pup tip - 1st day & night

When you first bring your puppy home, everybody is going to be excited about the new family member and all your friends and neighbours will want to visit.  Resist the urge to show off your puppy straight away.  Plan for your puppy's first experiences of his new home to be quiet and calm.  Give him the opportunity to get to know you and your house, where his things are and what his new routine is going to be without the comfort and security of his mother and siblings.

Keep in mind that it's a big, new, scary world for your puppy; ease him into it.  Let him find his feet and feel at home before bringing in the well-wishers and puppy-cuddlers.  Once he is feeling secure and at home, then bring on the visitors. Keep numbers down to 2 or 3 at a time, though, so that he is not overwhelmed.

While he is being visited and fussed, be sure not to neglect his toilet training needs and always allow him to get sufficient sleep.  He'll be excited and enjoying the fuss, but it's up to you - the parent, as it were! - to enforce quiet time.

Neka at 8 weeks old, a couple of days after arriving.