Expectations
This page aims to provide valuable insights for families considering bringing a new puppy into their lives. It's essential to approach this decision with realistic expectations and not view it through overly idealized lenses. While puppies undoubtedly bring immense joy, they also demand hard work, patience, and consistency, which can be a bit challenging at times.
Most families are well-prepared for the responsibilities that come with puppy ownership. However, some individuals who are new to puppy raising may find themselves feeling overwhelmed by the arrival of their furry companion. It's our belief that being transparent about the reality of puppy ownership is crucial. We want to ensure that the match between a family and their new puppy is the right one from the very beginning to ensure a lasting, loving home.
Over the past three decades, we've encountered only a handful of cases where families found puppy ownership to be too much after a few days. Even though these instances are relatively rare, we strive to minimize such situations. We're dedicated to providing every puppy with a forever home, which is why we choose to hand deliver or have families pick up their puppies in person. This personal connection helps us ensure that every transition is smooth and that each puppy finds its forever family.
Our ultimate goal is to have one smooth transition, one loving home, and one happy family for each puppy. This commitment drives our thorough pre-screening process and the maintenance of this informative website. When we entrust a puppy to its new owner, it's a significant moment for us, and we place immense trust in those who will care for our puppies. We expect families to have already done their research and soul-searching before bringing home their beloved Habibi.
Meeting their needs in order
In most cases, the initial days can be a bit challenging. Your new Habibi might cry, seem unfamiliar with its pen or potty box, and seek extra attention. Remember, it's a baby taken away from its original home, so it needs love and kindness as it adjusts to its new environment. To start on the right foot, following our Human's Guide to the Dog Galaxy course for new parents is essential. This course helps you learn to communicate effectively with your puppy, using consistent language and creating a strong bond through our Power of Three Rituals. Prioritizing your relationship with your new puppy is crucial during the initial days.
Below is the Hierachy of Dog Needs:
During this early phase of puppy parenting, it's crucial to avoid overwhelming your puppy with excessive expectations. As trauma-informed puppy parents, our focus lies in addressing their needs sequentially, starting with Biological, Emotional, and Social requirements. Our bonding practices, coupled with our puppy management program found in the
Human's Guide to the Dog Galaxy lay the foundation for a strong relationship. Once your puppy trusts you, and you understand their unique personality, education takes precedence over traditional training, as it centers on comprehending their emotions and the underlying reasons for their behavior, rather than merely correcting actions or applying rigid techniques. This approach allows us to better connect with our dogs. It's imperative to be forgiving and understanding during this period to foster a strong bond. Refrain from becoming disheartened or giving up, as the best moments are yet to come. You'll soon cherish these early days and miss the endearing puppy antics. Embrace the journey, as it swiftly evolves. The challenges like mouthing, accidents, chewing, and nipping will soon become cherished memories. By following our step-by-step guide, you'll acquire the confidence and tools to navigate this exciting journey with your new furry companion.
First let's discuss energy...
Puppies naturally exude abundant, healthy energy, and it's entirely typical for them to require regular playtime to stave off boredom. Puppies tend to experience bursts of energy followed by the need for rest. Their wake-sleep cycle typically consists of one hour of wakefulness for every three hours of downtime, given their young age. This is why it's vital, especially for families with children, to allocate time for the puppy to have some undisturbed rest in its designated pen or crate. Our comprehensive four-week program in the Human's Guide to the Dog Galaxy underscores the importance of this, with its initial lessons focusing on "Structuring Your Day" with puppy management. We highly recommend adhering to this routine for the optimal development and well-being of your puppy.
Parenting Kids and Dogs
Please review with your children the Doggy Body language module in Habibi U, and also print our free resource, Parenting Kids and Dogs (located at the bottom of the page). Management if key when raising kids and puppies together, and it's our responsibility as adults to advocate for our puppies. Teach children to respect the puppy and its space, so puppy doesn't become overwhelmed and start snapping out of fear or over stimulation. Another thing to be aware of is children walking around holding the puppy constantly can make it motion sick. Please give your little Habibi Bear some needed down time amidst all the snuggles! On the other side of the coin, for families wanting the mellow lap dog, keep in mind you have to get through this puppy stage before it is the dog you want it to be. Do not expect even the mellowest puppy of a litter to just sit around all day at your feet. This is not realistic at all for ANY puppy, and if you are not able to handle the activity level of a puppy, we recommend rescuing an older dog that has already gone through the puppy stage. It simply isn't fair for a little puppy to be placed in a home that cannot keep up with it or provide proper exercise. Even the mellow pups are quite playful and bouncy during play times---it takes some maturity for the pups to outgrow the normal puppy energy. A small dog will reach that mental maturity around a year old, some larger breeds take two years. In all litters we see some with more or less energy, but separately, even those little mellow pups have huge bursts of energy. If they did not, then we would be concerned. Energy is healthy and NORMAL and demonstrates the puppy is well-socialized and happy. We have dozens of families over the years that live in apartments and are able to manage their adult Habibi's energy level with daily walks and appropriate toys indoors. On the other side of the coin, our Habibi's are perfect for active families with children and lots of activity. Our puppy assessment will help me match the right puppy to YOUR situation. We are focused on placement by temperament first above all else. If anyone tells you all puppies adapt and it doesn't really matter, they do not understand puppy temperament and are not going to do right by their puppies. They all are very different and we are puppy-centric at Habibi Bears. We place for the puppy and honor it as the individual wonderful being that it is!
Chewing and nipping are another big puppy behavior...
It's crucial to remember that puppies are not displaying aggression or malice when they bite; they are simply acting in accordance with their natural instincts. In our "Human's Guide to the Dog Galaxy" course, we delve into the three typical biting phases that puppies go through, emphasizing that these phases are normal and should be anticipated. We provide clever management protocols and user-friendly flow charts to help you navigate and understand how to manage these phases effectively. This program offers an in-depth exploration of the art of raising a puppy. Puppies primarily learn through mouthing everything around them, and addressing this behavior isn't as straightforward as offering them something to chew on. Behind each phase, there are underlying biological developmental processes, and we equip you with the necessary techniques to manage them. Always bear in mind that puppies lack the understanding that their biting may cause harm unless you communicate this in a manner they can comprehend.