Meeting new people

Bringing your puppy home

When we bring our puppy home from the breeder, it's a very exciting time for everyone, including our puppy. But don't forget that they have just been taken from their mother, their siblings, their home, everything they have ever known. It is understandable if they are upset in the car or when they arrive to their new home. Be especially kind and gentle to them in these first days, and allow them time to adjust to their new environments.

How to behave around your new puppy?

Puppies are so sensitive and it's too easy to accidentally spook them! Avoid these behaviours when handling your pup:

Speaking loud or yelling
Stomping with your feet
Clapping or making sudden noise
Picking them up too quickly
Keep holding them with you when they want to leave
Put your arms around them
Throwing or dropping big objects around them

Eventually, your puppy has to be able to deal with all above stimuli and remain calm around them, but you can make their first days easier by being mindful of your actions in their presence.

Kids and pups

Puppies are extremely cute and they draw the attention of children. Sometimes puppies and kids get along from the start, but it is important to educate your kids about puppy behaviour long before you actually bring one home. Never leave your puppy and your child unsupervised, always watch over them and encourage calm and gentle interactions. Designate a resting area (a playpen or crate) for your puppy where they can always retreat and teach your children to leave them alone when they need some quiet time. Teach them about the puppy's body language and involve the kids in their care and their training, so your children can understand when their pup is trying to speak to them.

Meeting strangers

Puppies can easily find themselves at the centre of attention when they are out and about, and sometimes this can be a bit overwhelming. To teach them to enjoy meeting new people, make sure not to force them to interact with anyone and only approach others if and when they feel like it. You can encourage people to give treats to your pup or even play with them, if your pup is up for it! Try to attach as many nice experiences to other people as possible, so your puppy will always be happy and confident around them. It's important to introduce your puppy to many different people, such as:

Children
Teenagers
Elderly people
People with silly outfits, hats or sunnies
People with wheelchairs or crutches
People in uniforms and high-vis
People of different nationalities
People with facial hair
People in masks

Spend some time at cafes or near busy urban areas, schools or playgrounds, and let your puppy to observe others and take everything in. Always watch them to assess their behaviour during social interactions and give them space from others if you think they feel overwhelmed.

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During all socialisation exercises, the owner's main concern should be how the puppy is feeling. If the puppy seems unsure, frightened or overwhelmed when meeting new people, damage can be very easily done.

Allow your puppy to be on a loose lead at all times, so he doesn't feel restrained or trapped. Make sure no-one forces themselves onto your puppy and they never have to interact with strangers, unless they actually want to and they are approaching the stranger first. Increase the intensity of social interactions gradually to desensitize your puppy to human attention. Consider that your puppy is just a baby and they have the attention-span of a baby too. They can get tired very fast and just like tired babies, they can get touchy and irritable very easily. Always keep some high-value treats and toys with you, so when you encounter potentially scary things, you can comfort your puppy or reinforce their calm behaviour. Maintain a happy but calm voice during socialisation exercises, to show them confidence and help them if they get a little spooked.