The arrival of a new family member is always accompanied by major changes. Dogs are excellent company, and you shouldn’t hesitate to bring them into your family. Adopting a puppy isn’t that simple, however, and you’re bound to have a lot of questions about how to go about it. Find out everything you need to know to successfully integrate a puppy into your family.
How old do you have to be to adopt a puppy?
If you decide to adopt a puppy, it must be at least 8 weeks old. This is the legal age at which adoption is permitted. However, the best option is towait until he reaches 10 weeks before separating him from his mother. During this time, he’ll learn the most important notions of life in society. If this separation takes place too early, he’ll develop behavioral problems that will make living together difficult. He may suffer from over-attachment, uncleanliness, aggression and other problems.
Where can I find puppies for adoption?
To adopt puppies, browse shelters or contact private breeders. Puppies are also available from professional breeders. For example, if you’re interested in puppy classifieds, you can consult sites that feature ads from French professional breeders who sell dogs. Shelters, on the other hand, very rarely have puppies available. Dogs arriving at shelters are immediately sterilized, so they can’t reproduce. Professional breeders are the best way to find a puppy. What’s more, they’ll be able to advise you on the breed best suited to your lifestyle and family.
What to do before your puppy arrives?
Make sure your puppy has everything he needs when he arrives. This includes a basket, suitable food and toys. Secure the premises to prevent him from hurting himself. Tidy up your house so he doesn’t damage your belongings. If you have a garden, it would be ideal to fence it off to prevent the puppy from sneaking in or running away. If your family lives in an apartment, secure your balcony and windows so your puppy can’t stick his head through the bars. You should also talk to your children to keep them informed about the rules to be respected with your faithful companion. Make sure all openings are securely locked to prevent your puppy from going out alone.
What to do when your puppy arrives?
When you bring your puppy home, the first thing to do is introduce him to the other pets. If you already have a dog, arrange for them to meet for the first time in a neutral, open space. If your pet is too possessive, make the introductions outside the house. If all goes well, introduce your new puppy to the house. To ensure a good cohabitation, separate their belongings and give the puppy a corner of his own. If you can, put them in separate rooms. If you observe any hostility between them, use baby gates to delimit the puppy’s space and protect him. Above all, don’t isolate him from the rest of the family.
Establish a routine and rules of conduct
To facilitate the puppy’s integration into the family, you’ll need to establish a routine. This will eliminate much of the anxiety caused by the change of life. Make sure that all members of the family have a stable routine for certain activities, such as meals, training, outings and so on. He’ll adapt much better to his environment. Rules are essential to building a good relationship with your pet. If the instructions he receives are inconsistent and incoherent, he’ll be stressed and have trouble fitting in. Set limits and be clear about what behaviors you will and won’t allow.
You can also instill the behaviors you want in him by using positive reinforcement. Make a list of the attitudes you’d like him to adopt and create simple exercises that he can do easily. This way, you’ll reinforce good behavior in him. Reward him as soon as he performs a task correctly. This will motivate him to do more, and he’ll be more docile in no time. If he fails, don’t blame him. You can also hire a dog trainer to teach him the basics. By putting all this into practice, you can be sure of successfully integrating your puppy into the family. You’ll also need a lot of patience throughout the adaptation process.
