Decide in advance who is going to take your puppy outside to go potty in the middle of the night and who is going to feed your puppy, or are we going to take turns? Who is in charge of seeing to it that all the booster vaccinations are received from the vet?...
Life is much easier when everyone in the family knows what their responsibilities are.
"Teach your puppy where to go potty."
All puppies will need a little time to adjust to the new home environment. Your baby will not know life could be better because their life with mom and siblings is all they know, but once they realize that they are part of a new pack, life will feel more individualized, they will settle in and be very happy. We humans are always excited about our new furry family member, but our new little puppy might not understand right away what’s expected.
"Puppy Pile"
Things will be different for your puppy now that they out in the big world with a new family. Your puppy has spent all of his or her entire, short, lifetime in a warm, cozy environment. First, they were in their mommy's womb and since that time they have been in the "puppy pile". If they get lonely, there are always siblings and big dogs to comfort and play with them. If he or she gets a little cold, they simply burrow down under the puppy pile and instantaneous warmth abounds. You are now your puppy's "puppy pile" when you are cuddling them in your arms. They now look to you for comfort, leadership, and friendship. The more you hold your baby and comfort the little tyke, the more secure and socialized they will be.
Some people place a ticking alarm clock outside their new puppy's kennel hoping to comfort the new little one for the first few nights away from the littermates. Many canine experts and animal behaviorists recommend allowing a new puppy to sleep in the same room with you in their kennel or crate to help reduce any separation anxiety. By being a pack member, it is perfectly natural for dogs to be very comfortable sleeping together, so some people let their puppies and dogs sleep in the bed with them and of course these puppies do not seem to experience the separation anxiety or whining the first few days with their new family. If you are going to allow your puppy or dog to sleep in your bed, it is imperative that you and your new friend are clear that it is your bed. You should always get into your bed first, wait a minute or two, then give your puppy a signal that he or she is invited to join you to sleep in the bed. You will then select the spot for your pooch to lay on the bed.
"Where is my puppy going to sleep?"
When your puppy wakes up in the middle of the night he or she is most likely to be just a little lonesome for their former surroundings, and they probably also need to go potty. (see: Potty Training) One of the best things you can do is to provide consistency for your new puppy. Creating a schedule can be instrumental in helping with this adjustment period. Some people find it easier to choose times of day for feeding, walking, playing, training, outside time and quiet time… and do their best to stick to a schedule every day at first. Others want to make sure that as their dogs get older, their dog does not expect things at the exact same time always, so they make sure their dog receives all of these things, just not in a particular order. Either way can work.
"Proper Ridgeback Training"
Training is another aspect that can help a little puppy immensely in adapting to their new home. Take the time to create a doggie vocabulary list so everyone in the house is consistent and knows what the correct words are that we speak to our new canine companion. If one person says "down" when the puppy jumps up on them or the furniture, another person says "down" when they want the dog to lay down, and yet another person says "sit down" when they want the dog to sit, it can be very confusing to the new little puppy. While you don’t want to overdo it by expecting your puppy to be completely trained the first day, you should plan on spending some time each day teaching the commands "Come", “Sit” and “Stay”. These special moments can help your sweetheart to feel more comfortable and secure in their new family pack. Posting your written list and even a schedule on the refrigerator for everyone to see will help to eliminate any confusion.
"Lot's of time."
Puppies are really a lot like human babies in many ways. They have to listen for a long time before they can talk, understand and do things. Puppies have to learn our language, just like little American babies need to learn the English language. A puppy does not understand the word "sit" until someone shows him how to sit at the same time they say "sit". You may have to show and help your new puppy several times, but eventually they will understand and do what you want them to understand and do. It is very confusing to puppies and dogs to get different commands for the same action. Be sure to say the same command every time you want the same action. This way you are setting your puppy up for success and your puppy will have the best chance to understand what you are saying.
.jpg "Who is babysitting your puppy?")
"Who is babysitting the puppy?"
Just as little kids go on field trips at school to learn about the world around them, your puppy will need to have the adventure of going out into the world to explore and learn all about the big new world out there. There are many experiences you will want to share with your puppy so he or she becomes very comfortable with strange people, places, other animals, sounds, and just everything. The younger your dog is when you start taking them places and socializing them, the better behaved and more success you will have in all your communication efforts with your canine friend.
"Spend quality time with your puppy"
A ridgeback at full grown is considered to have the mentality of a 3 to 4 year old child. Mentally, puppies are like sponges in that they soak everything up. When they are properly raised, they will approach almost anything without a preconceived notion in their head. No matter how old your dog is, they seem to always have the attitude of: "I wonder what that is? I better give it a sniff and see." Dogs tend to use their nose first, then the eyes and lastly the ears.
Holding your puppy is comforting to them. By providing leadership, you’re helping your baby realize where they stand in the family pecking order. This will allow your puppy to feel relieved and understand that their position in the hierarchy is subordinate to yours. They have a leader they can trust. You are the role model and leader they watch, love, wag their tail at, and look to each day for direction, rules and encouragement.
All puppies want to know who to follow and what to do with their lives and our #1 job is to challenge their minds, give them understanding of their boundaries, house rules and help them follow those rules, discipline, and share our love with them, so they can be happy and good citizens in their new home. Lots of interaction, compassion, and training will help set the tone for a great, loving, lifetime relationship with you and your beloved canine friend.
