Organizing your plan of attack needs to be at the top of your priority list when preparing for training a puppy, as it will help a great deal in the transition for your new puppy to his new strange new world from his comfy and secure home with his mother. A young pup can suffer separation anxiety when he is taken away from his mother and siblings, and then is suddenly moved to strange and confusing habitat with completely alien smells and faces to get used to.

And it’s not just puppies and young dogs. Fully grown dogs are not immune to bouts of anxiety caused by the upheaval when moved to new homes. Don’t forget your dog will need lots of reassurance when you take him away from his old home; he just sees a new and quite worrying place with none of his friends.

If it is at all do-able, try to get to know your new puppy before he moves in. There will be some familiar ground for him then, when he does finally move to your place. So, when you get round tofiguring out, ways to train a puppy he will already be used to you and better able to learn his new skills. Don’t worry if you can’t get to see your new puppy before he comes home – perhaps you will be able to take something from the dog’s former home with you – like maybe a piece of clothing that he’s slept on, or any other item he recognizes that will help him settle down and get used to being in an alien environment without the familiar smells and faces.

Pretty much everybody agrees that the best time to introduce your puppy to his new home is when you will be at home for a few days on the trot. This way you’ll always be there while he’s finding his feet. During the holidays is ideal – providing of course you’re at home and not on vacation. He’ll settle down a lot quicker if you’re there with him 24-7. Spending lots of time with him when he moves in will pay dividends in building your relationship and help the newcomer get over his homesickness blues.

Just as parents prepare for the arrival of a new baby by creating an environment to satisfy the baby’s needs and requirements, training puppies needs to be given the attention to detail. Doesn’t your new four legged member of the family deserve the same.