The Honest First 30 Days With a New Puppy
One of the memories we will always treasure is the experience of bringing a new puppy home for the first time. It is a little bit of magic tinged with some insanity. It is also true that the first month is the most important time when it comes to ensuring success with your puppy. It is more than just some puppy cuteness and some doggie pee on the rug. This will only be the start of the most rewarding experience.
In this guide, we will tackle the first 30 days with your puppy. We'll discuss the challenges that most new puppy owners find surprising, and how you can put rocks in your backpack to make the next few years much easier.
Week One Is About Safety and Sleep
Your first week should not be used to try to teach a bunch of tricks or develop a lot of skills. The goal of this first week is to figure out where your puppy will be sleeping and help them feel comfortable in their new environment.
It is common for puppies to cry at night because they are used to sleeping with their littermates. To help with this, many owners will move the puppy’s crate or bed to be right next to their own bed. When we got Copper, he cried for two nights and I quickly learned how much this proximity really mattered.
Create a small space that has been puppy proofed to allow your puppy to explore. Take out anything that they could chew on, or small items that they could possibly swallow and cause a choking hazard. Your main job this week is to observe and learn their signals for when they need to go outside while also providing comfort.
Potty Training Takes Longer Than You Think
Some puppies can take up to six months to be fully house trained, and the first 30 days of training are just the beginning of your journey.
During the first months, make sure to take your puppy outside, right after they wake up, after they eat, and after they finish playing. Most owners take their puppies outside every hour. Make sure to celebrate outside time as if it were a special award. Puppies will have accidents inside and puppies will have accidents inside. Ignoring scolds will leave these puppies alone, so be prepared.
During the first months, make sure to take your puppy outside right after they wake up as most owners take their puppies outside. Most owners take their puppies outside every hour. Make sure to celebrate outside time as if it were a special award. Puppies will have accidents inside and puppies will have accidents inside. Ignoring scolds will leave these puppies alone, so be prepared.
Cleaning up accidents also has to be done without scolding to remain calm and be patient. Most owners express their concerns up to the third and fourth month.
Socialization Starts Now, But Gently
Healthy socialization takes place between the ages of three and fourteen weeks. Keep in mind that socialization does not mean introducing your puppy to every single experience all at once.
Start with the basics. If you don’t want your puppy to overreact every time with a distraction, have it watch a stroller from across the street. If you want to prepare your puppy for the vacuum, let it hear it from the other room before you run it. Whe your puppy hears dogs, watch how it moves and give it space to distance itself.
Until puppies are fully vaccinated, vets usually don’t recommend dog parks and areas with strange dogs. However, under supervision, you can bring your puppies to play with calm and vaccinated adult dogs. If your vet approves, puppy kindergarten classes can be a great option.
Biting and Mouthing Are Normal but Painful
Puppies like to use their mouths to explore the world. This leaves a lot of bite marks and scratches. A lot of people struggle with this in the first month.
During playtime, if your puppy bites too hard let out a yelp and stop playing. This is what their littermates would do. Instead of putting your hands in their mouth give them a toy.
With a lot of practice most puppies learn to be more gentle with their mouths. If you think that the biting is more aggressive or excessive speak with a trainer or vet about it.
You Will Feel Tired and Doubt Yourself
By about day ten, a lot of new puppy parents tend to hit a wall. The sleepless nights, the puppy accidents, the chewed up shoes, the “what have I done?” thoughts, It all can quickly pile on and lead to something called puppy blues. You’re not alone, it’s super common.
Give yourself permission to be overwhelmed, and ask others for support. Know you’re not failing and the first month of puppy parenting is the toughest.
Things do become more manageable, though not all at once. After 30 days, you can expect to see some progress, and those victories count for a lot.
What If My Puppy Won't Eat?
While puppies may skip one or two meals as they adjust to the stress of moving to your home, there are reasons to be more concerned. If your puppy appears sick, lethargic, or hasn’t eaten anything in over 24 hours, your puppy may be in danger and you should call the vet immediately. Because young puppies can become dehydrated or experience low blood sugar quickly, it is always better to call the vet than wait and hope the puppy's condition improves.