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Preparing Your Home For A New Puppy
Posted on January 19, 2012 by awayhomepetcare in Dogs, Training
You’ve found the perfect pooch and you’re ready to “Let the dog out” and introduce a new family member. No matter if this is your first dog or your hundredth, the prospect of an animal inside your home can be both exciting and overwhelming. Making the transition from pet-less to proud puppy parent gets notably easier once you’ve done a little preparation.Prepare Yourself
The first step you should take is to prepare yourself for your new puppy. Remember that you’re making a lifetime dedication to a living thing. All cute puppies will eventually turn into full grown dogs. Make sure you’re ready for the 10 plus year responsibility you’re signing up for, including the financial burden of vet bills and general care. If you’re not sure you want a full grown dog, perhaps you should give the decision to buy a puppy a bit more thought. This is the kindest and most fair thing you can do for the dog and yourself.
Prepare Your Home
It is incredibly important to prepare your home for your new puppy. Make sure you have the basics like a collar, leash, pet kennel, dog shampoo, treats and food on hand. You’ll also want to place delicate objects out of the puppy’s reach. You should have the phone number of the vet you plan to use nearby as shots and check ups will begin soon. If you don’t want your new pet to sit on furniture make sure you have baby gates ready to make certain areas off limits from day one. Good training is the result of good persistence and your work begins now!
If You Have Kids
If your new addition is meant to be a family dog you will have additional considerations to keep in mind. Perhaps the most important one is to make sure the breed is child friendly and appropriate for the age of your children. Also look for an individual dog with an outgoing nature within that breed. You’ll want to allow the kids to play with the puppy openly, but without allowing ear and tail pulling or other roughhouse activities.
Make sure you teach your children to leave puppy alone during meal times. Allowing the puppy to learn that his food time will not be bothered by children’s interruptions will reduce the risk of the dog developing food aggression. Finally, set strict rules with your children regarding their roles in the puppy’s life. Make sure their chores as they relate to the dog (feeding, walking, yard cleaning etc.) are clearly understood and enforced from the onset.
If You Have Other Pets
Introducing a new puppy into a home where there are already established pets can be extra tricky. Here’s a look at how to ease the transition in home with other dogs or cats.
-Cats. The first thing to keep in mind is that felines and canines think differently. You’ll want to make sure to do introductions of the animals in a controlled setting. This means that the dog must be on a leash. For the first several weeks or months you should always supervise common time between the pets and keep physical freedom of both pets as separate as possible. When you’re not come, you’ll need to be sure to put the puppy in a crate. To a cat, territorial dominance is everything. In a dog’s world it’s social dominance that plays a mighty role. Keep the peace by ensuring the cat has places that the dog is not allowed to intrude upon.
-Dogs. The biggest consideration is to avoid conflict and territorial disputes. The best way to do this is to introduce the dogs in a nuetral setting like a park. This ensures that the older dog doesn’t see the new puppy as an intruder. You’ll want to use strong positive reinforcement for both dogs to keep the mood light and happy. Watch for defensive poses or growls between the two. If there is animosity switch to a strong positive reinforcement method to get things calm again. Let the dogs play together until you’re sure they can handle a ride home together safely. Once home be sure to monitor the behavior of the dogs closely over the first couple of weeks of co-habitation. You may need to intercede to help establish new house rules for both pets.
Away Home & Pet Care, a professional dog walking and pet sitting company that services the Columbia, South Carolina and Ogden, Utah areas, offers services geared toward puppies, including our popular Lunch Xpress service that provide a mid-day walk and potty break during the week. You can check us out at www.awayhomeandpetcare.com or call us at (877) 272-4035.
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