Bringing Your New Puppy Home

An accomplished business owner with a diverse professional background, Dave Chupp has been running a dog breeding company in Nappanee, Indiana for more than a decade. Working together with his family, Dave Chupp breeds and raises a wide range of dog breeds, from Akitas and Siberian Huskies to French Bulldogs and Westies.

Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting experience, but it requires a bit of preparation. Prior to picking up your new puppy, make sure you have all the necessary supplies for its care, including water and food bowls, some toys, a collar, and a leash. You will also need newspapers or training pads to housetrain your new family member. Beyond that, it’s important to create a clear game plan with all human members living in your household. Figure out which terms you will use for different commands, along with who will feed the puppy and where it is, and is not, allowed to go.

For the puppy’s first three to four days at home, make sure there will be someone around to give it company. The process of leaving its mother and littermates can be very stressful for a young dog, and spending as much time as possible with humans helps reduce their anxiety and facilitate bonding. Schedule an initial examination with your veterinarian right away to check for any health problems or congenital traits. If you have any other animals in the house, make sure they are in good health as well.

Your Dog and Your New Puppy - The Early Days

Dave Chupp, a dog breeder from Nappanee, Indiana upholds a professional commitment to raising happy and well-socialized animals. Dave Chupp raises all of his dogs in a family atmosphere and helps adopting families to integrate new puppies into their existing households.

If your family includes a dog, and you are considering adopting a new puppy, it is important to be deliberate in how you introduce the two. First, you need to know that your dog is accepting of other dogs in general. If your dog is skittish or aggressive around other animals, experts recommend that you consult a behavioral specialist before adopting other animals.

As a dog owner, you also need to know that your dog is up-to-date on all vaccinations and flea treatments, in accordance with veterinarian recommendations. Having your adult dog fixed may also be helpful, particularly if you worry about him or her becoming territorial.

When your dog is medically ready to have a new companion, you may bring the puppy home. Separate living areas for the two animals may be best at first, and it is important to supervise early interactions. The very first meeting may be safest if the adult dog is on a leash, though it is important for the owner to be relaxed and respect the dogs' desire to approach or back away as desired.

Soon, the dogs may begin to play. At this point, the adult dog will likely respond by setting boundaries on the puppy's more aggressive or irritating play. This helps the puppy to learn canine social norms and is generally acceptable, so long as the adult dog is not threatening the puppy's safety. The two dogs are likely to eventually settle into a comfortable rhythm after this initial exploratory phase.