How long it takes for a puppy to adjust to a new home? Bringing a new dog home is an exciting experience for all family members. This involves not only the fun and joy of sharing a life with a pet; but also a lot of responsibility and firmness when it comes to implementing the rules and helping the new member integrate in harmony.
When he first arrives, the puppy may cry or feel uncomfortable and distrustful; as he will find himself in an unknown place surrounded by strangers. Therefore, we bring you this article about how long it takes a puppy to get used to his new home; with useful recommendations for you.
Adapt to a new home, with the collaboration of all
Adopting a dog is a decision that all family members have to agree with. The arrival of the puppy not only represents a great change in people’s lives, but for the dog itself; who in most cases faces the fact that he has been separated from his mother. In addition to having many new smells, places and people to adapt to.
To make everything easier, it is best to wait until the puppy meets at least 2 months before the mother. Before this, it will be much more difficult for the little one to adapt and fend for himself.
Similarly, do not try to start training until the dog feels 100% safe and at ease in his new home and with his new family. The puppy’s adaptation time will depend on how you and your family collaborate with him in the process; it can be from a couple of days to several weeks. So below we offer you several recommendations to show you how to get a puppy used to their new home.
Getting to know the environment
The first thing you should do when the puppy comes home is to allow him to explore the new environment. He may adopt one of three attitudes; that he wants to follow you everywhere; that he prefers to stay still in one place, or that he hides under furniture.
Before any of them you must have patience; let him feel comfortable enough to browse on his own all the corners of the house. Never pressure him to come out or want to take an interest in things in an accelerated way.
It is likely that after a while you will get carried away by the new smells and begin to recognize the place; sniffing and sticking your head in everything; although cautiously. Do not leave him alone during this process, as he could get hurt or leave through a door that has been left open.
From the beginning, show him the places intended for his rest, his bath and the bowls where he will drink and eat. Try not to change places so that you remember them easily; before the arrival of the dog these sites must be agreed with all family members.
What to do if the puppy cries?
At night, and especially at the beginning, it is normal for him to cry, because the puppy is still getting used to his new home. By crying we mean a kind of whimpering, similar to human crying, that dogs emit. Most puppies will do this the first few days; but if you don’t know how to handle it it may become a problem that extends to weeks.
The puppy’s crying is normal, because you must remember that he has been separated from his mother and siblings; of those who received warmth and affection at bedtime. So, during the night, when his human companions have gone to sleep and the dog is in his bed, he feels very lonely.
Your first impulse will be to run to the puppy’s bed to comfort him; but the truth is that this is counterproductive. If you constantly go to pet the puppy, he will interpret this as a reward for his crying and will never stop doing so. On the contrary, ignoring it is the most feasible option; and making your stay more pleasant so that you do not feel so alone.
During the day, try to leave him alone in his bed and retreat from the place for several minutes, approaching only when he has been quiet. Try with 5 minutes and see increasing until you reach 20, so you will get used to it more easily.
During the night, he places a fluffy stuffed animal on his bed, so that he can lie on it; also make sure that the bed is warm and fluffy, so that it is comfortable and does not get cold.
Be affectionate
Soft words and caresses are one of your main allies when it comes to accustoming the puppy to his new home and making him feel safe quickly. Spending time with him, scratching his head; getting toys that amuse him and always using a calm and calm tone of voice are key to achieving this.
Fix your spaces and teach them where to relieve themselves
From the beginning it should be clear where the puppy will use to do his needs, whether inside the house; in the garden or on his walks down the street, and where his bowls of food and water will be.
On feeding, choose an option according to the age of the puppy, and vary it with raw and fresh food. Do not introduce sudden changes in the menu, but small variations gradually. Water should always be fresh and clean; change it at least 2 times a day and never leave it in the sun.
The instructions to do their needs will depend on the place you have chosen for it, but in general you must have patience so that the dog learns where it will be.
Also, it can take about 20 minutes to decide whether to do your needs or not, so don’t try to rush it with anxious words. Also, since the ideal is to start the walks once vaccinated.
Never reprimand him or yell at him when he urinates or defecates in the wrong place; much less beat him: these attitudes will only make him afraid of you, and it will be more difficult for him to get used to his new home.
Adaptation of the puppy to children and other pets
For children a new pet can be somewhat fun. But it is best to supervise the interaction between them and the puppy, both to prevent the dog from being frightened by something and biting them, and so that the children do not do some mischief to the animal. From the earliest childhood we must educate the little ones on how to treat animals, with affection and respect, and teach them that they are not toys, but beings that experience affections, pain and fear just like people.
Working on these values from the beginning will get the puppy used to his new home quickly and the children will treat him properly.
The presentation of the puppy to the other pets in the home can be a delicate process, which requires a lot of subtlety so as not to unleash feelings of jealousy or dangerous dominance behaviors, which could trigger violent behaviors.
The first few weeks, he watches all the animals and immediately corrects any hostile attitude; making everyone see that they are not being displaced by the new puppy. Likewise, if you have the opportunity, the ideal would be to present the animals before the definitive entry of the puppy, in a neutral space; so that they begin to recognize their smell.
With these recommendations we are sure that in a few days, maybe two weeks, your puppy will be completely used to life with his new family.
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