The prospect of welcoming a new dog into your family is always a big deal. Most dog owners would agree that bringing in a new loyal companion that will love them unconditionally brings tremendous joy to the family.
While welcoming a new pup into the family can be exciting, it can also be a daunting activity, especially for first-time dog owners. It involves a considerable commitment and decisions you’ll want to think through. However, your dog will soon feel at home with a little patience and determination. Anytime you are preparing a new dog for your homestead, it’s best to prepare ahead of time and get an idea of what to expect. Here are the top things first-time dog owners can do to make the transition easier.
Prepare Your Home
Dogs require a room to relax and decompress making it necessary to prepare your house ahead of time. Preparing your home may require more little work, especially if you’re bringing in a puppy to your homestead. Puppies are champion chewers and tend to get into things they should not. But no matter the dog’s age coming into your house, as a first-time dog owner, you’ll want to do some preparations ahead of time.
Create a barrier for your dog or puppy where they can’t damage your belongings or eat something that would make them sick. You could add sliding barn doors that are trendy and functional. You can shut the doors to any room you don’t want your new dog going into. You can keep your dog in safe areas of the house when you are not around to prevent them from having housetraining accidents.
Purchase Supplies
Your dog will require all kinds of stuff in his new home to make it comfortable. How do you decide what your dog wants and what they need? Perhaps they will require both. Take time and research through the world of things your dog may require to discover more. Here are some of the things you may need to get started as a first-time dog owner.
- Food and water bowls
- Collar and sheath
- Crates
- Dog poop disposal bags
- A dog bed
- Toys like tennis balls
When it comes to toys, it’s always a good idea to start with a few items while you get to know about your dog’s preferences and personality.
Choose a Dog Training Class
Every dog needs training. Dog training enables you to control your dog and allow them to grow to be well-adjusted and healthy adults. It’s why you will require to find a training class before bringing a dog to your homestead as a first-time owner. Suitable classes will have:
- A calm atmosphere without lots of barking which can be attributed to stress
- A friendly trainer who is ready to help the dogs in a positive way
- An environment where dogs should are not allowed to play uncontrollably
Find a Vet
At least a few health problems are bound to come up at one stage of your dog’s lifetime. Finding a vet is an essential activity before bringing a new dog to your home, especially if you’re a first-time dog owner. Your vet will be vital in ensuring that your pup lives a long healthy life.
When looking for a veterinarian, there are certain factors to consider. Think about issues like clinic hours and location due to cases of unexpected emergencies. Knowing your preferences in time will help you narrow down your vet options.
As a first-time dog owner, you might ask yourself, how do I get a good veterinarian? The answer is simple, word of mouth is the best method. Ask for recommendations and reviews from your friends and relatives. Online reviews can also be resourceful, but suggestions from close friends are way better.
Prepare for Behavior Problems
No dog is perfect. Bringing in a canine companion to your homestead means you’ll have to deal with some behavior issue caused by the dog at some point. The problems can range from simple activities like excessive barking to destructive chewing.
You may also experience more serious issues like aggression or separation anxiety at times. You might find out that your dog has problems from urinating or other health-related issues. You have to be well informed about the dog’s issues before they become problems for you and your canine companions in all situations.
Getting a dog for the first time can be overwhelming and exciting. However, if you’ve gone through these five tips, you’ll have an easy time laying a foundation that will last a lifetime with your new companion.
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