Preparing for Puppy to Go Home: Pre and Post Arrival

Puppy Proofing (Before Puppy Comes Home)

Before you bring your puppy home, ensure your house is safe. Secure all electrical wires, remove toxic plants, and install gates to block off specific sections. Use latches on cabinets to keep cleaning supplies out of reach and ensure you have a securely fenced outdoor area.

Supply Checklist

Make sure all your supplies and everything you need for that puppy are there before that puppy comes home. You will need:

• Food and water bowls

• Collar and leash

• A bed

• Grooming supplies

• Poop bags

• Identification tags

• Toys, bones, and brain puzzles for mental stimulation

Choose a crate that allows the puppy to stand and turn around comfortably, but is not so large that they can use one end as a bathroom.

I send my puppies home with a prepaid AKC registration. Once I complete the registration, you can go onto the AKC website to redeem the benefits included with it, such as your official registration certificate, a month’s supply of Simparica Trio, and AKC pet insurance. You can also access a free puppy training course, a puppy guide, and a complimentary vet visit through their site.

Additionally, each puppy leaves in a custom Duty Danes bag with our logo. We pack it with puppy food, toys, wipes, a real lint roller, a bowl, a collar and leash set, and supplements. We also include a special blanket that smells like mom and their siblings to help them settle in, plus puppy pads and poop bags. You also get a folder with all your important paperwork and contracts, including an Embark discount and even a little birth certificate to make it official. Please note that specific items in the bags are subject to change based on availability.

The First Three to Five Days: Decompression

When your puppy first arrives, the most important thing you can do is give them space. This period is for decompression. Your puppy has just left everything they knew, and their world has completely changed. Following the philosophy of Jeanette Forrey’s “Raising the Empowered Puppy,” allow the puppy to relax and desensitize to their new environment at their own pace. Do not overwhelm them with too many new people, loud noises, or hectic activities.

Always remember to respect your puppy first before your needs. Focus on being a giver rather than a taker by building trust through calm presence. Respect their voice; if they seem overwhelmed, let them retreat to their safe space or crate. This is the time for building a foundation of safety and an unbreakable bond. Keep your household calm so they can learn that their new home is a place of peace.

Consistency and Rules

Consistency is vital for a smooth transition. Ensure everyone in the household follows the same rules, boundaries, and training schedules.

• Food Transition: Start with 75 percent of the current food and 25 percent of the new food. After 3 to 5 days, go to 50 percent, then shift to 75 percent of the new food before finishing the transition.

• Potty Training: Use a designated area and practice positive reinforcement. I use an excited, high-pitched voice: “Puppy, puppy, puppy! Outside! Potty time, potty time!” Always supervise the puppy and clean accidents promptly with enzymatic cleaners. Never punish a puppy for an accident or rub their nose in it.

• Crate Training: Make the crate a positive space by using it for short periods and providing supplements or treats. Set aside time for the puppy to be alone so people aren’t constantly messing with it.

• Rest: Never wake a sleeping puppy, as they need their rest.

Engagement and Boundaries

A smart puppy needs to stay busy! A bored puppy will find a job, and you won’t like the one they pick.

• Recall Sounds: I have already started teaching them that certain sounds mean excitement. When I feed them, I bang on the pan with a spoon and call out, “Puppy, puppy, puppy! Dinner, dinner, dinner!” Continue this at home with a high-pitched, happy voice.

• Joint Protection: Great Danes grow rapidly and their joints are vulnerable. Never let your puppy jump up and down from beds or furniture. This high-impact movement causes long-term damage. Keep “paws on the floor.”

• Winding Down: When it is time to relax, put on classical music. The puppies know this means it is time to wind down and go “night-night.”

Based on “Raising the Empowered Puppy” by Jeanette Forrey.