Bringing home a "started puppy"

Sullivan, a silver and white parti started standard poodle puppy. (Sullivan has gone home)

Someone recently asked me how bringing home an older "started puppy" differs from bringing home a young, eight week old puppy. And it's a great question! Little puppies usually great you with kisses and a tail that wont stop. Older puppies however are a different story! Let's talk about what to expect when bringing home an older puppy.

Standard Poodles are wonderful, perceptive, and sensitive dogs. This means that when they go to a totally new environment as an older puppy (four months old or older) or an adult they are usually leery for a little bit. This can manifest itself in several ways. They may not want to come out of their kennel, they may sit on the other side of the room watching you but shy away when you approach, they may not want to come back inside after using the bathroom, they may pull away when you reach to pet them. All of these behaviors are very normal when an adult (or older puppy) standard poodle goes home to a new family. None of these behaviors should be cause for alarm! 

What can you do to help your new poodle get attached to you? 

First, be patient. Everything has changed for them! They WILL warm up to you, but it may take a week or a little longer before they totally come out of their shell and show their personality. In the first week it is important to give them their space. If they shy away from your petting, don’t push it, just wait. They will come around! 

Don’t be worried if they want to stay in the kennel. I recommend putting the kennel in a central area of your home, the dinning room, living room etc, and letting them stay in the kennel so that they can observe you and your family, and get used to the noises of your home from a place where they feel safe. I also recommend feeding your poodle in their kennel at least for a while. 

If your puppy likes treats keep a little baggie of their favorite treat in your pocket, whenever you think of it just give your puppy a little treat. Every puppy quickly learns to love someone who feeds them yummy snacks!

I also highly recommend using a waist leash in the house when your poodle isn’t in a kennel so that they learn to stay near you, and to not get into things in the house that they shouldn’t. Bad habits can be formed quickly when no one is watching. So make sure that for the first few weeks you can always see your poodle and correct bad behaviors before they become a habit. 

Just sit near them. Your poodle will start offering you their affection, but for a bit they will just appreciate you being near them, but not forcing anything on them. They may just sit and observe you for a while, but eventually they will come up to you and start offering you their love, and accepting yours in return! 

Since we do lots of taking walks with our started puppies, putting the leash on and heading out for a walk might be something your puppy will really enjoy, as it's an activity they're used to.

At the end of the day, let your poodle puppy come to you. Once they do they’ll never leave your side! Your patience will be well rewarded!

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me! I’m here to help!