#MiddleburyCT #Pets #NewPuppy 
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: This Christmas, we planned to get a puppy, but it is too young to leave its mother yet. Instead of revealing the puppy on Christmas Day, we wrapped a big box that had a little note in it from Santa saying that a new puppy will arrive soon, and to write down their ideas for a name on the back of the card. Do you have any tips on how we can prepare the house for the puppy’s arrival in a few weeks? – Chet in Boise, Idaho
DEAR CHET: First, kudos to you for handling the Christmas announcement so well! That’s a great way to surprise the kids during the gift-opening while not having to supervise a puppy who has no idea what is going on. And keeping the puppy with its mother until it’s at least 8 to 12 weeks old is so important.
Involving the kids in preparation for the puppy’s arrival is important. Explain to them that puppies like to explore – often with their teeth. So they need to put away their toys, clothing and anything that they don’t want to get chewed up. Puppies can also get into foods and cleaning items that can be dangerous or deadly for them, so those items need to be lifted off the floor or removed from the house’s common areas entirely.
Talk to them about how they can help train the new puppy. This will prepare them for how to handle, talk to and correct the puppy from the first day of its arrival.
Congratulations on the new family member! It sounds like you’re doing a great job preparing the family for the arrival, and that’ll make things so much easier for a new pup.
How did you help your kids adjust to a new pet? Tell us about it at ask@pawscorner.com.
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