The First Day Home
The first time you bring your puppy home it's the equivalent of the Oscars for the puppy. The excitement is palpable. The oohs and aaaahs begin. There's lots of laughter and cooing. Everyone wants to handle the new arrival. Plus there are the sights, sounds, and smells of the new house. All of this can be a little overwhelming for a very young animal recently removed from her mom, siblings, and any caretakers she's ever known.
One of the first things you want to watch out for is not to overstimulate the puppy. While everyone will want to hold the little one, one of the best things you can do is to minimize this tendency and let your puppy initiate the greetings. Letting the puppy explore and understand her surroundings is the best way to establish a relationship with the little pup. It will also help to solidify his confidence in himself and his surroundings.
Establish Routine Immediately
Remember the discussion about a schedule in Chapter 5? Refamiliarize yourself with it, because it's critical. You will be tempted every which way to stray from your routine — by visiting family members, by staying up too late, by feeding treats that may cause digestive upset, etc.
Remind yourself and all your family and friends that there will be plenty of time in the puppy's life for these indulgences. For the health of your puppy (and your own sanity), make the first day one of paying particular attention to the schedule and practices you've decided will be best for your puppy.
Here's a sample first day:
Late morning: Arrive at your home with the puppy.
With the puppy on a secure leash, let her explore your yard and home, encouraging her to eliminate outside, and keeping a close eye on her so she doesn't grab and swallow anything harmful or eliminate in the house.
After going through the house with your pup on her leash, bring her outside again to see if she needs to eliminate. Then, bring her to the room where you will confine her, put the baby gate up, and let her off the lead.
Have a bowl of fresh, cool water waiting for her.
Prepare a small meal for her. She may be too excited to eat, but she may very well need to eat. Follow her lead.
After she eats, take her back outside.
Bring her back to her room, and sit quietly with her. If your family wants to be in the room with you, ask them to be quiet. Your puppy will probably need to nap.
While she's sleeping, you can do some household chores quietly.
When she's up, take her out first thing. Depending on the time of day and weather, consider playing gently with her outside if possible. Have family members sit in a circle and call her to them one by one. Entice her with a special toy.
Follow a pattern of going out, feeding, playing, and napping until it's time for bed.
Take her out one last time, and then bring her upstairs with you, settling her into her new bed/area. You may need to sit with her in the new place until she falls asleep.
As exciting as it is to have a puppy in the house, remember that all of you need to establish your routine together as soon as possible. This must include times for exercise, feeding, playing, and of course, sleeping. This tiny Chihuahua is ready for a nap.
