The puppy has arrived!

It is always a great event when a puppy arrives in its new home. However, integrating a puppy into the household is not always easy, and there are some very important things to remember.

The first weeks of life together will set the pattern for your pup's behaviour in future years and lay the foundation for the relationship between you and your pup. In order to avoid problems of miscommunication and misunderstanding it is important to appreciate that:

• Dogs are different to human beings. Although many of their emotions may be similar, they don't have the same level of intellectual and emotional capacity as adult humans.

But equally:

• Dogs are not devoid of feeling and understanding.

Your puppy is a living creature with a range of behavioural needs and unique communication methods, which differ from our own.

Canine communication involves all of the senses (sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch). Dogs use a combination of instinctive behaviours and more complex learned responses in order to get their message across.

• The way your puppy reacts and adapts to its new surroundings will be unique to your pup. Its behaviour will have been moulded by a combination of factors including genetic influences from the parents, early environmental influences and early social interaction with its own and other species and what it has learnt from these experiences.

This website outlines the general principles of raising puppies and preparing them for life as part of your family, but it is important to remember that every dog is an individual and that the rules may need to be adapted to suit your particular situation. If you have any doubts or concerns you should contact your veterinarian practice for advice.

Social behaviour

When your puppy arrives in your home it may be the first time that it has been separated from its mother and littermates. Until now its mother will have been the most important figure in the puppy's life and when it enters your family it will need to form new attachments and social bonds.

• Young puppies will transfer the attachment they've had with their mother onto new family members who can provide its essential needs of food, warmth and comfort. In many cases the newcomer will appear to form a particularly close bond with particular family members. It values the family as a source of comfort, and with the security of a reliable relationship as a foundation, the puppy is able to set off on its voyage of discovery in a human orientated world.
• Although a strong bond between puppy and owner is beneficial in the early stages, there comes a time when the puppy needs to develop its own independence. Loosening the bond may be difficult for both pup and owner at first, but you need to remember that this is a vital part of your puppy's development. Decreasing the level of attachment does not involve ceasing all affectionate interaction and you can still have a great relationship with your puppy as long as it is on your terms. From now on you need to ensure that the initiative for social interaction comes from you and not from the puppy. If this process is completed successfully your puppy will learn that social interaction is not always available on demand and this will enable them to cope with the periods of solitude that are associated with being a domestic pet (e.g. times when you go to work etc). Puppies that fail to 'grow up' in this way, and remain dependent on their owner for all their social needs, will be prone to behavioural problems when they are left alone and may go on to develop behavioural problems known as 'separation anxiety'. There may be a genetic predisposition for some breeds or individuals which find it more difficult to adapt to being alone compared with other breeds.
  
  Destruction, howling and inappropriate toileting are common symptoms of separation anxiety and while the condition is well-recognised and may be manageable, it is far better to prevent it in the first place.

Importance of play

Play is a vital outlet for physical and mental stimulation (reducing the chance of behavioural problems). Dogs should be offered safe toys to play with and should also be given the chance to catch some of these items, provided they are suitable for this purpose.

Lessons to learn

House-training

Very few puppies are fully house-trained when they enter their new home, and most owners are prepared for a period of extra cleaning when they take on a young pup. However, in many cases the process of house-training is unnecessarily long and drawn out, and as a result there is considerable tension between pet and owner. Remember that many puppies do not have full bladder control until they are around 4 months old.

By following a few simple rules and avoiding some common mistakes, you can maximise your chances of success and make the whole house-training process far less stressful for you and your puppy.

Spot the right moment

• It is important for your puppy to be in the location in which you want it to toilet when it feels the need to relieve itself. If you take your puppy outside when it is most likely to want to go to the toilet (after every meal, when it wakes up, after drinking and after play) you maximise the chances of it forming an appropriate association between being in the right spot and relieving itself. Every time your puppy makes a mistake and goes to the toilet in the house it learns an inappropriate association and the process of house-training is slowed down. Although it may sound drastic, setting an alarm for intervals of two hours during the day and night and taking your puppy outside on a regular basis can be one of the quickest and simplest ways of house-training.

Reward works better than punishment!

• If you ensure that you are with your young puppy when it is outside (or the designated spot on the balcony for apartment dwellers), you can give some form of reward to coincide with the process of toileting and thereby encourage your puppy to see toileting in the appropriate place as a good thing to do. Praise or food can be used, but it is very important that the reward is given immediately following toileting (i.e. within 1/2 a second) and not once the puppy is safely back in the house.

Walking on a lead

Puppies do not inherently know how to walk on a lead and it is important to introduce your new arrival to a lead and collar as soon as possible.

• At first, put the collar on your puppy for a few days, and let it get used to this little constraint without you attempting to take it for a walk.
• Then attach a lead to the collar for just a few minutes and let it get used to this before you attempt to take it for a walk.
• Make sure the clip is not too big or heavy for a young puppy.
• When you pull on the lead, do so gently and get your dog's attention by clicking your tongue or talking to it. As soon as it follows the direction of the lead, reward it with a small food reward and verbal praise. Don't worry if it only takes a few steps on the first occasion.
• Once the puppy is happy to walk alongside you on its lead you should encourage it to make regular eye contact with you by making interesting little noises, providing treats and praise to get its attention. In this way, the dog is encouraged to be in communication with you during walks.
• The lead is a very important communication channel between the dog and owner and tension and frustration are easily transmitted down the lead. Many cases of behaviour problems, such as aggression towards other dogs, are made worse by this negative communication. Try to ensure that you are always calm and in a positive frame of mind when communicating with your dog whilst it is on the lead.

Obedience training

• There is a lot to learn about puppy training and it is wise to seek expert advice regarding training for your new pup. There are many different puppy classes, obedience training programs and dog and kennel clubs that offer different levels of training and classes. Ask your veterinarian for guidance to establish a training program suitable for you and your new puppy.
• In addition to specific training, puppies also need to learn how to control their own behaviour and limit potential injury to others. Part of this process involves learning that the use of teeth and nails are not acceptable when interacting with owners and other pets, and it is therefore important not to encourage their use during play. Play should be directed to appropriate toys instead.

Taking your dog out

• Puppies need to be taken out and about in the world in which they are to live as soon as possible to maximise the processes of socialization and habituation, and to teach them to accept diversity and challenges in their world. Whilst it is obviously important to take all the necessary precautions to reduce exposure of your puppy to risks such as infectious diseases, traffic, etc; it is sensible to take it out on trips away from home as soon as possible. Places that have been soiled by animals should be avoided, as should contact with unvaccinated animals, but the risks of isolating your puppy at a young age are just as serious as those posed by taking them on small outings. To keep risks to a minimum you can carry your puppy in your arms and ensure that the dogs it meets are of good health and vaccination status. If in doubt about any potential risks, discuss them with your veterinarian.
• Once the vaccination process is complete there is no limit to the variety of experiences you can offer your puppy but remember that young animals have a requirement for frequent sleep.
• Failing to take your puppy out into the world will put it at risk of developing a number of behavioural problems later in life, including fear of places, people and animals. Many of these dogs may go on to develop aggressive behaviour. Aggression is often due to anxiety, and dogs that have little or no experience with the outside world may see people, places and other dogs as potential threats. This means they will often react aggressively in order to protect themselves from the threats that they perceive in their environment. Preventing these sorts of problems is a real responsibility for new owners.
• It is not uncommon for puppies to show some degree of fear when they encounter people and places for the first time. It is very important that you react in a positive manner and try to use play as a form of distraction.

If the fearful behaviour continues then seek advice from your veterinary practice. Your veterinarian may refer you to a veterinary behaviourist if necessary. Treatment will be much more effective if started early. Do not think that the problem will get better with time – it may not. Puppies do not grow out of problem behaviours without help.

Group dynamics

Dogs live in groups or 'packs' in the wild. To help them feel secure within your family you need to give them clear and consistent rules so they understand how they fit into the group.

The most important thing to remember when interacting with your puppy is consistency. Everyone within the family needs to treat the dog in the same way and thereby reinforce the rules that you have set.

It is important to remember the significance of activities such as eating and sleeping when determining how the puppy best fits into your family. Ensuring that he or she is not given human food from the table or from your plate will help the puppy to understand the rules regarding food allocation. Train your puppy to sleep in a crate and give the pup its own bed. This allows it to understand what the rules of the group are. It is sensible to adhere to a strict plan in the early weeks in order to avoid any potential confusion.

Behavioural problems are a common reason for breakdowns in the pet owner relationship and you can help to prevent these problems by remembering that your puppy is not a person. You are in the best position to prevent problem behaviours and now is the time to start.

Bringing up a puppy can be a challenge as well as an adventure, but if you respect your pup's natural behaviour as well as its individual personality you can learn to understand the world from a canine perspective and enjoy years of rewarding companionship with your happy and faithful friend.

If you experience any problems with your pet's behaviour or consider their reactions to be inappropriate, very annoying or even dangerous, do not hesitate to seek advice from your veterinary practice.