma’s Pride. She has adjusted extremely well. Establishing a normal diet and meal schedule was integral in successful potty training.
Just because these practices worked for me doesn’t mean they are the only way. My biggest recommendation would be to spend your time getting to know your dog, and building a great relationship with them from day one. Enjoy every second, and be prepared for them to grow up right before your eyes!
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