You’ve been looking forward to the day you can pick up your puppy for weeks. Finally the time has come! Finally you can get to know your new faithful companion. Everything is going perfectly, but then it’s time to go to sleep. The first night in a new home is very exciting for a puppy. Away from his mother, brothers and sisters, in a new, unfamiliar environment. But what does that mean for you? It means you have to be very there for your little four-legged friend.
The first night at home with the puppy
On the first night at home, a puppy can demand quite a lot from you as its owner. It’s mostly a matter of getting used to it, for both you and your pup. Where does he sleep the first night? And what do you do when he starts whimpering or crying? The most important thing is that your dog feels safe with you. For the first few nights you can take him into your bedroom or you can sleep close to where he sleeps, for example next to his dog box in the living room. This way you give your dog a feeling of peace of mind and he can fall asleep quickly on his first night in his new home.
Take advantage of the first day
We recommend picking your puppy up from their breeder as early as possible to give them all day to acclimate to their new home. All the new impressions, the playing – your puppy will soon tire of it all on its own. Do you want to be on the safe side? To do this, take your dog for a short walk before bed to get the last bit of energy out of him. To make your pup feel at home, the breeder will often provide you with a cloth or stuffed animal scented with the familiar litter. Mom’s scent can help a puppy feel at home in their new environment on their first night. Tip: put the cloth or cuddly toy in a special container so that the smell lasts longer.
The first night at home with the puppy: the sleeping place
Where does your pup sleep on the first night at home? New owners often choose to let a puppy sleep in a crate. Make sure your puppy doesn’t have too much space in its crate so that it feels safe and secure. If necessary, you can divide off part of the box with a partition. Is your puppy very restless on its first night? Put him in a smaller box or find another place to sleep for him. His sleeping place should be a «safe» place for your little four-legged friend. It is therefore important that you prevent the puppy from feeling at home in it.
The first nights with the puppy
The first few nights with a puppy take some getting used to, both for him and for you as a new dog owner. Try to stay close to your new four-legged friend at first. This builds a strong dog-human bond. Your four-legged friend should always be by your side on his first night in his new home and also in the nights that follow. This way the animal can always let you know when it needs to pee or is scared. Would you like to know more about a puppy’s first night at home or how to manage to leave a puppy alone at home? Our dog guide page tells you everything you need to know to give your dog a happy canine life.