Getting a new dog / puppy sounds like the best thing in the world, doesn’t it? You’re so busy thinking about how much fun it’s going to be to play and get to know each other that sometimes you can forget all the little things…the things which nobody tells you. Here are a few common problems that new owners of dogs / puppies encounter all the time (even if they have been a previous dog owner: not all are the same!)
1) The settling-in problem: new owners are often perplexed by their dog’s behaviour on the first few nights or weeks. The dog can be happy one minute, then whining and keeping everyone awake. There is no one-fix solution here. The dog’s angst can depend on a number of things: maybe he doesn’t like his new bed? Maybe he feels upset because his bed is by the back door and the loneliness he is feeling is just too much to take. Or perhaps he is just getting to grips with his new surroundings. Give it time, or even better join a dog forum / club and ask other people.
2) The getting-to-know-each-other conundrum: I know, I know, it’s sad! You get your brand new puppy home and he doesn’t want to know you! All he does is run away. Have no fear, new dogs often do this. Give it a few hours and if the problem persists only then need you worry about seeking professional advice.
3) The-woopsy-on-the-carpet-problem: everyone knows this one. One minute the puppy is playing and everything is fine…the next he does a gift on the floor and it’s a horror story (especially if you realize you dont have any cleaning supplies in)! This is normal, so don’t blame the dog. Start training before it becomes a regular problem and you should be fine. But don’t blame the dog whatever you do; stressing the dog out will only increase the chance of there being more problems in the future.