Introducing a puppy into the family home can be a very exciting time, but it definitely means some life changes and possible sleepless nights.

It’s very easy to gush over a new little puppy, but before you introduce one into your life, home and family, it’s best to consider a number of questions first.

Veterinary expert Dr James Ramsden shares his tips with us on the best way to introduce a new puppy into the home, how you can adjust your lifestyle, what you need to consider and what to do if it doesn’t work out.

Dr Ramsden says before bringing a puppy home, it’s essential to consider whether you can commit to it or not. If you don’t have enough time as it is, it’s probably not a good idea to add a puppy into the mix.

“You need the room in your life to commit to raising a puppy and you need the interest. Raising a puppy is a busy process, similar to having a baby,” Dr Ramsden says.

“Consider your daily schedule, how much time you can spend with your puppy and what activities you can include your puppy in.”

If you can safely say that you have the time to bring a puppy into your family, you should also consider whether you can care for the new addition financially allowing money for food, toys, shelter and vet costs.

It’s not only important to consider whether you can care for a puppy, but which dog is right for you family is also a big decision. Dr Ramsden suggests finding out the temperament of a breed of dog and matching it to your lifestyle.

“The nature of the dog is the most important consideration,” he says.

“Look for dogs that have the nature that you want. For example, if you want a dog that’s good with kids and family, choose one that is docile and happy to play quietly.”

Before purchasing a dog you can ask a vet for advice on the best breed for you. There are also a number of websites, such as www.puppy.com.au, that provide selection tools, advice and tips on what is most suited to your situation.

Children can be introduced to a puppy or dog from an early age, even as a baby. However, if children are going to take an active role in caring for the new puppy they need to be around eight years of age or older. Remember, you should never leave a child under the age of five alone with a dog — any dog.

Introducing a puppy into the home can be exciting, but it can also be stressful for the family and the puppy if you aren’t prepared. So in order to make the transition as smooth as possible, Dr Ramsden suggests having the following essentials ready to go to make the initial introduction period a success:

1. Set up a puppy area using a crate or a puppy fence. This can be indoors.

2. Ensure all fences are secure and there are no gaps.

3. Lock away all poisons.

4. Make sure the bins are inaccessible — especially those in the bathroom.

5. And secure all live electrical wires out of your puppy’s reach.

Dr Ramsden says that while it’s distressing when the introduction of a puppy to a household doesn’t work, it does happen.

“Most of dogs found in pounds are there because ‘it didn’t work out’. That is, because of behavioural reasons or lifestyle implications,” he says.

“There are contingency options that are available, which include seeking help from your vet and trainer, as many puppy issues can be solved with good training and intervention.”

However, for those who can’t seem to fix these issues, Dr Ramsden suggests re-homing the puppy by seeking advice from your vet on the best local organisation that can assist you.

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The latest research from Monash University disproves that old adage “less is more” when it comes to training your dog to be friendly, relaxed and obedient.

“Dogs are highly intelligent animals that want to please their owners. This research suggests that if a pet has behavioural problems, it often has more to do with the attitude and actions of the owner, rather than the dog,” says Dr Pauleen Bennett from the Animal Welfare Science Centre at Monash University.

“The research demonstrates a clear link between the attitudes owners have to their dogs and the amount of time and effort that they put into training. It supports the argument that almost any dog can be well-behaved, it just depends on the quality and amount of training their owner provides,” says Dr Bennett.

“The extent to which owners engage in — and take responsibility for — training and socialization activities and the extent to which they see their dogs as having behavioural problems are linked.

“For example, participants who were solely responsible for their dog’s care believed their dogs were better behaved than participants who considered someone else to be responsible for caring for the dog,” says Dr Bennett.

The Delta Society, a not-for-profit organization which runs the Canine Good Citizen training program says that the Monash University results are consistent with their experience.

“Some dog owners have difficulty understanding their dog’s behaviour and do not take the necessary steps to fully train it. As a result, the dog might understand basic commands but still not be a well behaved pet,” says Dr Gaille Perry, who runs Canine Good Citizen.

Dogs that have completed a minimum six week accredited training program are invited to sit for the Canine Good Citizen test. In addition to basic obedience tests, there are a number of challenges that are designed to demonstrate that the dog is confident at all times when faced with distracting conditions.

“Dogs, like children, are learning all the time. Owners need to teach them and guide them to learn appropriate and acceptable behaviours. Training needs to be started as soon as possible and practiced in a variety of situations,” says Miss Kylie McGee, a Canine Good Citizen Instructor and Veterinary Nurse.

“As a trainer, I find dogs that are socialised early and have had ongoing training are far better behaved than dogs that have not had those opportunities. It shows when an owner has put the time and effort into working with their dog, as they are rewarded with a well mannered family member.

“Unfortunately many owners wait until they are faced with a problem behaviour before they try to train their dog. From my experience it is far easier to teach good manners than try to correct a problem. A course in basic manners would benefit all dogs, that way the dog is taught what it is that we expect from them,” says Miss McGee.

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