Overview

The big moment has arrived. Your house is puppy-proofed, the crate is stocked with blankets and chewtoys, and your dog is about to walk through the door.

And when she finally does? Introduce her to her new accomodations and let her get comfortable.

Give your new dog a tour

1. Show your dog where the "bathroom" is.
Take her to that mossy patch in the back yard or the tree out front, and praise her effusively if she happens to relieve herself in the appropriate spot. Be prepared for her to relieve herself again when she gets back inside. (Perhaps now isn't the time to ask, but did you remember to get that stain and odor remover?)

2. Lead her to where her meals will be served.
Let her sniff around and get comfortable.

3. Introduce her to her crate.
Toss a treat inside and let her explore her new den with the door open.

4. Let her explore one, maybe two rooms.
Hold off on opening up the rest of your home for now. She'll have to complete a rigorous course in housetraining before she gets an all-access pass.

5. Start introducing her to the resident pets.
Start getting her acquainted with the house cat, if you have one, or your resident dog (although hopefully they've met already, to make sure they get along).

6. Throughout the day, periodically leave her by herself in her crate for very short periods.
This gets her used to being by herself and teaches her that you always come back. Over the next week or so, you can gradually build up to longer periods.

7. Set up a routine.
It doesn't have to run like a Swiss train schedule, but if your dog knows that the day follows a certain pattern of sleep, meals, and walks, as well as playtime and alone time, she'll feel more comfortable.

DogTime tip: Don't invite the whole neighborhood over today to meet the new dog. Being taken to a new place is overwhelming enough for a dog or puppy, and being deluged with lots of loud, lively strangers can be downright scary. Keep the mood mellow and calm, and save the meet-the-dog party for later.

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