Settling your puppy in
The first few days will be very stressful for your new puppy so please be patient and understanding that he/she is dealing with a huge change in life. It is a good idea to wash the bedding that the pup travelled with and let him/her sleep with it at night for a few days. It will smell of home and tends to keep them a lot more relaxed.
LEAVING YOUR PUPPY
Don’t stay with your pup all the time (especially important if you get the pup when your children are on holidays). Why? Your pup needs to learn to be left alone, otherwise you may cause separation – related problems when the routine changes (eg, children go back to school or you go back to work).
Leave the puppy for periods up to 10 minutes on a regular basis, only returning when your pup is quiet. Why? Ten minute periods on a regular basis will help habituate your pup to your absence. Returning when the pup is quiet reinforces the learning that quietness will guarantee your return.
Don’t go down to your puppy at night if it cries. Why? The pup will learn to call you back by crying. Coming in once will perpetuate the problem and increase the strength of the learning, for example.
1st night: Pup cries for 10 mins, you return.
2nd night: Pup cries for 10mins, no return by you so pup cries for a further period, eg 15 mins, you return.
The pup has learnt to work harder (25 mins instead of 10mins in order to get reward of your return).
Week 2: Puppy cries for hour until you give in and return (or even worse bring it up to your bed with you).
This is a simular sensitisation and learning pattern to daytime separation related problems.
The first few days will be very stressful for your new puppy so please be patient and understanding that he/she is dealing with a huge change in life. It is a good idea to wash the bedding that the pup travelled with and let him/her sleep with it at night for a few days. It will smell of home and tends to keep them a lot more relaxed.
LEAVING YOUR PUPPY
Don’t stay with your pup all the time (especially important if you get the pup when your children are on holidays). Why? Your pup needs to learn to be left alone, otherwise you may cause separation – related problems when the routine changes (eg, children go back to school or you go back to work).
Leave the puppy for periods up to 10 minutes on a regular basis, only returning when your pup is quiet. Why? Ten minute periods on a regular basis will help habituate your pup to your absence. Returning when the pup is quiet reinforces the learning that quietness will guarantee your return.
Don’t go down to your puppy at night if it cries. Why? The pup will learn to call you back by crying. Coming in once will perpetuate the problem and increase the strength of the learning, for example.
1st night: Pup cries for 10 mins, you return.
2nd night: Pup cries for 10mins, no return by you so pup cries for a further period, eg 15 mins, you return.
The pup has learnt to work harder (25 mins instead of 10mins in order to get reward of your return).
Week 2: Puppy cries for hour until you give in and return (or even worse bring it up to your bed with you).
This is a simular sensitisation and learning pattern to daytime separation related problems.
