Assuming that you already have a complete set of necessary items for your puppy (if not, I encourage you to read the previous post "Preparing for a Puppy - Part 1").
The next step should be preparing the space in your home and your household.
Preparing the Home - Safe Zone for the Puppy
Available Spaces in the Home:
Designate a secured area for the puppy with a crate/bed, toys, and access to bowls. Use baby gates to limit access to areas where the puppy shouldn't be alone.
Protection Against Chewing: Spread dog chew toys in various places to discourage chewing on random items like table legs or shoes. Hide or secure items such as shoes and cables. Try to minimise objects on the floor.
Houseplants: Move toxic plants to higher shelves, such as monstera, hoya, aloe, snake plant, dracaena, ficus, and peace lily. If you have large plants in ground-level pots, consider covering the pots with other plants to reduce the amount of exposed soil that might tempt digging. 😁
Trash Bins: The best option with a puppy is to have bins stored in a cabinet or with a lid. Keep biowaste bins out of reach, as their smell usually attracts dogs and encourages them to dig through the bag.
Wires and Cables: Hide or cover wires to prevent the puppy's curiosity. Use cable covers to protect the puppy from biting.
Furniture and Decorations: Decorations on coffee tables, though beautiful, are easy targets for the puppy as they are usually within its reach. For the first few weeks, put away decorations that the puppy might accidentally knock over. Furniture (especially those with wooden legs or sofa corners) often become perfect chew toys during teething. Monitor the puppy if it's lying too quietly. You can place several chew toys, like coffee wood, as a good substitute for a wooden leg or plush toys/tugs made of twisted rope, which satisfy the need to chew on material.
Kitchen: Avoid leaving food on countertops and tables. Springer Spaniels are food lovers and thieves - it's best not to create opportunities for stealing food from the beginning, so the dog doesn't consider it as an option in the future. Teach the dog not to stay in the kitchen or near the table alone but to return to its bed or follow you. Keep sharp tools and hot objects out of reach. A dog may lean against furniture and accidentally get burned or knock over a dangerous item onto itself.
Bathroom: Store detergents and laundry chemicals out of reach. Ensure that clothes are in a basket to avoid tempting the puppy to pull out protruding pieces.
Windows and Balconies: Avoid leaving windows and balconies open, through which the puppy could escape. If you have tilt windows, observe if the dog shows interest in them. Inadvertently sticking its head in might cause entrapment. Balconies often have free space between the floor and the railing. Check if any gap poses a risk for the puppy to squeeze through.
Stairs: Block access to stairs. Descending stairs can negatively impact joint loading, and clumsy paws probably won't maintain balance, leading to falls and serious injuries. For the first months, it's best to carry the puppy upstairs to save its developing body. Going up is safer than going down.
Preparing Household Members - Other Pets
If you already have a dog, it's best to introduce it to the puppy on neutral ground. This way, the existing pet won't have a higher position over the puppy because it won't be on its "territory" anymore.
If you have cats: Assess their reaction to the puppy. It's better not to let animals be alone together. Cats prefer peace, and the puppy will surely try to engage them out of curiosity. At least initially, cool its enthusiasm and distract its attention with a toy.
Other household pets like rabbits, guinea pigs, and birds: They usually don't interact much with dogs. However, from the beginning, teach the puppy calm approach and sniffing, so future meetings won't excite it. Springers may playfully smack their heavy paws during play, and we don't want our little pet to get hit.
Preparing Household Members - Family
The arrival of a puppy is always a significant event, especially if there are children.
Ensure the well-being of the pet. Remember that it's a small canine child and should be treated as such.
Things to pay attention to:
Family members shouldn't disturb the puppy's sleep. Puppies sleep a lot, and it should be of good quality, even if it tempts us to play with or pet them during this time.
Puppies nibble and scratch. It will take some time for them to learn what's allowed and what's not, so don't punish the puppy for such behaviours. Instruct family members that these are normal behaviours and, in case of an attempt to bite, they should reach for a toy to redirect the behaviour.
Springer Spaniels don't have a natural resource guard instinct, but it's worth teaching them from the beginning that a person near the bowl equals a reward. Put some food in the bowl, sit next to it, and add a bit more to the bowl or give it from your hand. (This is especially important for Border Collies to teach them calmness around food.)
Springer Spaniels are strong dogs, even for adults. Teach loose leash walking from the beginning because nurturing this behaviour as a puppy will yield results in the future. Equip yourself with treats and patience – if the dog pulls the leash, change direction, show that you're going in the opposite way. Repeat this multiple times until the dog learns to pay attention to the leader, as they determine the route.
Also, introduce the dog from the beginning to the "stay with me" and "you can sniff" mode on walks, so the dog knows when to focus and when it can be absorbed in the scent of the surroundings. This is especially helpful when encountering other dogs in neighbourhoods or diverting attention from a stimulus.
Protect your puppy during walks. A cute little puppy is a magnet for people - everyone wants to pet and approach it. Think about how you would feel at the age of 5 if strangers came up and petted you on the head? Probably not very comfortable. A puppy is not a cuddly toy or public property. If you're not assertive, try not to walk on main paths or change directions to where it's empty - just the scents and the environment will be enough stimulation for now. We try to choose people we trust, and we can always say that the puppy is not up for so much affection.
These are the basic guidelines on how to prepare yourself and your surroundings for a puppy. Do you have any doubts or other experiences you'd like to share? 😊
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