Thinking of adopting a puppy? Read the SF SPCA adoption handbook to learn more.
Learn how to meet the needs of your new four-legged friend to ensure everyone’s safety, health and comfort. This guide will inform you of all the equipment and adjustments to expect with raising a new puppy so that you can enjoy your new life with a loving canine companion. The following topics are covered in the Puppy Adoption Handbook:
Set Up for Success
- Meeting your puppy’s needs (supplies checklist)
- Setting up your home
- For a happy and healthy puppy (mental and physical stimulation)
Arriving Home with Your Puppy
- The first hour
- The first day
- The bedtime routine
House-Training and Crate Training
- Crate training your puppy (the first day, the next few days, leaving the house)
- House-training your puppy
- Four golden rules of house-training
Alone-Time Training
- Being alone doesn’t come naturally
- KONG® stuffing pointers
Puppy Socialization
- Why it’s so important—and urgent
- A well-socialized puppy
- What about vaccinations?
- Tying dogs out
- Puppy handling
- Puppy socialization chart
Puppy Training and How to Train
- Why puppy training?
- Practice positive reinforcement
- Why it works so well
- A word on punishment
- Unwanted behaviors
- Dog training principles
- Lure-reward training
- Puppy training classes
Common Puppy Problems
- Troubleshooting puppy problems (play biting/mouthing, chewing, barking, jumping, fearfulness in new environments)
Common Misconceptions
Additional Resources