Bringing a Puppy Home

More Like Abduction Than Adoption?

Imagine you're a tiny pup, snuggled up 24/7 with your mom and siblings, doing fun dog stuff like wrestling, chewing, and napping in a warm pile. Life’s great! Then suddenly, a giant stranger (aka a human) swoops in, takes you away from everything familiar, and plops you into a crate. Alone. For the first time. Ever.

While your new human is super excited, you’re just…confused and scared. And now everything you do seems to be a "No!" Chewing? No. Barking? No. Peeing? Definitely no. You’ve gone from a cuddly dog party to constant trouble.

Let’s make puppyhood joyful again!

It doesn’t have to be a warzone of chewed shoes and crying babies. But for that to happen, humans need to shift their mindset.

Think of it this way: you’ve basically kidnapped a baby alien from Planet Dog. If you keep that in mind, you’ll naturally treat your pup with more empathy. No one-size-fits-all advice will work if you forget that your new buddy is scared, adjusting, and learning.

For example, if your pup is crying in his crate, he’s not being manipulative—he’s just lonely. There are so many gentle ways to help: let him sleep near you, set up cozy spaces, or even camp out on the couch beside him.

Discovering the world together

And remember, a 20-minute tug walk with no sniffing doesn’t count as “being a dog.” Let him explore, sniff, dig—just be a dog! And inside the house, don’t isolate him.

Instead of small pens or letting him roam free, use barriers to create “together but separate” zones. He can be part of family life without wrecking it.

Bottom line? Be kind. Be patient. Anticipate trouble instead of punishing it. Your carpets might suffer for a while, but you’re building trust, joy, and a lifelong bond. Puppyhood won’t last forever—so make it as happy as it can be.

Thanks to Kathy Callahan, author of the book “Welcoming your Puppy from Planet Dog”