A new puppy is an exciting experience for everyone but settling into a new home can be a stressful and disorientating process for your puppy. New homes are full of new noises, smells, objects and people and this will probably be the first time that puppies have been separated from their Mum who is their usual source of comfort and reassurance. Many puppies will cry for the first few nights but owners, hard as it will be, may not want to encourage the puppy to rely on them for emotional support as this may contribute to separation problems later in life.
While exposure to new environments/people during the first three months is essential, it is important not to overwhelm the dog and make sure socialisation is a positive experience for the puppy. Undersocialised puppies or those which become highly stressed during first encounters may never enjoy new experiences and are more likely to develop anxiety related behavioural problems in later life.
New owners may wish to use a Adaptil Collar during the ‘socialisation period’. The collar is proven to increase a dog’s confidence in the outside world, making the process of accepting new or difficult stimuli less challenging and reduce or prevent the stress experienced during a first car journey, first nights alone, while meeting new people / other pets, during first vet visits etc..
The collar works by releasing a synthetic copy of the canine appeasing pheromone, which is produced naturally by the mother dog to reassure and calm her puppies as they explore and learn about the world around them.
In multi-dog households, it is recommended that all the dogs wear an Adaptil Collar or that an Adaptil Diffuser is used. The collar should be left on the dog at all times, expect for when bathing when it should be removed and replaced afterwards.
How to prepare for your new puppy
Collecting your new puppy or dog
Travel phobias can result from just one bad experience
• Fit an Adaptil Collar to the puppy or dog on collection.
• Adaptil Spray can also be used to give added reassurance during the first car journey to its new home. Adaptil Spray should be applied to a box or crate in the back of the car 15 minutes before introducing the dog. On long journeys this may need to be re-applied every 2-3 hours. After spraying Adaptil allow 15 minutes for the alcohol to evaporate away before re-introducing the dog to the area.
In the home
• At least 24 hours before your new puppy / dog arrives plug in an Adaptil Diffuser at floor level in the room where your dog will sleep and spend the most time.
• The diffuser should be switched on continuously for at least 4 weeks and the refill replaced as required.
Puppy socialisation (6-16 weeks)
• It is recommended that puppies wear an Adaptil Collar throughout the socialisation period (from 6 -16 weeks) to prevent fear and stress which may lead to anxiety-related behavioural problems later in life. Fitting an Adaptil Collar at this stage has been shown to influence a puppy’s development and help them grow into a well behaved and confident adult dog.
• It is recommended that a collar is fitted at first vaccination and another provided to be fitted 4 weeks later.
• The collar only releases the pheromone when it is warmed by the dog’s body heat. Therefore, it should be checked daily to ensure it has not become loose.
• It is also advisable to check that the collar has not become too tight as the puppy grows.
• Remove the collar before bathing or shampooing and replace it after the dog’s coat is dry. The collar will be fine if you are walking your dog in the rain.
