What and How Should My New Owner Do to Give Me the Best Life?
First and foremost, I want to congratulate you on your new family member and wish you lots of joy together! In this blog post, I want to share some tips about the first trip, potty training, the first nights, feeding, and so on. We’ll touch on several topics here, but I plan to write longer and more detailed posts about each subject in the future. I hope this will be helpful to you. In this post, I often describe the worst-case scenarios to ensure you’re prepared for everything. Based on my previous experience, puppies usually adapt very quickly to their new homes, sleep well from the very first night, and have no issues with their appetite.
The First Journey – Home to the New Home:
The first journey is very important for the puppy. Our veterinarian is only 30 kilometers away, which is not a long trip for our puppies. Therefore, their first real journey will be when you take them home. I will let you know in advance if the puppy has shown any negative reactions during its initial trip here with us, but this is very rare.
I recommend using a soft fabric carrier with a cozy blanket and a toy inside. Ideally, the carrier should open from the top so that you can pet the puppy during the trip. Close contact is very important for the puppy since, up until now, it has always had its siblings nearby, with only short separations. You will receive a blanket and a toy from me that smell like “home,” which will be a great help during the first few days. Once the puppy grows larger, you can use the seatbelt in the car, which is included in the puppy kit.
Most puppies fall asleep within 10–15 minutes in the car. You do not need to stop every hour to let the puppy urinate unless it seems restless and starts moving around when it wakes up, which can be a sign that it needs to pee. However, if the puppy sleeps for 3–4 hours straight, do not wake it up.
During the trip, it’s a good idea to bring water and a bowl so that you can offer water to the puppy. Do not feed the puppy during the trip because the first journey is important, and it’s better if its stomach is not full. The puppy will manage without food until you get home. If you are traveling a long distance, such as to Norway, Finland, or Kiruna, please contact me so we can plan together.
It’s not unusual for the puppy not to urinate at the first stop or to hold it for a long time, sometimes up to 8–10 hours on the first day. This rarely happens, but it’s nothing to worry about. Every puppy reacts differently to major changes, and this will pass with time. There’s no reason for concern!
House Training:
A puppy at 8–9 weeks old is never fully house-trained. We begin house training here. From the time the puppies are 5 weeks old, they spend as much time outdoors as possible, depending on the weather and season. When I take them out, I do not play with them, talk to them, or give them attention during the first 5–10 minutes. It’s important for them to learn that the first and most essential thing to do when going outside is to pee and poop.
Starting at 7 weeks old, I use the word “pee” when they urinate and praise them afterward (I always have a few Royal Canin Mini Puppy treats in my pocket as a reward). If you continue this training, the puppies will quickly understand what you want, and this can be very helpful for you.
At 8–9 weeks old, the puppies are accustomed to peeing on grass. When I take them out, they usually relieve themselves within 5 minutes, but they are still not fully house-trained. An 8-week-old puppy cannot hold it for more than 2–3 hours and will not even attempt to. They rarely signal that they need to pee; they simply do it. It takes several weeks for this behavior to develop, so patience is crucial. Also, be cautious with heights such as beds and sofas. Puppies have not yet developed the ability to judge heights, which can lead to accidents.
Indoors, we use puppy pads, and the puppies quickly learn to use them. Place puppy pads where the puppy spends most of its time, such as the living room and near the front door. These pads are a great help initially, but they should be phased out gradually. If the puppy is still using them around 5 months of age, there is a risk they will start viewing all mats as “pee spots.” Therefore, stop using them as soon as possible.
Every puppy is unique and develops at its own pace. Some are house-trained by 4 months old, while others still have accidents at 6–7 months old. Patience is key! Take the puppy out every two hours, after playtime and meals, or when it wakes up. The more time you spend outdoors, the faster the puppy will learn.
It’s not uncommon for a puppy that has been accident-free for 1.5–2 weeks at 4–5 months old to suddenly start peeing indoors again. Don’t panic; this is a phase that will pass.
If accidents happen, don’t yell at or get angry with the puppy. Of course, you can indicate that this was not right, but it’s important for the puppy to feel safe with you. Never hit the puppy or rub its nose in the mess—this is both ineffective and harmful! Instead, focus on praising the puppy when it does the right thing. If the puppy pees outdoors, show clear joy and give it lots of love. Let the puppy feel that you are proud of it when it gets it right. This is perhaps the most important thing of all! ❤️
Feeding Guidelines:
A puppy aged 8–9 weeks should eat three times a day. Sometimes they still prefer softened food, but they might also already enjoy dry food. I will inform you about the specific diet of your puppy before you pick it up. The puppies eat Royal Canin Mini Puppy, and it is crucial not to change their diet during the first six weeks and to avoid giving any treats. Moving to a new home, vaccinations, and deworming affect their bodies, and they don’t need additional dietary changes during this time.
If you wish to switch their food after six weeks, do it gradually by mixing the new and old food over at least one week to avoid stomach issues. Over the years, I have tried many different brands, but I always return to Royal Canin. The puppies enjoy it, and their stools are consistent.
Appetite may decrease after moving to a new home. It is not uncommon for a puppy to initially refuse to eat. Please don’t rush to the vet immediately! Remember, the puppy has experienced significant changes—a new family, environment, routines, and no siblings around. It’s no surprise their appetite is affected. Additionally, Poodles are not known for having big appetites. Be patient—if the puppy eats even a little, it’s progress.
If the puppy still doesn’t eat properly after a week, you can reduce their meals from three to two times per day so they get really hungry between meals. I usually say that if the puppy is happy, running around, wagging its tail, drinking water, and otherwise healthy, there’s no reason to worry. If appetite is still low, you can alternate between dry food and softened food to make meals more appealing.
I will provide a chart with the expected adult weight and the recommended feeding amounts based on the puppy’s age. For example, if the recommendation is 78 grams per day but your puppy only eats 52 grams, don’t worry! Every puppy is different, just like us, and their needs vary. If your puppy finishes all its food and still wants more, give it a little extra. It’s difficult to determine the exact adult weight because we are talking about a Havapoo, which is a mixed breed. It’s impossible to predict precisely how big they will be as adults. One thing is certain—your puppy will not overeat and won’t become overweight. Obesity is uncommon for this breed, especially before neutering.
Avoid feeding the puppy by hand, as this can create bad habits that are difficult to break later. Also, don’t let the puppy become dependent on your presence while eating. It needs to eat independently to prevent problems if you ever need to leave it with someone else. I understand that occasionally hand-feeding might be necessary if the puppy refuses to eat, but try to avoid it as much as possible.
The puppy can eat Royal Canin Mini Puppy until it is 10 months old. After that, I recommend Acana Grass-Fed Lamb or Purizon Duck. From 14 weeks of age, you can start introducing treats. The puppies already chew on bones while with me, but it’s essential that the bones are large enough not to get stuck in their throat. Always supervise the puppy while it chews on bones to avoid accidents.
Don’t rush to the vet unnecessarily:
This is an important point: Please don’t rush to the vet if your puppy is feeling fine. Unnecessary examinations can be stressful for the puppy and may affect how it perceives vet visits for the rest of its life. Additionally, the risk of exposure to infectious diseases increases, as many sick animals visit clinics.
If the puppy is happy, playful, drinking water, and in good overall condition, there is no need to seek medical care. I understand that you want to be thorough and provide the best for your puppy, but an unnecessary trip to the vet can do more harm than good.
Of course, if you notice anything unusual, you should consult a veterinarian. But remember, puppies may eat less during the first few days after moving to a new home, and this is completely normal. If a puppy isn’t eating well enough, it will not leave my care until I deem it ready. So if your puppy has a poor appetite during the first few days after moving, it’s likely due to the big adjustment.
I recommend choosing a smaller, independent veterinary clinic for your future needs.
Nights:
It’s not uncommon for your puppy to feel sad on the first night. It’s important for you to stay close and comfort them if needed. I cannot stress enough that everything is new for the puppy: a new environment, new people, and their siblings are no longer around.
The best option is to sleep on a mattress on the floor next to the puppy. Place a puppy pad in the room in case the puppy needs to pee. If sleeping on the floor isn’t possible, you can position the puppy’s bed next to yours and let your hand hang down to provide comfort. You could also create a confined space in the bedroom where the puppy has a puppy pad, a bed, and a water bowl.
It’s not necessary to set an alarm to take the puppy outside every two hours. It’s important for the puppy to learn that nighttime is for sleeping. Similarly, avoid getting the puppy used to being woken up at set times for care. Establishing consistency in training from the beginning is crucial. If the puppy wakes up and starts moving during the night, take them outside to pee if possible. This will accelerate the house-training process.
However, I want to emphasize that during the first week, the puppy might wake up more frequently, but this usually resolves after a week. It’s also possible that the puppy will sleep through the first night without any issues.
Another key point to remember is that nighttime is not for play. If the puppy goes out to pee, keep the focus solely on that, and of course, praise them afterward. Then, calmly and slowly guide them back to sleep. If the puppy starts playing, ignore them so they understand it’s not playtime.
All of this requires training, as the puppy is still very young and has much to learn. But if you remain consistent, everything will work perfectly within a week. Puppies learn incredibly quickly at this age.
What’s very important is that you never confine the puppy in a crate during the night! While this might be common in the USA, it’s not accepted in Sweden. In fact, it’s illegal here to restrict a dog’s freedom of movement in this way. You may see this on social media, but it’s nonsense! Puppies cannot hold their bladder for long. If they need to pee, they will do so in their own bed/crate, which can lead to bad habits. They must have the ability to choose where to relieve themselves. Additionally, confining them in such a way can cause emotional harm to the puppy.
The Puppy’s Place in the Home:
It’s a good idea to provide your puppy with its own corner in the home where it can retreat to rest or find peace and quiet if family activities become overwhelming. If you have children in the family, it’s important to explain to them that this is a place where the puppy should not be disturbed; it’s the puppy’s “calm corner” in the home.
Initially, you can set up this space using a puppy pen. Furnish it with a water bowl, a comfortable bed, toys, and a puppy pad. This spot is also ideal for training the puppy to be comfortable on its own. It should be a safe and secure area where the puppy can stay if you’re unable to supervise it. However, make sure not to leave the puppy confined in the pen for extended periods.
The best approach is to keep the pen’s door open so the puppy can decide when to enter or exit. To create positive associations with the space, you can play with the puppy there, let it nap there occasionally, or even feed it inside the pen. This helps make the pen a safe and pleasant spot for the puppy.
To prevent separation anxiety, introduce alone-time training slowly and gradually. Start with short intervals and increase the duration step by step each day. I’ll write more about this in another blog post.
Access to water:
It is essential that the puppy always has access to fresh water. For healthy development of the internal organs, constant access to water is absolutely necessary. So if you are considering removing the water between 10 PM and 7 AM to reduce the number of bathroom breaks, it’s a very bad idea! Do not do it!
Preparations for the puppy’s arrival:
Before the puppy moves in, it’s important to go through your home to see what might need to be adjusted. It may be a good idea to remove all rugs until the puppy is house-trained. The presence of rugs can prolong this process. If you have stairs, block them off with a baby gate or a puppy pen to prevent the puppy from falling. Puppies need to learn how to use stairs, but repeated movements up and down are not good for their knees and hips.
Hide cables and chargers. Not all puppies are interested in them, but some love chewing on charger cords. However, it is rare for this breed to damage furniture like sofas or other large items.
I also want to remind you of what I mentioned earlier about creating a safe corner in your home for the puppy. This can help the puppy have a place where it feels secure and can retreat if there is too much activity in the home.
If possible, it can be beneficial to fence off part of the garden with a puppy pen, a play area, or a fixed fence so the puppy can safely be outside.
Meeting another dog or cat:
If you already have a dog at home, the best way to introduce the puppy is through a walk. When you bring the puppy home, one of you can take the older dog out for a walk and let them meet outdoors, perhaps on the way back. After that, you can walk home together. This helps the older dog understand that the puppy isn’t just suddenly appearing in the home but is a new family member being introduced. This method also creates a more relaxed first contact.
If you have cats at home, it may be helpful to let the cat approach the puppy at its own pace. Give the cat the opportunity to retreat and observe from a distance, and try to avoid forcing an interaction. It is important that both the puppy and the cat feel secure during the introduction.
Between the first and second vaccinations, you can go out for walks with the puppy but avoid large dog parks and similar places where many dogs gather.
If there are children in the family:
If you have children, it is important to explain to them how to interact with the puppy. The puppy is still very small and fragile, so it’s crucial that the children learn to respect its boundaries. Explain that the puppy needs time to rest and that its “safe corner” is a space where it must not be disturbed.
It’s also good to teach children how to play with the puppy in a safe manner. Use gentle movements and avoid games that could make the puppy stressed or scared. Encourage the children to reward the puppy with praise when it does something good, and teach them to be patient as the puppy learns new things.
Summary:
These are the most important things to keep in mind during the first period after the puppy has moved in. I wish you the best of luck and many joyful moments with your new family member!
