You get in the car. The engine is starting softly. The sun is shining, but you don’t turn on the climate, you let the headwind ruffle your hair a bit. Your life will change soon. From now on you’ll be accompanied by shiny button eyes and bate ears everywhere. You are on your way to a breeder to bring the puppy of your dreams home. But how can you make this experience perfect?
It may sound a little cheesy, but to become a dog owner you need to prepare emotionally, almost in the same way you would need for becoming a parent. The two roles are similar in many ways, but they also differ greatly in others. It’s important to note that the puppy is not a human child. It’s important to keep their boundaries and their role (dog) clear, which should be a happy one, of course.
Most importantly, your puppy doesn’t need a mom and dad. The fairy, chubby little cub is starting to grow up, is becoming more and more curious, with the urge to explore the world around him. He discovers that it feels good to play with the others and to relax on the couch lying in your lap. They may bring in the newspaper, understand when you’re sad, or maybe even wake you up in the morning instead of the alarm so you won’t be late. A smart, adult dog doesn’t need parents, but a determined herd leader who sets the framework for him, while he can also say free and happy at the same time.
If your puppy can be easily called back, you can safely let him run around in the dog runner or with the herd on the field. If he is potty-trained and is able to travel in the car, they can even go on holiday with you. If he knows how be careful, they can become wonderful playmates for your children and the other way around, them to him. If that doesn’t work, they have to stay on a leash, enjoy vacation in a dog hotel or with a dog-sitter and stay in a room kennel while the little ones play in the living room. By setting frames, you give back your doggy’s freedom.
In the following, we will follow this principle and show you how you can bring security to your puppy in the first few days.
You need to get some basic equipment before the puppy arrives. We wrote more about this in our post on the costs of keeping a French bulldog. In short, your puppy will need:
It is possible that some of these will be provided to you by the breeder. This is definitely worth discussing before taking the puppy home.
At the breeder, puppies live with their mommy dog and their siblings. Once you’re there, you’ll probably come across lots and lots of puppies being around the proudly belching French bulldog mom. The puppies play, wrestle, bite each other, but then they sleep together peacefully in the evenings.
The puppy you are taking home will need to say goodbye to this safe and familiar environment. Although these little ones instinctively know that sooner, or later they will have to fight for their place in the world, change is always painful. That is why it is strongly recommended to getting to know the puppy in a familiar environment first.
Before you take him home in your lap, get him to approach you first! Let him approach you on his own feet. Play with him, caress him and let him lick your hand! If this went fell, they’re ready for the ride home!
Do you remember the list of necessary equipment? This will be really important from now on! Be sure to choose a blanket in the starter pack that your puppy already knows. If the breeder can’t give you this, you can take one with you and let the siblings of the puppy and the mommy dog play in it.
Line this kennel or dog carrier in the car with this blanket! This way, your dog can feel a little safe and familiar during the transportation. Then here comes the first important step! Let him follow you on his own two feet whenever he can and get in the car by himself!
The puppy is not a bride, they don't have to be carried through your doorstep! If you can do it safely, let him walk into your home on his own two feet, which he will soon guard as his own, hopefully with threatening grunt and proudly pointed ears.
Let him discover you’re their new surroundings! Of course, you don't have to put up with everything, you can gently set boundaries! If they wander to chew on your shoes or mark the door jamb, feel free to warn him and then distract them! There is no need for hard discipline at this point - in fact, the rules have yet to be explained to him.
It is good to assign a place in the apartment for the puppy from the very beginning. Place the blanket at the chosen spot and provide him food and drink. The tired puppy will surely retreat to the familiar scents sooner or later.
The first few nights can easily make the puppy restless or they can even end up crying a little. That’s when it’s hard to not to take them in your lap or give them a treat - but these activities only reinforce that behavior in him.
If the puppy is crying a lot, talk to him in a calm voice, maybe distract him. If you’re patient and friendly, he’ll learn in a few days how to calm down by themselves. This is a difficult thing, as he has probably been able to put his head to sleep next to his mom and siblings who are now far away from him.
There are a few little things you might want to do to ensure a calmer starting period. Here are some tips:
Love and determination open the hearts of tiny French bulldogs with time. If you’ve managed to establish a good relationship, your cute new companion will soon be sharing your favorite couch with you while demanding and giving lots of love and care.
Then feel free to contact us!
06 (70) 624 9897
info@wonderfulkennel.hu
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