THE NEW ARRIVAL
Preparing for your new arrival
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The GVP has a recommendation on food (see nutrition section) this food needs to be available for when puppy arrives home. At the very least you should have sufficient supply for the first few days' meals, it is essential you keep to this diet initially, as your puppy will have enough adjustments to make without a change of food. They will require chew proof bowls for both food and water, stainless steel is ideal but a heavy non-tip one for water will save you lots of mopping up! (The GVP Puppies have tried out a variety of eating bowls to ensure they are happy to eat from anything).
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Beds come in all shapes and sizes, ʻscrubbableʼ plastic, beanbags, or soft foam. To begin with I usually advise a strong cardboard box, as long as it has not been used for chemicals nor has staples in it. The cardboard is warm, chewable, and when they outgrow it you can get a bigger one. Vetbed is a synthetic fleece very useful for lining beds, easily washable and snug to sleep on when you have just lost your family (vetbeds are great for puppies, as if there are accidents the moisture is taken away from them and they do not lie in it).
Collars and leads are not essential at this stage. The outside area will have to be checked to make sure it is escape proof, and that there are no dangers in the area. For example if you have a pond make sure it is safely fenced in. Puppy must have a safe area indoors where they can't get into any harm; use an area where you can leave them unsupervised when necessary and make sure it is clear of kitchen chemicals and any electricity cables. Valuable rugs and breakable ornaments are best removed for the early weeks.
A cage or playpen can be very useful but must never be used as punishment. It should be a secure haven where the pup knows they will be safe, so use it only to confine puppy at night or when you can't watch them e.g. cooking times when they could be in danger. To begin with they may well resent the confinement but re-assure them and they will soon accept it. Crating (see The GVP point of view under Sleeping) is totally a personal choice, we have never done this with Coco, but that is because we have a place which is ‘home’ to her, her room. This may not be possible in your home environment and crates offer additional security for a slightly lonely and scared puppy.
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Bringing Puppy Home
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The GVP recommends that you come with two people, one to drive the other to take charge of puppy (I know which one I would opt for!!!)
Please bring soft towels to sit your puppy on, paper towels/puppy pads and a plastic bag, in case they are travel-sick - these are essential. Please bear in mind when collecting your puppy we will 'miss-out food times' to ensure the best possible journey home.
Unless absolutely necessary do not stop on the journey home and never allow the puppy a toilet break at a busy service station or on the side of the road purely because they are in 'unknown territory' they will be safer being cuddled and if they wee, they wee! No big deal, they are allowed!
Puppy will be quite capable of travelling quite a distance to their new home and will feel much safer to toilet in their secure new surroundings. When you arrive home let puppy have a walk around to investigate their new area. Show them their water bowl and new bed. They will probably arrive home due for a feed but don't worry if he doesn't eat too well for the first day or two. Remember they have lost their eating chums. Rest is essential.
Young puppies need plenty of rest, so when he is tired he must be allowed to sleep. Children and visitors must not disturb him - just as they wouldn't a new baby. If they fall asleep in the middle of the floor gently put them in their bed and they will soon learn to go there when they want to sleep. Pups have had numerous car journey’s so should be used to motion, but please do adhere to the pads/sick bags etc as nerves could get the better of them.