Bringing Home A New Puppy
The very first time you bring your dog home is such a fun and unforgettable experience. Bringing home my Labrador was so fun, she sat on my lap the entire way home and it was an incredible bonding experience for us. It was an incredible time however I quickly learned that I should have done several things before bringing a new dog home.
1. Get the Food Before Hand: We had been looking for the right dog for a few months and decided to get Molly the very last minute. We had not purchased food yet so we had to make a quick run to the store. I was in a hurry to fill up the container with the new food and ended up dumping it all over the floor.
2. Animal Safe Carpet Cleaner: We went through carpet cleaner like mad at first. We let her sleep in the laundry room which had hard floors but where were easy to clean. But when she roamed the house and had accidents we needed a good cleaner. Make sure it is animal safe so that you do not end up poisoning your pup after after cleaning up after it.
3. Animal Proof Hazardous Materials: Dogs love to explore, they will spend as much time sniffing out the dangerous chemicals in your house and do their best to get in them. Be especially careful with antifreeze as it is sweet tasting and has killed far to many dogs from licking it up in the garage. In fact I would suggest keeping your dog out of the Garage unless you have taken care to really put away all dangerous materials. Tool like lawn mowers and weed-eaters can leak gas or oil which is very harmful for a dog.
4. Create a Play Area: Dogs need to play and expend energy. However it can be very difficult for dogs to know where to play and where to be calm. If you setup an area for playing your dog will learn that when they are not in the play area they need to be calm. Utilize a room in your home that has tile or other easy to clean floor as it will take time for your dog to become house trained. Once trained this room will make for an easy area to keep clean and be a great place for your dog to spend its’ nights.
5. Chew Toys: Dogs need to learn quickly what they can chew and what they can’t. Utilizing chew toys and Play Areas you can quickly teach your dog what is and isn’t okay to chew on in the house. This is essential to your dogs safety. Many household items have chemicals and other hazardous materials that are harmful for dogs. electrical wires are especially dangerous for small dogs in the chewing phase. Remove all cord from the Play Area so that your dog does not pick up the bad habit of chewing on them.
No matter how prepared you think you are your adorable pup will get into stuff. This is just one of the many facts of life a dog owner has too get used to. Preparing your house for a new dog can be a very fun and special time as you get ready to invite a new family member into your life. Last but not least eliminate activities that will interfere with spending time with your dog. Dogs are social animals and need to spend time with you to be fully happy. Make sure you have set aside enough time to properly train, interact and socialize with your dog and you will have a lifelong, loyal and obedient friend.