Picking up our new puppy, Shackleton, was one of the most exciting days (although most of it was spent sitting in the car and we were absolutely exhausted by the end of it). As many new owners do, we picked Shackleton up when he was 8 weeks old. At this age he was not yet fully vaccinated which meant we couldn’t start taking him out and about straight away.
Luckily, there was plenty for us to do at home and we have access to a secure garden so there was space for exploring and playing (and toilet training could begin immediately too).
Is An 8 Week Old Puppy Usually Fully Vaccinated?
Not usually, although they may have had their first of two doses of the vaccination. They should have veterinary records that tell you which vaccinations they have received so far.
At 8 weeks our puppy:
- Was microchipped
- Had the first of the two vaccinations (the second was due 4 weeks later at 12 weeks old)
- Had been health checked by the vet
- Had been wormed at 5 and 7 weeks (his worming was due again at 12 weeks)
Getting Your New Puppy Settled
It takes time for a new puppy to settle into their new home and new surroundings, understandably so. We did find that we were able to help Shackleton feel more settled by playing lots of games with him, giving him plenty of attention and by placing the blanket that has the scent of his mum and litter mates onto his new cosy bed.
We found one of the best ways help our puppy settle in was to start building a bond with them through simple training. Within the first few days, Shackleton had learnt his name and the “sit” command and these simple first steps helped him to feel more confident and comfortable around us and in his new home. As he clearly enjoyed the process of learning new commands we continued to teach him the basics such as “lie down” and “roll over”.
Toilet Training Your New Puppy
One of the biggest challenges of having a new puppy is toilet training them. Not because it’s particularly difficult but because it is EXHAUSTING, you can’t relax as you’re always watching to see if your puppy starts sniffing around like they need to go outside.
We wanted to build Shackleton up for success so we would keep a close eye on him and take him out whenever we thought he MIGHT need to go out, this included when he woke up from a nap, when he had just eaten or drank something, when he sniffed around one spot and whenever we thought he looked a bit “suspicious” haha.
We also took him out into the garden every couple of hours (I’d pick him up and carry him at first to prevent accidents from happening on the way outside). We’d then place him on the grass so he could go for a wee/ poo. If he did, we would say “go for a wee” and reward him with chicken.
Regularly taking your new puppy outside is the best way to prevent accidents indoors (although they will inevitably happen so be prepared). Your puppy will learn that when they go outside to wee or poo they are rewarded and they will soon get the hang out going outside themselves but this is a process that requires patience and consistency.
Advice: When you take your puppy outside to go to the toilet, do not start playing with them. To be honest, you want to be as boring as possible so rather than your puppy getting distracted by you and thinking that every time you go into the garden it’s play time, they can instead sniff around and (hopefully) go to the toilet. Always make a fuss and reward your puppy when they do wee or poo outside.
Night Time With A New Puppy
We decided the best way to approach the nights with Shackleton was to use a crate. At first, we put the crate into our bedroom so he wouldn’t feel alone. The crate had a comfy bed and a blanket that smelt like Shackleton’s mum to help him feel safe and content. I’d take him outside a few times during the night (pick the puppy up and carry them outside to prevent accidents before you get outside) and then he’d go back into his crate to sleep.
We found he took a few minutes to quieten down and settle but then he’d sleep well.
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