Puppy’s First Night at Home
Nightfall with your new puppy
We have already discussed the basics of your puppies arrival at his new home, but what about that first nightfall at home, when everything is dark and your poor little puppy is even more frightened now that there is no more daylight?
This is his first night away from his mother and litter mates. It’s dark and quiet and a strange place for him. He could be feeling very scared right now. Never leave your new puppy alone during his first night at home. Doing so could leave a tremendous impact on him that could show up later as a behavioral problem such as too much barking or digging.
Although your puppy may be very scared because of being in a dark strange place, there aren’t many things that you can do during this time that could ease his anxiety. There is however, a proven technique you can do that works very well. Have your puppy spend the first couple of nights in your bedroom. Put a piece of cardboard or box in your room with a blanket and place it beside your bed or just simply move his bed. Your puppy will most likely ignore the bedding and pick his own spot, like the corner of the room or under the bed. Let him walk around and stay wherever he feels comfortable.
If your puppy looks agitated, reaching your hand down to him will help relax and calm him down. But chances are he will be very tired from exploring during that day and will sleep throughout the night. In the morning, you will need to carry him out outside or to a place covered with newspapers. You will need to carry him because he may not be able to walk that distance by himself without peeing until he is about ten to twelve weeks of age.
Have him sleep in your bedroom for the first two to three nights. By then he should be ready to stay on his bed in his assigned place. Two to three nights of sleeping in your bedroom should also be enough for him to get adjusted to his new environment. More than two or three days and he will get used to sleeping in your room and he will get to a point where he won’t want to be moved.
little puppy, puppies, puppy trainng
