...... and a few hints for those first few nights! ......

We think that the best time to collect your puppy is as early in the day as possible. This gives you time to get home by lunchtime - and its second meal of the day. It also gives the puppy time to get some “feel” for its new home - before bedtime .

• For traveling in a car, we suggest that you sit in the back - and gently cuddle your puppy. Just in case it gets restless - it’s worth carrying a cardboard box lined with bedding or a couple of old towels - “relax” - “talk to it” - “cuddle it” -  and “reassure it”.
• When you get home - place it gently on the paper, inside its pen. Remember that it’s just had its first car journey and is longing to “do” something. If it does, lift it, praise it and change the paper - (you’ve just started house training) Give it time to explore its new bed and all the different smells - but please - don’t go away and leave it
• Have a cup of tea / coffee / “G and T” - sit on the floor and talk to it - let it hear the sound of your best “gentle and loving” voice.
• You’re about to become really close friends. Very gently, pick it up and give it loads of love, affection and reassurance.
• Don’t be too worried if it shows no interest in its first meal - in fact, there’s no great rush to feed it - water and affection are far more important. Remember that it’s had a very exciting - and maybe stressfull day so far. There’s a lot going on around it, and there’s loads to explore etc:. Relax, and your puppy will relax with you.
• Don’t be afraid to show it affection, it’ll respond in kind -  gain confidence -  start to feel “comfortable”- and start eating - particularly if the food’s familiar.
• Try not to change the routine that it was in with its litter mates. If you really have to, then  do it gently, over a period of days - or even weeks - a little at a time.

And so ..........to those first few nights......It’s been used to sleeping with its cosy litter mates and will possibly wake up - and finding itself in strange surroundings - start crying. Get out of bed and give it a cuddle. This is not the time to be strong and say that it’s got to get used to it. It’s the time for giving reassurance and affection - it’ll pay off - trust me.

Just in passing ...............
Here’s a little trick that my old mum told me of -  a long time ago! If your new puppy’s having trouble sleeping - try putting a lukewarm “Snuggle-Safe”type hot-water bottle and an old fashioned “tick-tock” clock under its bedding. Apparently, the warmth of the bottle and the beat of the clock,  feel and sound like the warmth and heartbeat of other puppies. It seems to work.