Settling in

Settling your puppy into his new home will be much easier for both you and your puppy if you prepare in advance. Here are a few basic essentials that will make your puppy feel at ease in their new home.

An indoor crate or puppy pen is a great way to help your puppy feel safe and secure in their new environment. Your puppy may have been kept in a crate before you brought him home, so it might feel familiar.

When choosing a crate it’s important to consider how big your puppy will be when he’s fully grown. Always place your puppy’s bed or crate somewhere away from draughts with some privacy.

If your new puppy is anxious about their new home, you may want to try a natural calming remedy such as Serene-UM drops. These help to relieve any stress your puppy may feel when settling into a new home. These drops are only suitable for puppies over 6 weeks old.

Our Microwave Puppy Comforter is a great way to keep your puppy warm during the winter months, simply pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds and your new arrival will be snug for hours. Puppies are naturally inquisitive and love to explore. Dog safety gates are a great way to introduce them into your
home slowly and safely, especially if you have other pets. They also love to chew and pick things up with their mouths so make sure that you move anything valuable or dangerous out of their reach.

Diet

Your puppy’s first few meals at home are very important. To ensure they do not get an upset stomach it is best to find out what your puppy was being fed and continue to feed them on the same food for a day or two. If they’ve not been eating an Advanced Nutrition brand, then we recommend you change their diet. This will need to be done gradually over a few days, mixing equal amounts of old and new food into their bowl.

A puppy’s nutritional needs vary significantly from that of an adult dog and they require a unique and balanced diet to help them grow into healthy adults. Advanced Nutrition Puppy Food has been specially formulated to meet the unique nutritional needs at this critical stage of your puppy’s development. We have carefully blended protein and fibre in an easy to digest formula. This ensures your puppy has all the essential nutrients for growth and stamina, for the very best start in life.

We only use quality ingredients to help keep your puppy in the best possible condition. Every meal contains a high meat content which is sourced from UK farms. It is also non GM and contains no added colourants, flavourings or preservatives.

It’s vital that your puppy always has access to a clean, fresh supply of water. You may want to treat him to puppy milk every now and again. Our puppy milk is enriched with Omega 3 and infused with vitamins and minerals.

When you wash his bowls, only use water as washing up liquid can harm his delicate stomach. It’s also advisable to wash them separately from your own.

Click here for more advice on what to feed your puppy, or pop into your local store and ask a member of our store team, they will be more than happy to help.

Training and behaviour

Training is an important part of your puppy’s development. It is most effective if you praise and reward your puppy immediately after they have responded to a command. You can reward him with a nutritionally balanced treat, some of your puppy’s usual food or a toy. Even just praising your dog can be effective. Training is most successful when your puppy is between 12 and 18 weeks old as this is when they form most of their habits.

If you are rewarding your puppy with treats then it is important that they are healthy. Our Pets at Home puppy treats are great for your puppy’s digestion and some even have added calcium to help their teeth and bones grow stronger.

Watch our Puppy Training video for more advice...

Toilet training

When toilet training, it is vital that you give your puppy regular toilet breaks, key times are morning, night and after meals. Accidents will happen, so don’t be too hard on your puppy.

If you see them going to the toilet indoors then a firm ‘no’ and a trip to their outdoor toilet area will suffice. If you’re too tough then your puppy will become afraid to go to the toilet in front of you and this could lead to more accidents. Our stain and odour remover will not only remove all pet stains, but it removes the scent of pet urine ensuring your puppy doesn’t foul in the same place twice.

If you are training your puppy to go outside, it’s best to select an area in your garden that you want to become your puppy’s toilet area. You can help them to distinguish this area by using a Pee Post. If you take your puppy to this post whenever he needs the toilet, he will soon associate the post with the tolet.

When you’re out and about it’s your responsibility to clean up after your pup. Poop bags are a quick and convenient way to help you clean up after your pup. Don’t forget to clean your hands afterwards with our handy foam hand wash which requires no water and is proven to kill germs.

For indoor training try using puppy pads, as they release a scent which will attract your puppy to wherever it is placed. This will encourage him to relieve himself on the super-absorbant pad and not your floor. It’s important to place the pads away from where he eats and sleeps.

Playtime

Now that you have got all the basics it’s time to start having fun with your new puppy. It is very important that your puppy socialises with other dogs from an early age. To avoid them being scared when they are older the more they see, hear and do in the first few weeks the better. Ask a member of our store team about our puppy events. Help strengthen the bond between you and your new puppy with lots of playtime every day. We have a wide range of toys designed specifically for puppies for you to choose from.

Bath time

Your puppy will only need 2 or 3 baths each year as too much bathing will dry out his skin. We have a full range of shampoos, powders and wipes, including deodorising shampoo for puppies. This shampoo has been specially formulated for the unique sensitivities of your puppy’s skin.

Your puppy will also need daily brushing and regular trips to the groomer. We have a wide selection of grooming brushes and combs including this 3 piece puppy grooming kit, designed especially to keep their coat and skin healthy and clean.

Health

Your puppy must be vaccinated before being allowed outside. First vaccinations are usually given around 8-9 weeks and the second booster vaccination at 12 weeks. Why not visit a Companion Care Veterinary Surgery in store for more information.

Now that you’re starting to explore together it’s a good idea for your puppy to have a personalised pet tag, so that if the worst should happen and you were separated, you can be assured that your puppy is wearing a tag with your contact details. It is also a legal requirement for all dogs to wear a collar and identity tag in a public place (The Control of Dogs Order, 1992). We have a personalised pet tag engraving service available in all of our stores. We also recommend that you have your puppy microchipped, in case he loses his pet tag. For more information, please ask your vet.

Teething

Your puppy will start teething somewhere between 3 and 6 months. This can be a tough time, so a good selection of puppy-safe chew toys will help relieve toothache and build up healthy teeth and gums. We have a range of toys available that are suitable for freezing, these are great for teething puppies as they can help to numb the area and ease their pain. If you find your puppy is really suffering, you may want to try puppy teething gel which contains clove leaf, chamomile and peppermint oils to help soothe their gums.

Dental hygiene is important throughout your puppy’s life, so ensure that you regularly clean his teeth with toothpaste and a finger brush specially designed for puppies.

Flea and worm treatment

Your new puppy will need regular protection from fleas and worms, as this is vital for their health. Treating and preventing fleas and worms is simple and painless. We have a suitably qualified person (SQP) in every store who is qualified to dispense all leading flea and worm medication including FRONTLINE® and Drontal®. We also stock a selection of sprays and wipes that accompany the treatments to ensure your puppy’s bed and your entire house is free from these parasites.

Click here to download our puppy care leaflet