.jpg)
What should you bring to pick up your new puppy?
-
Blanket/Bed
-
Potty pads
-
Wipes/paper towels
-
Water/bowl
Things that will come in your welcome home bag:
-
Food they are currently on
-
Treats
-
Folder with AKC paperwork, vaccine record
-
Extra Potty pads
-
Toys with my houses scent on them
What can I expect on the car ride home?
-
Possibly upset stomach
-
When your baby leaves my house this will be their first time ever leaving, they are going to be scared and not knowing what's going on! Dachshunds are also prone to motion sickness so vomiting and diarrhea is a possibility.
-
-
Crying/Whinning
-
They are still just babies so be patient with them!
-
-
Sleeping
-
Of course this is what we always wish to happen! It makes the ride a lot calmer and smoother!
-
Making sure they stay calm and comfortable on their ride home is important and you having the tools to make it be that way! For both you and your new family member!
Things I would not recommend doing on the way home:
-
PLEASE do not let your new baby out at a rest stop, go to the pet store, or take the puppy anywhere in public. I know this sounds a little extreme for any first time dog owner or even one that's had one, but their immune system isn't as built up as an adult dog so they are more likely to pick things up from public places. Yes, they will have their first set of boosters, but this won't completely cover them. I recommend not taking your new puppy out in public or letting them touch any public ground until they are completely vaccinated. Best thing to do is take them straight home!
-
Why do I stress this so much?
-
One word.. PARVO. This is the exact reason why I don't let people visit my home to see their baby before pick up or even at pickup. This deadly disease costs $8,000 AT LEAST to treat, and in many cases your puppy won't survive unfortunately. That's why it is SO stressed. Most parasites can be treated, but also expensive. I just want the babies to stay safe and HEALTHY!
-
If you live in an apartment:
Everyone that has bought a puppy from me in the past that lives in an apartment, I've always recommended buying a grass patch to either put in their bathroom or preferably if you have a balcony or patio put the patch out there. It still gives your new puppy the ability to be potty trained to grass without having to expose them. They will come home potty pad trained too. So it would be best to keep them on either of these options to keep them safe and healthy until they have all their shots.
Their first night home will always be the toughest.. some things that you can expect/happen:
-
Not possibly eating/drinking
-
Not using the restroom
-
Crying
-
Not liking their crate for bedtime
-
Runny stools
I know I've mentioned a lot of 'negative' things as you bring your new puppy home, but I just want you to be fully prepared! Things a lot of breeders won't mention because they want to sell you a puppy. But I will always be 100% honest of everything, that is the only way to set you up for success on this new journey! And yes, these things can happen, but in most cases they don't.
How should I set up my crate/pen area?
One of the best ways to set up their 'home' area is to buy a pen that can attach to their crate. I would put a washable potty pad down first to protect your floor and some throw away potty pads on top because they don't always have the perfect aim, lol. Always leave food and water out 24/7 during the first 4/5 months, unless like mentioned in the previous page you have other dogs that like to inhale then you do what works best for you household. I can give you suggestions too if you need it. Lastly in their crate put a bed/blanket/chew/a few toys. Things that will keep their mind occupied while you are gone or asleep! They will quickly learn this is their safe area and learn it's not the place to use the restroom.
What do I do if my puppy won't stop crying in their crate/pen?
There's many ways to prevent this from happening. The most important one is.. WEAR THEM OUT BEFORE PUTTING THEM IN THERE. This will make your life much easier. When they are babies it can take as little as 15/30 minutes of playtime to wear them out for a full nights rest. If you are too tired yourself to wear them out, because we do have lives and need rest too. You can get 'lick mats' and when they are babies I would suggest just using a little pumpkin, greek yogurt, or even a wet food that you know doesn't upset their tummy. Put it on the lick mat either the night before or morning and in the freezer till your ready to use and this will provide enough mental stimulation to get them tired enough for bed or whatever you may need to do.
Another suggestion..
Puppies are just like babies. They may need to be in another room or quiet part of the house where you can put a white noise machine or fan going. Not directly on them of course. Maybe a blanket on top of their crate, or like suggested again on the previous page the puppy stuffed toy with the heartbeat inside. But 9 times out of 10 they are either fighting sleep because they are tired or just need to let some energy out before they are ready to sleep again.
POTTY TRAINING:
As mentioned before they will be 100% pad trained. And the most simple answer to this question is to be consistent. They are used to being on my schedule at my house. They will need a little help learning yours. You'll learn how often they need to go pretty quickly and a lot of dogs give you 'signs' that might not be obvious but sometimes double check yourself to make sure they weren't giving you one and you accidentally missed it. A lot of past puppy parents love the hanging bell on the door method! It's going to be a lot of trial and error, but you WILL figure it out.