So, you’re thinking of getting a dog? Are you still deciding on the breed, or have you already made a choice? Now it’s time to prepare. We’ve compiled important information for you and offer tips on how to make the first days with your puppy as relaxed as possible.

Bringing Home a Puppy – Considerations Before Purchase

More and more families are literally going to the dogs. If you also want to become a dog person, you should consider some factors before purchasing or adopting to determine if a dog fits into your life. Ask yourself questions such as:

Which Dog Should It Be?

Finding the right dog for your family is not easy. Think about what suits you:

Please avoid choosing a dog breed just because it’s currently trendy. Energetic dogs, like Huskies, thrive with passionate joggers or cyclists. They love participating in activities like Canicross or other mushing sports. Such a dog won’t be happy as a couch potato. Similarly, breeds traditionally kept as working dogs, such as hunting and herding dogs, have no place in a small city apartment. Breed finders on the internet can assist with considerations. In our magazine, you’ll find detailed breed profiles that introduce each breed very thoroughly. Breed clubs, breeders, and dog schools are also there to guide you in finding the right dog for you.

Where to Buy a Dog?

Have you decided on a specific breed or a mixed breed? If so, the next step is to find a responsible breeder. Animal shelters and animal welfare organizations are also good options if you want to adopt a dog. In any case, you should avoid buying a dog from a pet store, a dog dealer, a flea market, or essentially acquiring one casually in a park or rest area. Many online offers should be approached with caution, as unscrupulous breeders are often behind them. The suffering of the puppies is great, as is that of the parent animals. Puppies from such sources are often sick, have fake papers, or have been separated from their mother too early.

A responsible breeder will always allow you to visit the puppies and the mother several times. Animal shelters and welfare organizations place special emphasis on mutual acquaintance, pre- and post-checks.

A puppy from a reputable source is vaccinated, chipped, and dewormed. It has not been separated from its mother and siblings too early and has already experienced many everyday situations.

Bringing Home a Puppy – Preparations

Your puppy is a new and full-fledged family member. You should treat it accordingly and prepare for its arrival. This involves certain organizational questions that you should clarify in advance. To make it easier for the puppy to start its life as a dog, it is advisable to have someone at home in the first few days. Under no circumstances should you leave the puppy alone at the beginning! If you are employed, this means you should take time off. But how long should you take off when a puppy arrives? You should plan at least two to three weeks off to make your new roommate familiar with the new environment. More is, of course, better!

Organizationally, many things need to be clarified. Here is a small checklist that you should work through before the puppy arrives:

Bringing Home a Puppy: What to Consider Before the Arrival

Even before your puppy moves in, you should make your apartment puppy-friendly. Protect your new roommate from anything that could be harmful. Move toxic plants and exposed electrical cables out of reach. Secure steep stairs with a child gate. Minimize the risk for both the puppy and your belongings. Consider temporarily removing expensive oriental rugs. Also, items that the puppy might chew on or knock over should be cleared away during the puppy phase.

You should also clarify in advance where the dog’s feeding area will be, as well as the place for dog blankets, beds, and cushions. Discuss the question of whether the dog is allowed on the sofa or bed ideally before the puppy joins the family.

Your puppy will miss its mother and siblings in the first few nights. Provide warmth by placing the dog bed near you so that it feels your presence. A comforting stroke also adds a sense of security. If you don’t want your dog to sleep in the bedroom, consider setting up your night bed next to its crate.

The First Car Ride with Your New Family Member

When picking up your puppy from a responsible breeder or a shelter, it may have already encountered a car. However, this is not the rule. Therefore, expect your dog to find the unfamiliar ride very exciting.

The safest option is a transport box. A blanket from the breeder is familiar to the dog and has a calming effect during the ride. Maintain contact with the dog during the journey to provide reassurance. For longer trips, water should be on board. Also, keep a roll of kitchen paper handy in case the dog has an accident or vomits due to excitement.

The Puppy Moves In: The First Day

When the new resident enters the house or apartment, give it plenty of time to explore the surroundings. Provide opportunities for it to retreat. Tell your children not to bother the dog and call constantly. This allows it to arrive in peace and get used to its new home.

Now explore the apartment with your puppy, but limit it to two or three rooms at first. Let it walk around a bit and look around.

Many puppies are quickly “dog-tired” at the beginning. In this case, take it to its sleeping place and cuddle with it until it falls asleep. Affection is important in the first few days, especially since the puppy is suddenly without its mother and siblings.

The Puppy Moves In: The First Week

In the first week, your puppy should arrive at your home calmly. Let it sleep enough and explore the apartment. Your puppy should rest between 20 and 22 hours a day. Especially active breeds need these periods of rest to learn to wind down early. You don’t need to take long walks in the first week. For potty breaks, go outside or into the garden just before bedtime, after every play session, after eating, and regularly every two hours. Speaking of eating: The puppy should be fed three to four times a day. It’s best to continue feeding the food that the puppy already knows from the breeder.

For more information on feeding your puppy, check here.

When can visitors come after the puppy has moved in? In the first week, preferably not, and in the second week, only sparingly. Energetic children should ideally not visit in the first few weeks – even if it’s difficult. Your puppy needs time to process new impressions.

Bringing Home a Puppy: The Initial Period

The puppy phase can be incredibly exhausting, yet equally fulfilling and beautiful. Unfortunately, it passes by too quickly. In the coming weeks, your puppy should learn the essential things for its future life. The best time to teach a puppy the basics is during the first weeks when the puppy learns particularly quickly, approaching people, animals, and the environment with curiosity and fearlessness. However, remember: less is more! Learn with your puppy in short sessions, incorporate play and, above all, rest periods. Also, make sure the puppy gets enough sleep.

Below, you’ll find some tips and inspiration for the first weeks with your furry friend.

Bringing Home a Puppy: When to Visit the Veterinarian?

Breeders and animal welfare organizations provide puppies vaccinated and dewormed. The first veterinary visit is for booster shots at around twelve weeks. Tip: Visit the veterinarian’s office with your puppy before this appointment, allowing it to get used to the smells, other animals, and, most importantly, the veterinarian without undergoing treatment. This makes the subsequent vaccination appointment much more relaxed.

Safety, Training, and Bonding

Although you should show the dog a lot of patience and understanding, it’s essential that it learns from the beginning what is allowed and what is not. This is best achieved by ignoring unwanted behavior or commenting with a brief “No” and rewarding good behavior with praise and treats (in moderation). From the start, show it that it’s worthwhile to orient itself to you. Be consistent, as it makes you predictable and trustworthy for the dog.

In the first weeks, you can already teach your dog the first commands like “Sit,” “Down,” “Drop it.” You can get some assistance in the guide “Training Puppies: How to Succeed from Day One!”

Walking and Rest Times

The young dog needs to relieve itself about every two hours, typically after sleeping, eating, playing, and also during the night. Anticipate its timing and regularly take it outside before it’s too late.

Also, observe your young dog closely. You’ll quickly notice when it becomes restless and nervously wanders around. Then it’s time again: the puppy’s bladder is pressing. Offer it the chance to relieve itself as quickly as possible. This helps it become house-trained faster and easier. Handle small accidents without much fuss and without punishment. Use a solution of water and vinegar to neutralize the odors.

The puppy needs exercise and wants to explore the environment, but too much movement can be harmful. As a rule of thumb, the puppy should not walk for more than five minutes per month of age at a stretch. If you plan to cover longer distances, carry the puppy in a stroller or a backpack for a while. The young dog should not climb stairs in the first few months.

But what to do if your puppy doesn’t enjoy going for a walk? Here, we have useful tips and information on this topic for you!

Bringing Home a Puppy – Introducing a Second Dog

If you already have a dog, many of the tips are likely familiar to you. However, give your new family member the chance to surprise you! Every dog is unique.

For the integration into the pack to work, the dogs should be introduced slowly. Start on neutral ground, such as outside in a field. Retreat options in the living area are crucial: each dog needs its own sleeping and feeding place. Initial rank struggles are normal; please supervise your four-legged friends well if it gets too rough. Your first dog may also be less enthusiastic and/or react territorially. If this doesn’t resolve over time, seek assistance from a qualified dog trainer.

Definitely give your first dog enough attention, even if the puppy is irresistibly cute. Find activities that both dogs enjoy, as this strengthens the bond.

Bringing Home a Puppy – Getting Along with a Cat

“Like cats and dogs” they say when someone is sworn enemies with someone else. Despite the proverbial dislike, dogs and cats can live in the same household and even form friendships. It’s easiest when you bring puppies and kittens into the house at the same time. If there’s already a cat in the household, it’s advantageous to expose them to the puppy’s scent beforehand. The first encounters should take place in a neutral room and last only a few minutes. Don’t force anything; let both animals have the opportunity to approach each other or go their separate ways. You can find detailed information on introducing a dog and cat in the guide “Introducing a Dog and Cat – How to Do It.”

Bringing Home a Puppy – Conclusion

With a bit of preparation, an understanding of the puppy’s needs, and love and patience, the arrival of the four-legged family member will go well. Don’t forget to take many photos of the puppy phase – it’s unique, and the memories are too.