Welcoming My New Puppy Tiny Lily: Preparing, Bonding, Training Tips

Welcoming Home My New Puppy Tiny Lily

The day I brought home my new puppy Tiny Lily was one of the happiest days of my life. As a dog mom, I had been dreaming of this moment for years. When I first laid eyes on her cute ginger fur and big brown eyes peering up at me from the shelter cage, I just knew she was meant to be my fur baby.

Tiny Lily is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Pomeranian mix. She looks just like a mini fox with her fluffy orange and white coat. At 8 weeks old, she was just a tiny 5 pounds but overflowing with personality. The moment I picked her up and cuddled her close, I was in love!

Preparing My Home for a New Puppy

I prepared my home in advance of Tiny Lily's arrival. I puppy proofed by putting away any cables, toxic plants, and small objects she could choke on. I also designed a little puppy playpen area with pee pads, food and water bowls, and lots of fun chew toys.

For Tiny Lily's first nights home, I set up a cozy crate with a blanket that had her mom's scent to help her feel secure. I also plugged in a snuggle puppy that has a heartbeat sound to comfort her.

Of course I stocked up on the highest quality puppy food according to the breeder's recommendations. Tiny Lily would be on a healthy diet right from the start.

Our First Days Together

Those first days with a new puppy are always exhausting but so rewarding. Tiny Lily needed to go outside every couple hours to potty. Accidents still happened but we were patient. I made sure to give her lots of praise and treats for doing her business outside.

At night she cried a bit in her crate but I stayed close by to reassure her. After a few days she got used to her new home and bonded with me.

I began leash training Tiny Lily right away too. At first she was scared and just froze. With encouragement and treats she learned to walk nicely on a leash around the block.

Socializing Tiny Lily

An important part of raising a puppy is proper socialization. This means introducing them to new sights, sounds, people, and other animals in a positive way. The first 16 weeks of a puppy's life are critical for socialization.

I started taking Tiny Lily on car rides, doing puppy kindergarten classes, and visiting dog-friendly stores. She met neighbors and their friendly pets too. I made sure to keep these experiences happy by giving treats and praise so she would associate new things with positivity.

Tiny Lily became confident going new places with me. Her sweet and affectionate personality started shining through more and more.

Our Daily Routine Together

Here is what a typical day looks like now with Tiny Lily by my side:

Morning

Tiny Lily wakes me up around 6:30am by gently nibbling my toes or snuggling up to my face. After some cuddles, it's time to let her outside to go potty.

Next, we have breakfast. I fill her bowl with a healthy puppy formula kibble. Tiny Lily scarfs it down in seconds then I take her out again.

After some play time, it's back to the crate for a morning nap while I get ready for the day. Then we head out for a morning walk around the neighborhood.

Afternoon

I come home at lunch to give Tiny Lily potty and play breaks. We practice training commands too. Her favorites are "sit", "shake", and "rollover" since she gets treats.

In the afternoon, Tiny Lily snoozes in her crate or doggy playpen. Puppies need 18-20 hours of sleep a day! I give her a stuffed Kong or puzzle toy to keep her occupied while I'm working.

Evening

After work, Tiny Lily is bursting with energy so we go to the park or walk around the neighborhood. This gets all her wiggles out.

At home, we work on training for 10-15 minutes. Tiny Lily has mastered the basics and we've started working on more advanced tricks together.

After dinner in her crate, the evening is spent playing or cuddling on the couch. Tiny Lily loves when we do toy rotations to keep things interesting.

Before bed, we do a final potty break. I tuck Tiny Lily into her crate with some soothing music and her night light. Lights out around 10pm.

Puppy Parenting Challenges

Despite all the rewards, raising a puppy has had its fair share of challenges too. Here are some of the main issues I've faced with Tiny Lily:

House Training Struggles

Potty training was not easy for Tiny Lily at first. There were many accidents in the house despite taking her out often. I had to be extremely vigilant about watching for signs she needed to go and then hustling her outside.

I found that establishing a clear potty schedule plus giving treats and praise for going outside did the trick. Her accidents reduced a lot after about a month.

Dealing with Separation Anxiety

Tiny Lily used to cry and bark whenever I left her alone. She had severe separation anxiety because she was so attached to me. This made it difficult to get things done.

I worked on making my departures and arrivals very low key. Giving her puzzle toys with treats helped distract and soothe her too. Tiny Lily's separation anxiety has improved drastically.

Managing Puppy Biting

Tiny Lily went through a major teething phase around 3-4 months old. She was nipping and biting everything in sight! My hands and ankles looked like I fought with a blender.

Using redirection, timeout, and making sure she got enough sleep helped curb the biting impulse. I also gave her plenty of safe chew toys. Now at 5 months old, the biting has decreased thankfully.

Puppy Parenting Tips

For anyone bringing home a new puppy, I want to share some tips that helped me through the challenging moments:

Get on a Schedule

Having a set routine for things like feeding, potty breaks, training, walks, and sleep will make puppy raising much smoother. Puppies thrive on predictability and schedules.

Puppy Proof

Go through your home and eliminate anything dangerous or valuable that can be chewed up or knocked over. Confine your puppy when you can't watch them. Prevent bad behaviors before they start.

Pick Quality Food

Feed your puppy a premium brand puppy kibble recommended by your vet. Proper nutrition is so important for their growth and development.

Train Consistently

Start training the basics like potty training, leash walking, name recognition and socialization right away. Use positive reinforcement and be consistent with commands, rewards, and consequences.

Be Patient

Raising a puppy will try your patience! Go into it knowing there will be challenges and accidents. Respond gently and remember they are still learning. Your patience will pay off.

The Joys of Puppy Parenthood

While the first year with Tiny Lily has involved some trials and tribulations, it has been infinitely more rewarding. She brings me so much joy and companionship every single day.

I love coming home to Tiny Lily's enthusiastic greetings and silly antics. Her sweet personality makes me smile even during the most stressful days. She gets me outside walking and playing when I would otherwise just sit on the couch.

Watching Tiny Lily learn new things, discover the world around her, and bond with me has amazing. I am so proud of the good pup she is growing up to be.

Yes, she still has moments of naughtiness like chewing my shoes or barking out the window. But her sweet snuggles, silly play bows, and unconditional love more than make up for any frustrations.

I am so happy I made the commitment to adopting Tiny Lily. She has made my life exponentially better by being in it. I look forward to many more years of adventures together!

FAQs

How do I prepare my home for a new puppy?

Puppy proof your home by putting away cables, toxic plants, and small objects. Set up a play pen area with pee pads, food/water bowls, and toys. Have a crate ready with a blanket containing the puppy's mom's scent to provide comfort.

What supplies do I need for a new puppy?

Essential supplies include food and water bowls, a crate, pee pads, chew toys, a leash and collar with ID tag, food, treats, grooming tools, and cleaning products for accidents. Stock up on puppy kibble and consider getting a snuggle puppy or puzzle toys.

How do I potty train my new puppy?

Take your puppy out frequently and reward them with treats for going potty outside. Be consistent with using a word like "go potty" and stick to a schedule. Confine them when you can't supervise. Look for signs they need to go and hustle them outside.

How do I curb puppy biting and nipping?

Redirect biting onto chew toys andgive timeouts for continued nipping. Make sure they get enough sleep and exercise. Provide safe chew items like frozen washcloths. Be consistent and say "no bite" then ignore them if they keep biting.

How much exercise does my puppy need?

Puppies need only 5 minutes of exercise per month of age up to twice a day. A 3 month old pup gets 15 minutes maximum. Provide both mental and physical stimulation with training, socialization, and play. Monitor your puppy for signs of overtiredness.