Thinking about the first week.

It's sometimes more than one can handle when thinking about the arrival of your new best friend and how that's going to effect your life. In less than a month (22 days to be sure) the puppies will be here. Then 8 weeks will go by and suddenly my life will change for what I hope is going to be the best.

There will be a lot of changes and as most of my friends will tell you, I don't deal particularly well to huge changes. This means that for the first couple of weeks I usually end up crying and throwing a fit over something that's inevitable. Then I give up and just grow accustom to it like everyone else in the world.

So in an attempt to feel in control over what's going to happen with this little creature I've decided to plan like nobody's business. I know, I know, but you see writing all of the things I think I can handle during this week really helps me out. So here's what I've got for the 1st week:

Week 1

Bringing Puppy Home

• Bring a crate and blanket to the breeders at pick-up. Socialize and settle the pup to your presence.
• On the way home NO radio, NO sudden stops, NO breaks/errands. Keep it simple and quiet while in the car. Drive straight home and keep the car cool.
• Once home give the pup time alone to get used to being separated from the other puppies. Keep the house quiet as any strange noises (outside of routine around the house jobs) may heighten pups stress level.
• Check to see if the pup needs to go potty. Wait 15 minutes for pup to do business. If the pup didn't potty recrate and try again in a few minutes. When pup does go celebrate like nobody's business.
• Inside work on training to sit and come. Play games once the pup does something right. After this session the pup may need to potty. Take it out. React as necessary.
• Keep feeding on the regular schedule issued by the breeder. After eating or drinking puppy needs to go potty.
• Puppy needs quiet time as well so make sure throughout the day the pup gets to spend time alone in his kennel while you are both in and out of the house. If you are in the house try putting the pup in another room for a few minutes. Toss in a few Kong toys for puppy to be occupied.
• Repeat the potty, play, rest, and feeding schedule.
• Puppy gets to go to bed at 8pm but must get up for potty before 11pm so that the pup can settle for the night as much as possible.

Puppy Makes itself at home.

Day 2-3 will be somewhat repetitive of day one. Alternate feeding, potty, play, potty, rest, potty, feeding...

• Minimize contact to only those keywords you have decided upon, use both body and eye contact to help puppy understand you. (Note: Keywords found below

Keywords for Puppy's first few days:

Sit

Come

Bed

Go-Potty

Dinnertime

No

After the Adjustment Period

Days- 4-7

• Socialization begins inside the parameters of the Training Schedule (see below)
• Welcome friends and family to see the puppy but be sure to inform them that you are in-training and adjustment periods so as not to get the puppy over-excited. Teach these people how you have been play-training with the new pup in your own home. Use food as treat reward instead of high calorie alternatives.
• Enjoy your new dog and don't forget the work will be worth it in the long run of life.

Schedule for Potty Training:

7am-Potty and Training

730am- Feeding time

8am- Potty and Celebrate

9am- Crate with lots of Kong activities.

1030am- Potty Break Quick

12pm- Lunchtime potty, feeding, potty, play.

3pm- Potty Break Quick

5pm- Potty, Food, Potty, Exercise, Play

7pm- Training, Potty and Celebrate

8pm- Bedtime

10-11pm- Potty Break Quick & Back to Bed

***Periodic Potty through the night may be necessary set alarm to check***