Getting a puppy is an exciting time for everyone. To best acclimate your puppy to his new surroundings we've offered a few helpful tips.

• Keep visitors away for the first few days so your pup has a chance to become comfortable with his new surroundings. After that invite lots of people over in the coming months. This will help socialize him to strangers as well as start him out feeling comfortable with people coming into the home.
• Introduce your pup to everything you can think of that he will encounter in his life. People with hats, open umbrellas, cars, even a black garbage bag sittng at the curb.
• Be diligent about keeping vet appointments for the required shots. Puppies receive some vaccinations such as DHLPP several times over a course of weeks. This allows the antibodies to build in the puppy's system.
• Start house training immediately. Take your pup out after it eats, drinks, plays and awakens. Keep your puppy in sight at all times to avoid accidents
• Crate train your pup. A crate becomes a haven for your pup when he needs a nap or becomes overwhelmed. Using a crate while you are not home not only keeps your possessions safe from inappropriate chewing, but keeps him safe as well. 
• Puppies like to chew. Be sure to have several chew toys around. If you see your pup chewing something inappropriate stop him and immediately put a toy in his mouth and PRAISE. Do not allow chewing on your skin or clothing.
• Behaviors you will find unacceptable in a 2-year old dog, such as jumping, chewing on hands, etc. should not be permitted in a puppy. 
• Enroll you pup in a puppy class. Safely expose your pup to everything he might encounter in his lifetime during the first 7 - 16 weeks of his life. This is the socialization period that will help prevent him becoming a fearful dog.