Has it ever struck a new puppy's owner that it takes time to adjust to a new home, new rules, new food, new people? Seldom is this given much thought. The new owners conclude that they are acceptable to the puppy, in spite of the fact that to a puppy they may not have the right scent, they may not handle him correctly, their voices may grate, they may have someone in the house who is rough with him, or a cat that would willingly scratch out the new puppy's eyes if he isn't careful to avoid it.
Think of what it would be like to be a puppy. You don't choose the home you live in or the owner. If you want to leave an unhappy home, you run away or commit crimes for which you get punished. You might be left behind suddenly in a strange boarding kennel with people you may not know or like and a multitude of other dogs who are also bewildered because their owners seem to have abandoned them. You show how upset you were when they do eventually come and get you by an overpowering welcome; yet the same thing happens again and the owners seem to be completely misunderstanding your dread of being deserted, with no assurance that you will ever see your owners again. You are encouraged to defend your home; yet if you defend it too well and bite the nasty-looking man in the black hat who swaggers up the drive, you are punished for biting and probably shut up somewhere.
People should understand life from a dog's point of view before blaming him for everything that goes wrong.
Dogs understand your moods and your thoughts, and if you are thinking unpleasant things about him, he will pick it up and be downhearted. You must be prepared to get to know what he is feeling and thinking, if you are to get the best out of him. Telepathic communication with one's dog is something everybody should try to achieve. Few will reach this height of understanding, but it is worth striving for.
Try to understand when he doesn't feel 100 percent well and leave out the long walk or training for that day. Usually the eye of the dog gives away his health and his mood. Dogs are very sympathetic animals if truly loved. They seem to sense when quiet sympathy is what is wanted from them and do not intrude on the owner's thoughts or actions when the owner is not in the mood. But this takes understanding from the owner and a lot of companionship with him, as well as talking to him.
I wonder how many words in a day the average owner speaks to his dog. Usually it is very few. Among those few may be "Dindin," "Walkie," "Shut up," "Go to bed," and "Good boy" or "Good girl" but actual conversation is not all that common. Really talk to your dogs, whose understanding will become "almost human."
A dog is only what you make him; he mirrors you. Remember, too, it is useless expecting every dog of the same breed to turn out exactly the same. I don't expect the owner to remain the same throughout life, but one thing I am absolutely certain of - the average owner can have a truly wonderful friend and companion in a dog.
Love is of paramount importance and you should constantly hug, kiss and play joyfully with your dog or puppy even if you have had to be extremely firm with him to achieve initial obedience. The result is that there enters the dog's mind a memory of affection and fun rather than fear of correction. For make no mistake, dogs don't object to fair correction.
The mind of a dog is really very simple to understand. All he wants is to have someone to love and respect, to be given a reasonable amount of fun, to be useful to his owner and to have a comfortable well-fed tummy. On the whole, the life of the dog and the owner have to be in tune to get perfection out of the partnership. Both must respect each others likes and dislikes and a deep understanding must exist between them.
A long drive home? Make sure you have an ample supply of pee pads or towels (and a trash bag to put them into), plus a roll of paper towels to clean up possible accidents (vomit, pee). Puppies will often whine and become carsick on their first ride. If they vomit or pee, immediately exchange the wet towels and/or pee pads for clean ones, and put the dirty ones in a trash bag. Puppy should be held in the blanket with his mother's scent and comforted during the trip. Frequent rest stops should be allowed, to give him food, water and allow him to eliminate. The puppy will probably sleep most of the journey.
The puppy's first day in his new home is perhaps the most important day of his life. An abrupt separation from his mother, littermates, and familiar surroundings can be traumatic for him. For you, the first day is important because events that take place on this day may determine future behavior patterns and have a distinct bearing on your dog's desirability as a pet. It is the wise owner who prepares in advance for this critical time.
On the way home warn children not to scream or yell or attempt to play with the puppy. Do not punish vomiting, whining or incontinence.
Do everything you can to make the house as safe as possible for the puppy (see the page on Puppy Proofing)
When you get home, let the puppy eliminate outside first and then let him explore his new home, room by room. Don't overwhelm the puppy with friends and relatives the first few days. Begin some light play activities such as fetching and toy-play. Movement activities are as important now as holding the puppy. Be sure, too, that the puppy has some time alone to eliminate and just explore. The puppy will need at least a few days to explore his new surroundings and gradually adjust to them. Until he understands that you mean him no harm and will provide food, water, shelter and companionship, he is bound to feel a fair amount of uncertainty.
A note about picking your puppy up. (also see the FAQ page "Lifting the puppy").
Imagine what it would be like to have a giant swoop down over you and swing you off your feet and high up into the air! Imagine what it would feel like if that giant swung you off your feet every time you went to him or every time he came over to you. It would be pretty darn scary.
I have found that you can build a puppy's confidence if you refrain from picking him up all the time. If a puppy wants out of a babygate; open it and wait for the puppy to walk out himself. When a puppy comes up to you, bend down, stroke him, speak cheerfully to him. Get down on the floor to seem less intimidating until the puppy gets to know you - this is especially important for children as their high voices and quick movements are naturally scary to puppies. Let him know that he doesn't have to expect to be whisked up into the air all the time. As the puppy becomes more comfortable around you, and you are careful when you pick him up - he will let you know when he wants you to pick him up. He will become more loving, more trusting and will want to cuddle with you much more. Teach children to lower their voices and play gently with these little puppies. When not grabbed and forced to play all the time, the puppies will become more confident and be more willing to approach children to play.
Touch is so important. The lighter the touch, the more relaxed your puppy will become. One excellent way of communicating love (and a great relaxation technique) is running your fingertips very slowly and lightly down the puppy's (or dog's) back and up again. Oftentimes you will see an adult dog slowly walking beneath houseplants or curtains, the leaves or material just barely brushing his back; and he'll do it over and over with obvious enjoyment. It's almost a hypnotic technique to them.
Introducing Puppy to family dogs.
It will be extremely important to plan for this in advance, taking into consideration the sex, age and temperament of the family dog. Generally dogs will accept puppies very quickly, although it might take a few days or even weeks for them to become fast friends.
Always greet your family dog when you first come home. Pet him, love him, reassure him; and after that bring the puppy in. If you have more than one family dog, hold the puppy - having multiple strange dogs surrounding him might scare him. I am hoping that some of the terrific families with whom I've placed puppies will write of their own experience and have suggestions for new owners. :-) If they would be so kind, I would love to place their personal experiences at the bottom of this page. :-))
During the first few days, patience and gentle handling are among the most important things you can provide. Make sure that everyone, especially the children, understand that loud noises, heavy hands and sudden movements can frighten the puppy and prolong the adjustment period. Children under six years old should be closely supervised when the are around the puppy, they may unintentionally injury him.
It is natural for you and your children to wish to play with the puppy. Since the puppy will be sensitive to stress while he adjusts to his new environment, these play periods should be of limited duration for the first few weeks. Teach the children in your home that the puppy is a living creature with feelings, not an inanimate toy. Youngsters who haven't learned this lesson will often tease or unintentionally hurt a puppy, forcing him to strike back to protect himself from some real or imagined threat. A child should never put a dog in a position where he feels a need to defend himself or his food, toys, etc. A child and a dog can have a strong, enduring relationship if the dog is treated as a pet - not a toy. If necessary, keep your children from playing with the puppy until they can comprehend that he must be treated with respect. If the children are too young to understand, you should probably postpone getting a puppy until they are a bit more mature.
You puppy needs large amounts of rest and small amounts of recreation. Establish a cardinal rule: Do not disturb the puppy when he is eating, resting or sleeping.
The first night is probably the most difficult for the new puppy and the new owner. If you think about it, when humans have to change beds (hotel, relatives, etc) the beds are all basically the same. Not so with dogs, whose beds can range from bare floors, crate, carpet, rug, blanket, comforter, cushioned dog bed, sofa, chair, plastic dog bed (that they use in shelters), etc. No wonder puppies get so upset during the first few nights. Not only are they in a new environment with a new family, but their bed has changed. Picture if you (by yourself) were suddenly whisked away to a foreign place and when nighttime came and you became sleepy - you couldn't find a bed anywhere, at least not the kind of bed you were familiar with. The poor puppy doesn't even have the comfort of the warm, soft siblings he was used to cuddling up with before falling asleep. It's little wonder that the first few nights can be absolutely horrible for them.
A blanket with his mother & siblings scent, and a warm bottle to snuggle up to may help. (Never use electric heating pads, hot water bottles, heat lamps or those little hand/feet warmer packets.) But nothing will take the place of a warm, living body for the first few nights. The difference can be a horribly long stressful and sleepless night for the puppy as well as the owner; or a nice, quiet restful night of sleep for both. If the puppy can sleep in the bed with you, make sure that he will be with an adult and preferably between adults so he will not fall off the bed; regardless - it's best to make sure the bed is surrounded by very soft carpet with blankets, pillows, cushions, etc - so that if the puppy does roll off, he will not be injured.
1) Our oldest, Buddy, grew up with a brother dog from puppyhood so he only knew life by having a companion
2) We regard our dogs as our children – we speak to them as a member of our family not just when we expect something from them; we hold and love our dogs as often as we can; we reprimand them (never, never do we hit or slap) and then talk to them about what they did wrong and then we ask them to apologize (they give a kiss on the cheek) and we tell them we love them; we give them the best we can -–food, vet care, playtime, etc.
Based on this type of lifestyle, we involved Buddy from the very beginning when it came time to bring in a new family member. We considered Buddy’s personality and his companionship expectations (playmate, walking partner and snuggle buddy) before our wants and desires. When we decided on a breed that would work well with Buddy (who happens to be an 11 year old Min Pin) we set about looking in various resources for the dog we wanted. From the moment we knew we were ready, we talked to Buddy about how he was going to get a new brother and made sure he was in the loop about the pending addition.
When we found Waggin’ Tails Dachshunds we knew we had the right place. We took Buddy with us the first time we ventured over to look at the puppies and this was whole-heartedly encouraged by Jan who told us that most likely Buddy would end up choosing the right dog for the family. Buddy got in the pen with the puppies and looked them all over and one by one they came over to check Buddy out as well. Without a doubt, Buddy and Snoopy eventually found each other and they seemed to tolerate each other well. This is important to note, because there were 3 other pups besides Snoopy. Buddy was indifferent to 2 of them and really didn’t enjoy the overtures of the assertive female who loved to climb all over him!
Snoopy was still 2 weeks away from being able to leave the litter and join our family. During that time Jan allowed us to visit several times so we could get acquainted with our new little guy and those visits were invaluable to the transition with Buddy and Snoopy. First visit was with the whole litter and the last two were with Buddy and Snoopy alone. Buddy got to smell Snoopy and become familiar with him as well as interact with him at his leisure. Buddy was brought into Snoopy’s environment and the introductions weren’t as tense as they would have been had we waited and sprung Snoopy on Buddy in his home turf. We also made sure to interact with both Buddy and Snoopy while they played and lounged in the pen. We wanted Buddy to see that we loved him and that we loved little Snoopy. We wanted him to not feel threatened that his place in the family was in any danger and that it is okay to let Snoopy in.
When we brought Snoopy home, we went as a family and Buddy was comfortable with the ride over and knew he’d see Snoopy. The ride home was pretty uneventful – Buddy acted as if Snoopy always takes rides with us. When we got to the house we let Buddy in first and Snoopy in second. We introduced Snoopy to one room at a time and always let Buddy lead the way.
We always acknowledged Buddy first then Snoopy so rank would be established (Buddy had been 2nd dog with his last brother) – now Buddy is 1st dog and Snoopy is 2nd. We make sure that we are constantly communicating with our dogs and observing every little thing about them so we know (as much as we can) what they are communicating back to us. I believe that the communication throughout the whole process and keeping Buddy involved helped with Buddy and Snoopy making a smooth transition and started their relationship on the right foot. They really love each other – there are times of playful teasing or competing to give mom and dad kisses first – but overall they watch out for each other, sleep together, eat together, play together and most important – love each other!
Bringing home a puppy can be an exciting time in your life, but if you have another older dog at home it can also be a little scary too.
We decided to add another pet to our home. In our home, pets are part of the family and are treated like part of the family. We already had a 5 year old dachshund, Oscar, so we knew that if we ever got another dog it would be a dachshund. When we found Waggin' Tails Dachshunds we knew we had found the home of our next family member.
Bailey was 2 weeks away from being born. Once Bailey was born and we knew he was ours, we started to talk to Oscar about him. Oscar had always been the top dog in his home and now we were going to bring another pet into it. We brought Bailey his own bed and toys and his own food and water bowl, etc. We wanted to make the transition an easy one. Jan told us that we could send a blanket or towel with our scent on it, which we did, and to also have Oscar's scent on it, too!
Whenever we left our house we always told Oscar "Be a good boy and look after the house for us" and when we came home we always said "Good Boy, Oscar, for looking after the house for us."
When we went to get Bailey, Oscar did not come with us as he does not travel well in the car, so he stayed home. When we brought Bailey into the house, we said what we had always said to Oscar. We petted Oscar before putting Bailey down. Once Bailey was on the floor, Oscar started to look and sniff at him. We did not stop Oscar from doing this until he was ready to stop. Oscar did this for about 20 minutes and then started playing with Bailey.
We wanted Oscar to realize that he was still the number 1 dog, so we always made sure that Oscar always went first in doing everything, 1st to be fed, 1st to get treats, and then Bailey. Both Oscar and Bailey sleep on the bed with us so we always put Oscar on the bed 1st so he could find his place to sleep and then we would put Bailey on the bed. Whatever we do, we always make sure that Oscar is 1st and then Bailey. By doing this Oscar is realizing that we still love him but that we love Bailey, too.
Oscar and Bailey are at the point where they are almost cuddling up to each other. They are both on the track to being best buddies whom we both love very much.
Charlie's Experience
Bringing Charlie home was an exciting experience. I have two other dogs at home so I knew what the responsibilities were, but Charlie was one of a kind.
I was told before I got him that he was always the first in his litter to do anything, and boy was it true! Charlie is fearless and loves to explore anything and everything.
My other miniature Dachshund, Remington, instantly bonded with Charlie. They get to work out their energy and play all day. When we picked Charlie up, Remington was excited and sniffed and licked him. I think they're going to become lifelong friends. My other dog, Cisco, is a bit older. He was intrigued by Charlie, but once he got a good sniff, he was ready for a nap.
Charlie is so funny. He's beginning to understand that when he does something bad we tell him "No!" Before he just ignored us, and now he gets this funny look on his face like "I didn't do it!" Even when I catch him chewing my flip flops I have to laugh a little because he's just so cute.
My life is full of travel and seeing new places, and I think that Charlie's curious personality is a perfect match for us. I love him more than anything, and I know Remington loves his new brother and partner in crime too!
Leilani got to be welcomed to a home with three adults and five children. We have three two-legged children Karly 11, Sydni 8, and Lilly 3. We are also blessed with two four-legged children. Our one year old miniature dachshunds Paytah (red dapple) and Smoky (black and tan dapple).
We wanted this transition to be a smooth one for everyone involved. From the moment we knew Leilani would be ours we spoke of her daily. We took time to explain to the girls what would be expected of them in the care of Leilani (especially the handling of her with the three year old). We excitedly told the boys they would be getting a new sister. We would show them her pictures on the computer.
We were not able to visit Leilani prior to picking her up. We purchased a blanket for her and made sure it had everyone's scent on it. We sent this to Jan so she could give it to Leilani to play with and get use to our scent.
The day we picked Leilani up was very exciting! We spent time with her at Jan's letting her get use to us. Our trip home went very well. Especially since her first ride was close to two hours! Once we got home we greeted the boys in our normal fashion. We then sat on the floor with Leilani and let them smell her. Leilani slowly ventured off my lap to inspect the boys. She would only be gone a short time before she would return to my lap. She only did this a few times before she was off and exploring.
Leilani slept in bed with me so she still had someone with her. For a while she stayed really close to my side. She still does but she will also get up and go lay down beside one or both of her brothers for a while.
The kids have all become fast friends. She loves to play with Karly and Sydni. She has realized that Lilly makes an excellent nap companion during the day. Leilani loves to play with Paytah and Smoky. She will often times push herself too hard to play and not want to stop and take a nap.
Of course it was only a matter of days before Leilani had the boys wrapped around her little paw! Dominance is not something you really notice between the dogs. They enjoy doing things together nap, eat, play, relax, and run laps around the house! They treat each other as equals. They greet everyone in one big group. They enjoy sharing toys and treats. The boys treat Leilani like she has always been there!
Smoky and Paytah were litter mates and have grown up together so bringing in a puppy has had some new learning experiences. It is amazing to see that an older dog will discipline a smaller one. I was shocked when Paytah sat on Leilani one day! Jan explained this was how he taught her right from wrong. Leilani listened well! Better than the two-legged children!
If you are considering a new puppy as an addition to your family you can't go wrong. If you have questions don't be afraid to do some research and ask other people questions. Don't be afraid to question your vet (and other vets in your area). One other thing I have learned, is car insurance is not the ONLY thing you need to shop around. :-) Always make sure your vet is doing what is the best for your pet and you.
What a joy we have coming home from work each day and being greeted at the door by three lovely dogs that are truly happy to see us and love each other tremendously!
Bentley & Chance's Experience
The ride home was a difficult one. The boys whined for the first hour or so [a 3 1/2 hour trip]. When we arrived home we let them go outside potty before bringing them in. Once inside, they began exploring the apartment. They played and napped mainly in the living room. They never acted as though they were scared at all.
We were dreading the first night because of things we'd heard from friends who owned dogs. But it wasn't bad at all. The boys curled up in their bed and went to sleep. A storm woke them up, so I curled up in their bed with them and they slept for the next few hours just fine. They woke up maybe 3 times that night, but never whined or anything. They would go potty, play for a bit and then go back to bed.
On the second day we had a company picnic in the afternoon and decided to leave them here at the apartment in their puppy pen (which takes up half our kitchen). When we got home that night, we saw that they had torn up a pee pad but didn't have any messes anywhere. They were glad to see us and they didn't seem to mind that we had been gone. [Jan's Note: This was undoubtedly because they were brothers, had grown up together and had each other for company during that time, so they didn't feel really "alone."]
During this first week home they haven't whined or acted bored. We can have the tv on, but turn it off just to watch them play together, they are a great comedy team, and keep each other occupied. They are two spoiled little boys and when it's time to sleep, they love to cuddle up to us. They have definitely been easy and enjoyable to live with.