Beards & Bourbon Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
Congratulations on your Wirehaired Pointing Griffon puppy! Hopefully you already have plenty of chew toys, dog food, we recommend Purina Pro Plan, and puppy mess cleaning supplies. If you haven’t already, puppy-proof your home, and establish some household rules, like puppy goes in the crate when unattended. Slowly introduce your other animals and love him unconditionally. Leaving the warmth and comfort of his mother and siblings is scary for a young pup so always keep that in mind when he does things that make you scratch your head. Your home is an entirely new experience and environment for him, so be patient and remember, there are several things you can do to help him adjust to his new life.
Tips for Bringing Your New Puppy Home
- Show him where you want him to potty: Designate a specific area outside where you want him to go. When he does, praise, praise, praise.
- Slowly let him explore his new surroundings: Start with a small area at first. Don’t let your Wirehaired Pointing Griffon puppy go hog wild. Doing so can result in sensory overload. The kitchen or tiled area is a good place to start or perhaps where his food and water are. Once he seems confident of his new surroundings, introduce another area of the house.
- Introduce family members one at a time: While Wirehaired Pointing Griffon puppies should be personable and enthusiastic, introduce people one at a time to keep the excitement to a minimum. Let your puppy meet family members at his own pace, letting him sniff and explore quietly to start.
- Provide safe chew toys: For young puppies, we recommend nylon bone chews and freezable teething chew toys. Please do not give your Wirehaired Pointing Griffon puppy rawhide toys.
- Crate train your puppy: Puppies sleep about five times more than they are awake, that means between 15-to-20 hours a day. When your puppy is asleep, put him in his crate as often as possible. This should be his safe place, not a punishment. Puppies like the safety and security of a den and if a crate is utilized correctly, your puppy will come to love it. It helps to always give your puppy a treat when he goes in his crate.
- A supervised puppy is a happy puppy: Wirehaired Pointing Griffons are inquisitive by nature. That can lead to dangerous adventures if you don’t have eyes on your puppy at all times. If you can’t watch your puppy, put him in his crate.
- Start training early: Structure and consistency is very important with Wirehaired Pointing Griffon puppies. When expectations are clear, both you and your puppy will be happier. We strongly advocate positive training techniques. One of our favorite books is Dog Training Revolution by Zak George. Always praise your puppy when he does something you like and redirect him when he does something you don’t like.
- Be patient: Your puppy is a sponge, and every experience is a teaching moment. However, it may take several times before your puppy really understands what you are wanting. Spend all the time you can with your Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and build that bond early. Gently correct behavior you don’t want and praise him often. Griffs are a special breed, but your puppy will challenge you, more than once. Be consistent and don’t forget, he gets to play the puppy card for quite a while.