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Pet CARE
PREPARING FOR ARRIVAL
Collection
WELCOMING HOME
FEEDING
HEALTH
GROWTH STAGES
SOCIALISATION
TRAINING AND PLAY
GROOMING
BEHAVIOUR
Collecting YOUR PUPPY
The day you collect your puppy is so exciting, but it can be unsettling for them as they leave their mother and litter mates. Here are some things to remember to make sure you’re ready to take care of them.
What's the right age TO BRING YOUR PUPPY HOME?
The best age to bring a puppy home is between 8 and 10 weeks old. By then, they should be weaned and have learned early canine social skills by being with their mother and litter mates.
If you collect them too soon, they’ll miss this important learning period, which could impact their future physical and emotional wellbeing. But if you separate them from their mother and litter mates much later than 10 weeks, you will have missed out on a large portion of their socialisation phase.
When is the best time TO BRING YOUR PUPPY HOME?
It's important to collect your puppy when you have a few days free to be at home and take care of them. It’s also best if the house is quiet with very few visitors during the early days so your puppy can settle in without too much going on. If you can, collect them in the morning so they can get used to their new surroundings before bedtime.
Are you ready to COLLECT YOUR PUPPY?
Make sure you’re well prepared, and you'll help your puppy settle happily and safely into their new home and family. Not quite ready? Find out more about how to prepare for your puppy's arrival.
Questions to ask YOUR PUPPY'S BREEDER
Your puppy’s breeder will hold a lot of information you can use to help your puppy settle more quickly in your home and stay healthy. Remember to ask your breeder the following questions and any others relevant to your individual puppy.
- Is the puppy fully weaned?
- What food are they being fed and what’s their feeding schedule?
- Have they begun toilet training, and to what level?
- What are their current daytime and night time routines?
- Have they been checked by a vet?
- Have they had any health issues?
- Have they had any vaccinations and, if so, when is the next injection due?
- When have they been given worming treatments?
- Do they have an identification chip?
- What social experiences have they had so far?
- What are their parents’ temperaments and personalities like and are health certificates available for them?
What to take whenCOLLECTING YOUR PUPPY
There are a few important things to take with you when you collect your puppy to help them stay safe and feel more comfortable on the journey home. These include:
Bringing a puppy home-HOW TO HANDLE THE JOURNEY
The journey home may be your puppy’s first time in a car. It’s important they feel comfortable so they’re not anxious about future car rides. If possible, it’s best to take someone to comfort them while you’re driving.
1/4 Before leaving the breeder
Check you've got all the paperwork and asked all your questions, and make sure your puppy hasn't just been fed to avoid any sickness on the journey. It's also a good idea to take them for a walk to tire them and let them go to the toilet. When you put your puppy's new collar on, make sure it can't slip over their head; you should only be able to fit two fingers inside when it's round their neck.
1/4 Before leaving the breeder
Check you've got all the paperwork and asked all your questions, and make sure your puppy hasn't just been fed to avoid any sickness on the journey. It's also a good idea to take them for a walk to tire them and let them go to the toilet. When you put your puppy's new collar on, make sure it can't slip over their head; you should only be able to fit two fingers inside when it's round their neck.
1/4 Before leaving the breeder
Check you've got all the paperwork and asked all your questions, and make sure your puppy hasn't just been fed to avoid any sickness on the journey. It's also a good idea to take them for a walk to tire them and let them go to the toilet. When you put your puppy's new collar on, make sure it can't slip over their head; you should only be able to fit two fingers inside when it's round their neck.
How to handle the early days withYOUR PUPPY
Your puppy's first few days and weeks with you have a huge influence on how well they settle into their new home and their future development and happiness.
Our Puppy Ranges
Royal Canin Puppy supports healthy growth and development by providing all the nutrients essential to their needs in the first year of life.
