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In January of this year, I got my first ever puppy named Bambi, a miniature long-haired dachshund. Owning a dachshund had been my dream for a quite a while, and in December I finally found the perfect little girl to bring home. I had been doing extensive research pre-puppy, but I still found myself drowning in the deep end. I found that the first couple weeks, even months, had been a true struggle… in spite of all the fun and love. With my ‘never ending new experiences of puppies’ growing, I wanted to share a few tips I have learned for anyone who may be interested in taking home a puppy for the first time.  

1. Creating a schedule

While it is obvious that puppies need tons of care and attention, it comes down to more than hard work. You must consider how often or little they may sleep, when they will need to “go potty”, and of course the dreaded (yet beloved) “zoomies”. Now it’s important to create a schedule for these little ones, but more often than not, they will make these decisions for you.

When I first brought home my sweet, wild, bundle of joy, Bambi, she had me waking up multiple times in the middle of the night. It is unlikely you will get a well rested night’s sleep for a few weeks, maybe even a month. On the bright side, it is normal and healthy for puppies to sleep from 18-20 hours a day. This way, you may be able to catch a nap to make up for your restless nights! 

2. Potty Training 

Now… the most frustrating lesson yet, getting your pup potty trained. This one is likely one of the hardest tasks, especially for me with Bambi’s being a dachshund. She is a little over 5 months old, and she still has accidents all over the house. 

Depending on their age from a few weeks to months, a puppy can hold their bladder for a pretty specific amount of time. (Not usually very long.) The rule of thumb I’ve found is; however old your pup is in months, on average equates to how many hours they can hold their bladder. When I first got Bambi she was about 2 months old, so the maximum time her bladder could handle was around 2 hours. 

On this note, still be sure to take your puppy outside more often than you think you should. If they are whining, sniffing the ground frequently, or doing little circles, it is likely that they’ve got to go! Using short phrases such as “go potty” when they go will help build good habits. In the same way, telling your pup “good girl/boy” during and after they go will be helpful for rewarding. Don’t forget to reward them with a treat too, this is a great incentive! 

3. Socialization & Familiarity 

Puppies are new to this large loud world and we must treat them as such! If you can spare the extra time, taking your puppy outside the house, (ex; on car rides and public areas) can bring huge benefits to their behaviors. 

Of course, if your puppy is too young and does not have their vaccines yet, do not place them on the ground in public areas that other dogs and animals have been around. This can cause harm to puppies’ immune systems that aren’t strong enough without vaccines to protect them. Luckily, if you are still waiting on getting the shots, there are some alternatives for taking them out and about. Something like purchasing a sling bag or puppy tote can be really useful for transport. If you have a larger pup it may be best to only take them on car rides or in a front/backyard, if you have the space. 

Allowing the puppies to get used to new people, smells, sounds, and environments is essential. It’s always fun and beneficial to have friends or family come over and introduce themselves while they are young, this way the pups have less social anxiety in the future!

Similarly, car rides can be either frightening or really exciting. You’ll want to form a routine for how they should behave and ride in the car. Additionally, getting them familiar with wearing a collar/harness when they are young is also a great tip! Bambi still wiggles like a worm sometimes when I try to put her harness on! 

4. Playtime 

Puppies can be full of energy one minute and asleep the next. You’ll never know their next move, although for those playful moments, you will want to carve out time for enriching activities. The obvious essentials would be to have some chew toys on deck. It’s always good to take the time to go play outside for some fresh air. Make sure it’s in safe enclosed areas, especially for unvaccinated pups. 

Some little extra things I also found worked well are puzzles, lick mats, and stimulating, interactive toys. You can find a lot of enrichment toys online or at your local pet stores. This helps to get all their ““zoomies” and pent up energy out, especially before bedtime. I have learned from research that puppies have an easier time relaxing for bedtime after slow, but fulfilling playtime. Ideally, you don’t want to encourage running around all over the house before bed. This may lead to restless puppies!

5. Teething, Chewing, & Biting

Your puppy is going to eventually have some harsh growing pains, especially around 3-6 months. This will cause them to do a lot of chewing and biting due to their new adult teeth coming in. I will not be the first one to tell you that puppy teeth can be as sharp as little daggers! Honestly, the bites can hurt pretty bad. There are some things you can do to avoid going completely insane, and give your pup some relief on those fangs. I discovered purchasing some high quality bones like yak chews or Bambi’s personal favorite, beef cheek. You can also freeze items like carrots or washcloths for them to chew on. This feels really good on their shifting baby teeth! 

It is imperative to note that puppies will get their paws or mouths, on anything in their sight! You will definitely want to pick up valuable or dangerous items off the floor and ground levels. For example, items like electrical cords, slippers, paperwork, boxes, or anything else you feel could be damaged or harmful. This is something you just might learn the hard way. In fact, I have lost a pair of $100 shoes to my puppy’s chompers! 

These are just a handful of the tips and tricks I have for puppy ownership, but there is plenty more to learn! I strongly advocate for doing your own research before bringing your puppy home, and continuing to learn as you go! I am still discovering new information and experiences each day with Bambi. 

I conducted a short interview with my mom who is a long-time owner of multiple dogs.

She told me “You will really want to take your time with your decision to own and care for a puppy/dog. They are often a lot more work than people expect. Sadly, some of these people will give their dogs up for adoption and that is how dogs end up in shelters with no homes. It is a commitment for the duration of the dog’s life.”

Bringing home any pet for the first time can be stressful, but it is also one of the most joyous feelings. You now have your best pal for life! If you or a loved one are in the market for taking on the task of caring for a fuzzy friend, I’d like to offer some links to local adoption organizations/shelters to check out. All of these are great resources to call and ask questions to see what breed would be the right fit for you and/or your family!

Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center

Ventura County Animal Services

Humane Society of Ventura County

Legacy of Love 805