Medium to large breed puppies shouldn't leave their canine
family before they're 8 weeks old, for tiny and toy breeds
10 - 12 weeks is recommended.
At this age your puppy is just a baby, and the stress of
leaving his familiar family and surroundings, perhaps
coupled with a long car ride, or airplane journey, and
topped off with a sea of new faces/experiences and possibly
even a change in diet, is a LOT OF STRESS for him to handle.
When you first met your new pup, he was probably feeling
safe and secure with his momma and siblings. He may have
been the boldest in the litter then, but once you get him
home he's likely to act much more like a anxious and
homesick baby - and that's okay, because that's what he is!
Although it's not surprising that the bold, playful little
pup you met earlier has suddenly 'morphed' into a sad,
anxious little guy, his 'personality change' is often both
worrying and confusing for his new parents.
What to expect during the first few days
Your new pup may seem happy and lively when you first get
him home, running around and greeting everyone with that
little tail wagging nineteen-to-the-dozen. However, most
puppies tend to gradually become quieter and more subdued.
You may notice one, two or several of these...
A loss of appetite
He seems 'lazy' or extra sleepy
Diarrhea
A lessening of interest in toys/treats/attention
Apparent 'depression' or sadness
General anxiety
Your puppy's little body is trying to adjust to many new
things, and he may react to this by 'shutting it all out' -
basically curling up and going to sleep.
Like babies, puppies need to sleep a lot anyway, but for
the first few days they may seem to be taking one marathon
nap! He's feeling anxious and a bit lonely, and that often
means he doesn't feel like eating or playing either.
As the days pass though, and he starts to feel more 'at
home' with his new family and surroundings, he will start
to 'perk up', his appetite will come back (often with a
vengeance!), and his true personality will start to shine
through. When that starts to happen, you know he's settled
in.
How to tell if your new puppy is just homesick.... or
really is SICK
Although in most cases, the above symptoms last only a
couple of days and are nothing to worry about, it's
important to know that the same symptoms CAN SOMETIMES
INDICATE TRUE ILLNESS.
There are many serious, contagious canine diseases that
cause loss of appetite, diarrhea, lethargy (excessive
sleepiness) and so on. One of the difficult things for new
puppy owners is knowing when there's nothing to worry about
- and when to seek veterinary help.
Although it's not possible for me to tell you how to know
for sure whether your puppy is homesick or really sick,
there are some tips that can help you figure it out.
Your puppy may be suffering from an illness if -
His diarrhea is frequent, and is getting worse. Or if it is
watery or contains blood/mucus
He is vomiting repeatedly and is unable to keep food/water
down
He seems totally exhausted - too tired to lift his head or
care about toys/treats
A puppy who is just homesick may seem sleepy and sad, but
can generally be enticed with a game of fetch or a tasty
treat. Most times there will be short periods of happy
activity during the day, even though he isn't quite
'himself'. However, if your puppy is truly sick, he will
usually be unwilling/unable to run around and play - even
for short periods. He will look and act as if he feels
terrible.
What to do if you're worried
Young puppies are very vulnerable, and can get sick very
fast. It's always better to be safe than sorry, and if you
are at all concerned about your little guy, ALWAYS take him
to see your veterinarian.
Whenever you bring a new puppy home it's a good idea to
have him checked over by your veterinarian within a day or
two anyway. Then you can be sure he's up to date on all the
routine care such as vaccinations and de-worming etc. It
also gives you a chance to make sure there are no
underlying health issues that you need to be aware of.
If you're not certain whether your puppy's behavior means
he's just going through the normal 'adjustment period', or
whether he's not feeling well, take him to your vet just as
soon as you can. That way you can be sure you're doing the
very best you can for your new best friend.
----------------------------------------------------
Author is a life long dog-lover and has many years of
experience in breeding, raising and training puppies.
Read the full article 'Bringing Home A New Puppy' and get
all the free tips, advice and info you need to take the
very best care of your new puppy by visiting
http://www.the-puppy-dog-place.com Puppies are our passion!
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