"Dog reads"

As those big puppy eyes greet you for the first time, it’s easy to see how life with your puppy is one of the happiest times imaginable. As the world unfolds around him, you get to experience it through his eyes, and as he learns, you’re bound to discover a few new things too.

“I fell in love with Fred the first time I saw him,” Huldah Brown of Sutton, Nebraska, says of her one-year-old Dachshund. “He was only a few weeks old, and when he laid in my lap, we bonded instantly. Now I can’t imagine not having him in my life.”

Always ready for play, the sheer wonderment of your new pal is a marvel of baby-soft fur, that perky tail, and fun. As you bring him home for the first time, the good life together is just beginning.

Bonding with your puppy begins the moment you pick him up, but your first night together only strengthens that connection. Since your puppy is in a new environment, place his bed next to yours. Before taking him home, ask for a soft toy or cloth that belonged to your puppy’s mother or littermates. That way, your puppy can snuggle up with familiar smells while he’s adjusting to his new surroundings.)

Those first three or four months are all about chumming around and getting close to your buddy. So, as dog owner and author Diane Pomerance says, “You want to spend a lot of time handling and holding your puppy.”

As he grows, his curiosity will too. Remember, he’s just now exploring this big wide world!

That tiny pup you brought home at eight or nine weeks will grow fast, and many people are surprised to see how quickly their pups turn into adults. By the time he is three or four months old, he’ll lose his puppy teeth and begin getting his permanent teeth—yes, really!—and he will appreciate plenty of toys designed specially for a puppy’s chewing needs.

His eating habits will change too. At first, growing puppies may eat four times a day. By the time they reach eight months of age, the number of feedings can be brought down to two or three meals a day. As he grows, so will his confidence, so this is a great time for the two of you to enroll in a puppy class together.

“Puppyhood is to be enjoyed and cherished and relished,” Pomerance says. “It is such a time of love, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to learn from this little puppy. You should enjoy every minute of it because it only happens once in every puppy’s life.”

Getting to Know Each Other

Every day that you spend with your puppy is precious. The hugs. The discoveries. The play. The first time you hear him “speak.” As you bring your new puppy into the house, remember that all of this is new and exciting for him—and you. In little time, he will make his way into your life just as easily as he snuggles up next to you for a little shut-eye.

“You’ll want to make him feel as loved and calm as possible,” suggests Diane Pomerance, a writer and producer of numerous pet books and videos.

That pitter-patter of feet next to his water and food bowls confirm it: Puppies eat frequently, and Pomerance recommends checking as to when your puppy ate last before bringing him home. Enjoy that little tail wag with anticipation during mealtime. You might even get a playful bark or two of thanks.

As you and your new puppy get to know each other, your relaxed demeanor and home environment will help him feel secure. A friendship of the very best kind is budding, and the first few days are just the start of the ultimate pair—you and your puppy.