Congratulations on adopting a puppy from Pasadena Humane. Here are some tips on how to ensure a smooth transition into your home:
First Things First
• Puppy-Proofing: Keep items you don’t want your puppy to chew out of reach. Set your pup up for success by rotating in new toys often. For every “no,” there should be 10 alternative things they can chew on or play with.
• Potty Time: Before heading inside your home, take your puppy to the area where you want to train him/her to potty.
• Be Patient: Let your puppy sniff and wait until s/he urinates and/or defecates. Reward your puppy with treats and praise for eliminating in the preferred area.
• More Potty Time: Take your puppy to the same potty area after they wake up from sleeping, after playtime, before and after mealtimes and before bedtime.
Learning a New Routine
• Playtime: Puppies need several play sessions daily! Try different types of toys, games, and activities daily to see what your pup prefers. Preference might change day to day. Playtime is a great way to establish a bond with your new buddy.
• Routine is Key: Meals, play and bedtime should occur at the same time each day.
• Supervision: Puppies need constant supervision. For times when you are unable keep a close watch on your puppy, an X-Pen or dog crate is recommended.
When Do I Start Training My Puppy?
• Day 1: Teach good habits right from the start. It’s never too early to begin positive reinforcement training! Even when you aren’t actively training, your puppy is still learning. Use their daily food ration to begin teaching tricks and how to respond to their name.
• Art of Socialization: Help build your puppy’s confidence by introducing new things slowly. Refrain from overwhelming your dog. While socialization is important, more is not necessarily better. It’s beneficial to set up fewer interactions that are very positive than to flood your dog with too many new people, other pets, and new experiences that might be scary. Think quality over quantity.
• Puppy Pals: Meet up with other puppies and tolerant dogs you know are friendly. Enroll your puppy in a puppy pre-school or kindergarten class. Remember, the dog park can be much too overwhelming for most dogs and puppies.
New Puppy Shopping List*
• Puppy food
• Food & water bowls
• Leash, collar, & I.D. tag
• Chew toys, plush toys, ball toys
• Treats
• Bed
• Poop bags
*All these items can be purchased in our Shelter Shop.
We are always here to help! You can find additional behavior and training resources at pasadenahumane.org/behavior.
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