TLDR: Getting Basset Hound puppy who will be training to become therapy dog. Looking for advice on helping him transistion and adapt to his new enviornment and smoothly as possible.
I am a first time Basset Hound mommy. I pick up my sweet boy a week from today and I am overjoyed and super excited. He will be exactly 8 weeks old when I pick him up and will start training almost immediately, as he will be working towards certification as a therapy dog. I think my patients are more excited than I am! A few of them cried happy tears when I told them I was getting a Basset Hound. My pup and I will have only two days together before his first day at the office and I am trying to find ways to help him transition as smoothly as possible. It is going to be a huge change for him going from being with him mom, dad, aunt, grandma, 7 siblings, his current human family, and his life living on a farm to being in a home with just my husband and I and going to the office 5 days a week. The breeder is a gem and is sending him home with a blanket that his mom sleeps with and toys that he and his siblings play with to help. In my office I have set up a puppy play pen with a plush bed and a heartbeat puppy stuffy. My daughter is one of the billers at the clinic I work at and has her own office, she has offered to take him in her office for quiet time, nap times, and meals so he can rest and eat in peace.
I’m so worried about his transition and want to make him as comfortable as possible. I know it’s going to be rough on him for the first week or two. I wish I could take two weeks off so we could stay home and bond, unfortunately it’s just not possible.
Leaving him home alone is not an option. I work from 8 am to 6:30 pm and I feel like that is too long for him to be alone while he is so young and adapting to a new environment.
I’m seeking advice, tips, and tricks to help him adapt.
He gets his second round of shots on May 15th and only has the okay, from his vet, to be at home or in the office until then. The other theraptist in the office with a therapy dog will be leaving her therapy dog at home until he gets his second round of shots and the vet gives us the thumbs up for her to come back to the office. I’m so worried that this entire experience is going to be traumatizing for him. My last dog was a pit bull and adapated in a day or two. I’ve read that Bassets take longer. I love him so much and it hurts my heart to think about how difficult this will be for him.
I am open to any advice and willing to try just about anything. His trainer can’t officially give me any pointers until she evaluates him on May 18th, and all direction from her is focused on him successfully completing his therapy dog certification.
Thank you in advance!
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