When you pick your pup up from the breeder/animal welfare, you will no doubt be given a list/pamphlet etc of the do’s and don’ts of puppy care. The problem is that often it goes in one ear and out the other in all the excitement of collecting your new pet.

You’ll get your pup home and you’ll find that everything is going well, it’s had a chance to look around, picked out some favourite spots and pretty much been under your feet every step you take. Things are looking positive until you go to feed it or there is a toilet accident.

Some general things to try and remember:

Usually pups will require three small meals a day – this can be tapered off to two fairly quickly (around 8 -10 weeks.) When you feed your pup only give it small amounts: a mixture of dry and can/fatty foods will do. You may find your pup is a little picky with its food to start with and this can be caused by a combination of things: stress, having just left its littermates; the fact that it no longer has to fight with its littermates over the food; and generally just being in a new environment. A good tip to remember is that, as you will have probably noticed, your pup is following you everywhere, stay with it while it’s eating its first few meals until it adapts.

If, after half an hour or so there is still food left: remove it. Otherwise your pup may get into the habit of scoffing the meat/can food and leaving the dry stuff which can soon encourage it to become a picky eater, or it’ll start to nibble at but not really eat its food if it’s left lying around.

You should have also been given notice of when your pup was vaccinated/wormed and when it is due again. Take note and stick to the schedule. Trying to worm your pup as soon as it gets home will be just another added stress for it.

Take your pup outside to do its business regularly. You’ll find that in the first few days your pup will be active for periods and then fall sound asleep fairly quickly. As soon as it wakes up take it outside. Some puppies get stressed when they first come to a new home and this can cause diarrhoea, another good reason to take it outside regularly. If your pup is fairly confined you may find it starts sniffing and racing around, this can be another indication that it’s ready to go outside. Try to use the same door all the time, this can be a good start to training your dog.

Generally if common sense prevails your pup should settle into its new house smoothly, well at least until it’s time for bed.