PLANNING FOR YOUR NEW BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG PUPPY
The following information is designed to give you a few basic ideas on how to proceed once you have made arrangements with a breeder to adopt a new BMD puppy. Life with your new canine family member should start with a basic plan for how you will care for your puppy during the first few months.
If you have gotten your puppy from a conscientious breeder, she has been well socialized and exposed to many different sights sounds and experiences since birth. Even when the first weeks of life are optimal, the puppy may be a little scared and even lonely for a few days after leaving her dam and litter mates. It will probably take at least a couple of days for your puppy to get comfortable with a whole new environment. The puppy will need a little time to learn about what is expected. She will need time to adapt to the rhythms and pace of a different household and learn about the manner and demeanor of different human companions. One of the puppy’s most important needs will be learning to trust and bond to you, his new caretaker. Patience and tender hands will go a long way to build a strong bond and a rewarding relationship. Your puppy is relying on you to provide consistent guidance and a safe place to be. Puppies are joyful, playful and fun. It will be your responsibility to balance the puppy’s need for activity, training, exercise and playtime with needed quiet time to sleep and grow.
The first few weeks with your new puppy will revolve around getting your puppy used to your house’s schedule, setting up planned feeding times, setting up a housebreaking routine, crate training and beginning to establish a bond between you, everyone in your household and your new dog. Positive training with verbal, petting or food treat rewards for good behavior will be the best way to keep your puppy coming back for more. Enthusiasm and encouragement are effective ways to train Berner puppies.
THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOUR PUP ARRIVES
PUPPY PROOFING
Before the puppy is ready to come into your home, there are some things you can do to prepare. Please take the time to ‘puppy proof’ your home. Puppies are curious and can get into all sorts of mischief, much the same as human toddlers. Please, place any hazardous chemicals, garden fertilizers, insecticides, cleaning substances, antifreeze, glues, paints or other dangerous materials up off the ground at least 4'-5' or put them away in a closed secure cabinet. Check for any small holes in and at the base of outdoor fences and repair them so your puppy can’t get under or through the fence. Puppies can easily get their heads stuck in small openings, so make sure holes or gaps are completely covered. Check for any areas indoors and outdoors that might cause a fall, such as open stairways or landings or open decks with drop offs. Young puppies may not have developed a good sense of how to navigate stairs and may jump from landings, so at least a minimum awareness of your puppy's familiarity with stairs is an important consideration. Pools should be fenced. You can use baby gates for stairwells, open doorways or for rooms that the puppy will not be permitted access on a regular basis while becoming accustomed to your home and schedule.