How to Prepare Your Home for Your New Dog
05 May 2023
Are you planning to welcome a dog into your life? Whether you are getting a puppy or welcoming a rescue dog into your home, getting a new pet is always an exciting event. But before you pick up your dog, it is essential to prepare for their arrival.
When your new dog comes into your home for the first time, it will bring major changes. So, making the transition as easy as possible for both of you, but especially your new pup, is vital. Preparing your home in advance will allow you to focus on your new pet and ensure they feel as comfortable as possible. Realizing that you aren’t as prepared as you thought for your new pet can make the settling-in process a stressful experience for you both, so planning thoroughly for their arrival is well worth the effort. With this in mind, here are some of the ways you can prepare your home for your new dog:
Check for Hazards
If you have kids, you will know how many common household objects can become potential hazards. Just like toddlers, puppies are incredibly inquisitive, which can land them in all kinds of trouble. Your pup will naturally be keen to explore their new home, so it is essential to start puppy-proofing your home before they arrive. Moving items such as cables, wires, and blind cords out of your puppy’s reach is vital to ensure they don’t become entangled and risk strangulation.
It is also important to ensure that any chemicals and cleaning products are safely stored away to ensure your puppy cannot access them. While chemicals and cleaning products are obvious hazards for your pet, it is also essential to think about potential hazards that are less obvious. Many common human foods that you may consume each day can be harmful to your pet if they consume them. Chocolate, any food from the onion family, such as garlic and chives, is harmful to dogs. Familiarizing yourself with these potential food hazards is an excellent way to ensure you don’t accidentally feed your dog any food that could cause them harm.
Secure Your Yard
As well as ensuring that your home is a safe place for your dog, it is also important to ensure that your yard is secure and free of hazards. Most dogs love to explore their yards and can get into all kinds of mischief in the process. From digging holes in the middle of the lawn to running across your favorite flowers and squashing them, your yard may look very different once your new pet arrives. But, while you should be prepared that your yard may no longer look perfect, it is also essential to ensure that you take some extra steps.
The first thing you need to do is ensure your backyard is secure. Having your dog escape from your yard can be a traumatic experience for you and your pet. So, blocking off potential escape points and installing a wireless dog fence is an excellent idea to prevent your pet from running off.
Stock up on Supplies
Shopping for your new pet before you welcome them into your home is one of the most exciting parts of your preparations. It is helpful to stock up on dog food before your pet arrives so that you have plenty of treats ready to use for training. Whether you are getting your pet from a shelter or from a breeder, it is helpful to call ahead to find out what your pet is currently eating so that you can buy the same food. A dog’s stomach can be really sensitive to sudden food changes, and this can cause them to experience tummy upsets and pain. The last thing you want is for your pet to feel ill in their new home, so it is usually wise to stick with their current diet before slowly introducing new foods if you wish.
To make your new pet feel as comfortable as possible, you also need to ensure you have a bed that is the correct size for them, a leash, collar, bowls for food and water, plus some age and size-appropriate toys. Placing your dog’s bed in a quiet area of your home, where you can watch them without overwhelming them, can be helpful. With all of these items prepared and ready for your pet, they will be able to settle into your home so much faster, ready to begin life as the newest member of your family.
Craig Silva
Craig is a husband, father, team leader, travel and food writer, senior youth group coordinator, designer, brander, community builder, volunteer, and social media strategist. He likes to travel, go camping, go on road trips, watch movies, build stuff, operate the grill, and sing with his band. Craig is a member of the Travel Media Association of Canada. If you are a PR agency or brand and would like Craig to review a travel destination, vehicle, restaurant, product or service, please send him an email.
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