Bringing Your New Puppy Home
Preparing For Your Puppy

You have picked your puppy and it will only be
a few weeks until the new addition to your
family will arrive home. There are a few things
that you will need to do to prepare for your
new family member. Just like you would child
proof your home for young children you should
puppy proof your home for your new puppy.
Puppies are very curious and they will get into
everything they can. Some bad habits that
people have that will have to be broken before
getting your puppy is leaving things laying on
the floor like socks, games, kids toys, books,
shoes.  It is a good idea to break these habits
before getting your puppy so that your puppy
doesn't get into something that its not suppose
to.  Make sure to move anything that you don't
want your puppy to have out of your puppies
reach. Your puppy is going to be attracted to
anything that it can chew on especially things
that smell like there people.

When picking up your puppy be sure that you have allotted time to talk with the breeder. There will most likely be
paperwork to sign and the breeder will want to go over things with you and answer any questions that you have.

Arriving Home With Your New Puppy

Before taking your puppy into your home you should walk him around the yard and let him relieve himself. Let him scope
out his new surroundings and be sure to show him his new bed. Puppies love new smells they can be very exciting. Let him
explore and become familiar with his surroundings before introducing new areas. You should offer your puppy something to
eat and drink shortly after arriving home this will help him to find where his food and water bowl are located. After he
finishes eating take him right outside to do his business. You should do this every time after he eats. This will establish a
routine for him and puppies do well with routine.  Be sure to praise your puppy when he has done good.

Most puppies will cry at night when you first bring them home this is because they are lonely. They are use to having litter
mates. You need to establish a routine. There are also a few tricks you can try if you find that your puppy cries or whines. If
you put a stuffed animal in the puppies bed with him and put a ticking clock beside him. The clock sounds like a heart beat
and stuffed animal gives him the feeling of not being alone. Also you can leave a night light on this allows the puppy to be
aware of its surroundings at all times. Play with your puppy before bedtime this will tire him out and help him sleep.  

Over the course of the next little while you will need to teach your puppy your rules. He must learn that no means no and
that good behavior get lots of praise and even sometimes treats. He will have to learn where he is allowed to wonder and
where in the home is off limits. Puppy training needs to start right away. It is not something that you can start a couple of
weeks from now. The longer you hold off the harder its going to be.  When your puppy misbehaves don't pick it up. This is a
form of affection and it will think that it has done good. You need to tell him "no" in a firm voice. Training takes patience &
persistences. Your puppy will not learn all the rules in just one day. This will take time especially with a bulldog as they can
be very stubborn. You need to establish that you are the leader.

Puppies are like children they get into lots of things.  Be sure to puppy proof your house. If it is something that your puppy
should not have be sure to lock it away or put it up out of the puppies reach. Be aware that it's not just things in your house
that your puppy can get into but outside as well. Make sure that if you have flower beds that you don't leave your puppy
outside unattended. There are many plants that are poisonous to dogs that doesn't mean that you have to dig them up. You
must train them to stay away and never leave them unattended.

Some Poisonous Plants That Might Be Found In Your Yard

Plant                                                             Poisonous Part

Buttercup                                                        all parts
Clematis                                                          all parts
Daffodil                                                            bulb
Delphinium                                                      seeds
Iris                                                                   all parts
Hyacinth                                                          bulb
Hydrangea                                                      all parts
Lily                                                                  all parts
Lily of the Valley                                              all parts
Lupin                                                              seeds
Peony                                                             roots
Rhubarb                                                         leaves
Tulip                                                               bulbs

Maintaining Your Puppy

There are few things that you will need to do on a regular basis to maintain your puppies health. In order to do this there
are a few things you are going to need.

You Will Need:

* Vaseline                                * Ear cleaning solution
* Q-tips                                    * Brush
* Cotton Balls                          * Shampoo
* Baby Wipes                          * Nail clippers
* Thermometer                       * Kleenex

Bulldogs requires their wrinkles to be cleaned on  a regular basis to do this you use baby wipes. Be sure to get
the non scented ones.  After wiping your bullies wrinkles with the baby wipes take a Kleenex and dry under the wrinkles. If
you don't keep the wrinkles clean and dry you can run into problems with skin infections. You will also have to clean your
puppies ears on a regular basis they can get pretty dirty. This is where the Q-tips and cotton balls come in handy. Just put
some ear cleaning solution on the cotton ball and gently clean the ear. Be sure not to push to hard or go to deep as you do
not want to hurt the puppy. You can use the Q-tips for the hard to reach spots. If you keep your puppies ears clean they will
not be as prone to ear infections. When bathing your bulldog keep in mind that you do not want to bath your puppy to
frequently you will take all the natural oils out of its skin. You can also use the cotton balls to put in your puppies ears to
keep from getting water in them. After bathing your puppy it is always good to give him a good brushing. Another good tip is
to use Vaseline  for your dogs nose it will keep it from drying out and cracking. Also trimming toenails is something that is
required on a fairly regular basis.  You will find that if you play with your puppies feet and pinch his toes this will get him use
to having his feet handled making trimming toenails easier. Just remember not to take to much, you don't want hurt your
puppy.  

Another thing that is good for your puppy on a regular basis is a product called Advantage Multi. It is something that you will
have to pick up at your vets office. It is used to control fleas, some parasites, heart worm, and many other things. It is put on
the skin of your puppy once a month.

Don't forget your yearly vaccinations.
Picking Up Your Puppy

Your bulldog puppy is 8 weeks old and ready to be picked up. When making
arrangements with your breeder to pick up your puppy you may want to take into
consideration what time you pick your puppy up. If possible try making arrangements to
pick him up in the morning or early afternoon, as this will give him time to adjust prior to
bedtime. This is not only a big day for you but for your new puppy as well. Another thing
to take into consideration is on weekend when your puppy has time to adjust before you
up and leave it alone.

Things To Take With You When Picking Up Your Puppy:

* Directions
* List of any questions you may have
* Puppy Collar/Harness
* Leash
* Paper towels, plastic bags for potty pickups       or car sickness
* Small Crate
* Blankets for your puppy