During the holidays, many people choose to add a new dog to their homes. Newly adopted pets in your family is certainly a fun and exciting time! Your day is now filled with that social media-worthy, picture-perfect moments of your adorable new friend – all snuggled up, playing zzz’s or exploring their new surroundings. However, it can also be an extremely stressful time. Use these few simple tips to make the transition smooth for you and your new best friend.
Puppy proof your home.
The first step is to prepare your home. Puppies are naturally curious and use their mouths to test the fascinating world around them frequently. They will often pick up everything within their reach. Start by removing everything you don’t want them to have. Do you have a vase on your coffee table that you don’t want to be broken? If yes, remove it! Your phone charger is connected into the wall in a place Fido can reach? Remove it! Your shoes sat beside the front door? Please remove them! Think of everything on the ground as fair game to a puppy. If they can chew it, they most likely will! For the safety of your new furry family member, and your own sanity, it is important to make sure there is nothing harmful in reach of your new puppy.
Don’t too much freedom too soon!
One of the most common mistakes that owners make is that they give too much freedom to their new dog too soon. After a hectic day at work and running the kids to their activities, it’s easy to leave the puppy enjoying their toys in the living room while you’re cooking dinner in the kitchen. This usually happens when your cute little troublemaker sneaks off to chew on your brand new couch while you have your back turned for just a few minutes. Instead, keep your puppy for the first several months in every direction. You can do this by putting a gate to keep them with you in the room or just keeping them on their leash to stop them getting too far from you. By using this method, it not only prevents destruction, but it also helps prevent potty-training accidents because your pup is always in your sight at all times, making it easy to catch them before the problem begins. Note: keeping your new dog with you on the leash is a great way to bond!
Set a routine.
Dogs are creatures of habit. In the early days of introducing your new dog to your home, it is important to establish a routine and stick to it. Set a routine and set expectations, help your puppy cope with life with your family, and set good behavior patterns. Starting by setting a potty routine. Your puppy should start each day with a walk immediately after waking as well as about 20 minutes after meals and before/after playing. You will also want to set a feeding regimen that is typically three times a day and is generally easy to schedule around your own meals. Playtime and exercise will also be a large part of the day of your furry family member and will help them bond with you and your family a great deal.
