Bringing home your new puppy is such an exciting moment you’ll never forget. Puppies are able to go home between 8-9 weeks old and in general we schedule pick-up dates during week 8 for families who are able to do it in person. Make sure you are well prepared, because that day can be unsettling for them as they leave their mother and littermates. Below will be provided some tips you can follow, so you both have a relaxed journey home, and to manage this transition phase into your home. We strongly recommend you collect your puppy when you have a few days free to be at home and take care of it. It will be great if you can bring it home by noon so it can get used to the new environment before bedtime. It’s also best if the house is quiet with very few visitors during the early days so your puppy can settle in without too much going on. Get ready for lots of love and playful moments, your furry friend is eager to meet you!
Preparing for your pup’s arrival
Welcoming a new puppy is an exciting, challenging, and hugely rewarding moment. There are plenty of things to do before you bring your puppy home, to make sure you’re ready for its arrival. As well as buying important equipment, it’s vital to make appropriate preparations in your household too. Following are key things to consider. More details are provided in the booklet included in the puppy package.
- Puppy-proof your home and your yard
Puppies are curious and love to explore their surroundings. So, it’s important to make sure your home is safe and secure before you bring your pup home. Many common houseplants we do have are very dangerous for dogs and puppies. Therefore, it is fundamental to either keep all houseplants out of the way of your pup, or double check to make sure yours don’t pose a threat for it. Some of the foods we enjoy can be very harmful or even fatal for your pup (e.g. chocolate, coffee, avocados, grapes, etc.). For sake of safety, make sure your family knows about it and keep all food out of your puppy’s reach. Dangerous substances such as chemicals, cleaning products, e-cigarettes refills or medicines are known to be particularly harmful and should be stored out of reach of your dog. Puppies like to explore things with their mouths, so put away any small items they could chew or swallow (children’s toys, cables, drawing pins, plastic bags, elastic bands or even your shoes).
Your puppy will enjoy spending time outdoors, so you’ll need to make sure your yard is safe for it to explore too. As with houseplants, there’s a long list of outdoor plants that are poisonous to dogs. you’ll need to watch your puppy to make sure they stay away from them. Have a close look around your yard to find and address anything your puppy could injure itself (e.g. holes, sharp thorns, etc.). As with indoor puppy-proofing, remove small objects from your yard that puppies could swallow or choke on. Until your puppy’s older, it’s safest to keep ponds with steep sides and water features covered to prevent them falling in and drowning. Additionally, make sure there are no gaps in your yard fencing or gates, and check there are no areas where your puppy could dig under or climb over to escape.
- Prepare your relatives and friends
It’s natural for children and adults in your household to be excited about getting a puppy. But it’s important that you prepare them for how to behave and make sure that they understand they have a role in their puppy’s development, safety, and happiness. So it’s important to learn how to make each introduction as carefully as possible, since any negative experiences can have long-lasting effects. Meeting lots of people at once can be intimidating for a puppy, so give them chance to get used to each person individually. Moreover, to avoid overwhelming your puppy, have as few visitors as possible in the first few days at home. Give your puppy plenty of time to get to know each person. Positive experiences now will help when they encounter new people outside your home. Puppies can feel threatened if they’re approached too quickly or passed from person to person. It’s best to ask people (especially children) to sit quietly and wait for your puppy to approach them. teach careful handling and make sure during eating and sleeping are observed. Always supervise what the kids are doing with the puppy and make sure they understand they need to stay calm and not treat them like a toy. Pets can feel very territorial, so it’s important you introduce your new puppy to any other pets in a controlled, sensitive way.
Pick-up: bringing your puppy home
There are a few important things to take with you when coming to get your puppy to help them have a comfortable journey home. These include:
- a comfortable dog carrier, i.e. a crate (optional)
- a cozy blanket
- a leash and an adjustable collar, or harness (useful when walking your puppy from and to the car)
- water and a bowl (to make sure your puppy is hydrated for the journey home and has something to chew on)
- poop bags and cleaning supplies
Additional information will be provided: paperwork, tips to handle and relax your puppy during the trip, essential equipment for your puppy, FAQs to breeders, how to handle your pup during the first few weeks, etc.
Our litters are always insured, i.e. we choose to ensure all pups before they are sold. Make sure to have a pup insurance policy that run from the day you pick it from us. Pet insurance could help pay expensive vet bills if your pet is ill or has an accident.
We aren’t professional or certified in pet shipping, but we are more than happy to arrange for international travel within the EU or to other destinations. Each country has their own laws and regulations on how, when and from where you can import a puppy. We are happy to arrange international transport according to the laws pertaining to the area of import.
