The arrival of a new puppy, whether a Terrier or a Biewer Terrier, is one of the loveliest and most exciting moments for any owner. We often imagine this first week full of toys, visitors, learning first tricks and long walks. But for the puppy, the world has just turned upside down.
To give it the best possible start, we must first look at the world through its eyes.
A huge change: the world turned upside down
Imagine you are two months old and are suddenly separated from your mother, brothers, sisters and the only environment you have known. You find yourself in a new space with unfamiliar smells, sounds and people. For a small puppy this is an enormous change.
So the main goal of the first week is simply settling in. The puppy needs to learn that it is safe in its new environment and that you are its new refuge.
Less is more: no over-stimulation
One of the most common mistakes owners make is too much exposure to stimuli. Let the first week be for getting to know the immediate family. Friends and relatives will have plenty of time for cuddles later; let the first few days be calm.
Also avoid dog parks, shops and noisy places with unfamiliar dogs in the first week. There will be time enough for that. Too many impressions in the first days can overload a puppy's nervous system, which often shows as over-excitement, restless sleep or an upset tummy.
Sleep comes first
Puppies at this age need a huge amount of sleep, even eighteen to twenty hours a day. Sleep is crucial for processing all the new impressions and for healthy brain development. If a puppy does not sleep enough, it becomes irritable, much like a small, overtired child.
Exploring the surroundings at a snail's pace
Walks in the first week should be limited to the immediate surroundings of the house or garden, mainly for toileting. Let the puppy explore the world at its own rhythm. When it sniffs a blade of grass or watches its surroundings, do not rush it.
Closeness at night
The puppy was used to sleeping in a heap with its canine family, where it felt warmth and the beat of hearts. The first nights in a new home can be frightening if it is left alone in the dark. It helps to have its bed right beside you, so it feels your nearness.
The guiding principle for the first week
Forget commands like sit, place or heel. In the first week a puppy learns something far more important. It learns that it loves you, that it can trust you and that the world is a lovely place. Raising a puppy in a puppy-friendly way means putting this bond first.
Literature and sources
American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (2008). Position Statement on Puppy Socialization.
Overall KL (2013). Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats. Elsevier Mosby.
Merck/MSD Veterinary Manual: Management of the Neonate in Small Animals.
