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When parents find out they are going to have a child, they make all sorts of preparations. A special area, food, toys, bottles, etc. You need to make the same preparations for a new puppy & think about the equipment you will need to care for him. Your puppy is going to need a place he can call his own and a crate/cage will fill this bill. Get one that will be large enough for him as an adult, I use 24 x 36 inches. The pup will need food, water bowls, toys, collar, leash, doggie toothbrush & toothpaste, a good quality dog food (I am a fan of Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream and TOW Ancient Prairie, please note these are grain free recipes, you can adjust their diet as you see fit) & plenty of papers or training pads. If he sleeps in a cool area of the home, make sure he/she has a blanket at night or when left alone.
THE CAR TRIP HOME
Many dogs are not prepared for a car ride, nausea & car sickness is possible, but not common. Bring baby wipes & paper towels in case needed. Be sure to allow him/her to potty before getting in car. On your first trip, it's better to hold him as he will be insecure about new people & smells, talk to him so he will be more comfortable. Do not stop & potty him in public dog areas as there are countless contagious diseases & shots are never 100% effective. I don't recommend that you take your puppy to public dog areas or dog parks until they have their 4th booster.
FIRST FEW DAYS HOME
Leaving mom & littermates will probably bring some kind of separation anxiety. This can be greatly diminished if you plan your schedules so someone is with the puppy constantly for the first 3-4 days. I suggest you plan for this introductory period by keeping the puppy involved with plenty of attention from family & children through every one of his/her waking moments. Allowing him to sleep when tired, eat & drink when hungry & working on the housetraining from the first moment he arrives to your home.
SETTING THE RULES
This is the time when young children should be instructed as to proper handling of the puppy & teaching them common sense rules you have set down from the beginning, will eliminate problems or accidents later on.
FEEDING THE PUPPY
What, when & how to feed a puppy is very basic with a new puppy. It is best to feed a quality dry dog food from the beginning. I "free" feed my puppies in the beginning. I feel that if they get too hungry and wolf their food down, along with a lot of air, it increases the chances of "bloat." Bulldogs are susceptible to bloat as are any breed with a deep chest. If good quality food and fresh water are always available, then I find my bulldogs calmly eat when hungry and drink when thirsty. And, immediately come to wipe their face on you.
TAKE HER/HIM TO THE VET
Have your Post - Pick up Vet Appointment scheduled.
POTTY TRAINING
REMEMBER.... a puppy needs to potty immediately upon waking, again in 5 -10 minutes, after eating/ drinking then again in 5-10 minutes & every 30 minutes after that. Pick him up to go outside, saying " outside, potty" then use elaborate praise when he does his "thing". I praise him/her, saying "good, potty, good potty!!!!" Small Puppies cannot control their bladder for long periods of time, 30 minutes seems to be the max anything past will result in an accident.
HOW TO SLEEP WITH A NEW PUPPY IN THE HOUSE
The puppy is used to sleeping with several brothers and sisters, so for him to feel lonely and cry the first couple of nights is normal. When you are ready for bed, place their blanket in the back of the crate and line the front part of it with a puppy pad, accidents will happen, they don't like to soil where they sleep so the smell of the pad will click that he will have to potty in this area when crated. They will cry, if you cave in he knows you will every time he cries. it is best to ignore it all togther. Dont worry, he is safe in his crate and after 3 days or so the crying should stop all together.