Things to Consider Before Bringing a Dog into your Home

Your children have probably been begging “When can we get a puppy?” Owning a dog is a big responsibility and it can be a perfect venue in which to teach your children. Before you adopt a new dog, there are a number of things to be considered. You and your family will need to decide beforehand what your new cuddly pet can and can’t do in your home.

One of the very first things that must be done is puppy-proofing your home.  A good way to do this is to bend down and look for perils such as dangling electrical cords that would be great to chew; find toys and other small objects off the floor that could be harmful if swallowed; remove chemicals, paper bags, plastic items and even plants away from the prying jaws of a dog. And if you are planning to house train your new pet, remove area rugs temporarily until he is trained. You don’t want him to accidentally think it is a great elimination spot!

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Invest in a baby gate for those areas in your home where you do not want your new pooch to wander. This might also be used to separate off an area just for him. This is especially helpful in the house training front. As well, puppies are particularly curious and like to explore. To stop your pooch from gnawing on your clothing or shoes, you should ensure that he can’t get at them. Close your bedroom door or closet door.

Because dogs like to chew, buy some appropriate chew toys and rawhide bones for that gnawing instinct. While your puppy is teething, make sure he has safe toys to chew on so he won’t be tempted to chew on objects around your home. As well, buy lots of toys to keep him amused. A dog that is bored is likely to damage your stuff to keep himself amused! Most dogs love tug ropes, plush dog toys, squeaker toys, and rubber balls. Similar to human children, pet toys should be age-appropriate. In addition, you buy plenty of toys so they can be rotated to prevent boredom in your dog.

You should have rules in place before you bring your puppy home. Can he get on the furniture? Will you allow him in your bedroom? Where do you plan for him to sleep? You should know that earlier so his dog bed can be set up there. Are you willing to be adaptable and change your game plan somewhat? Sometimes, dogs will choose a favorite spot in the home and if it is your bedroom, you will either have to train him to sleep somewhere else, or let him to sleep on his dog bed in there. Just like people, dogs have their own individual personalities. You need to be able to adjust.

You should also have a game plan in place for obedience training. A well-mannered dog is a wonderful member of the family.  In addition, you will gain so much more out of the doggie-human relationship if you invest in dog obedience training. You should do your research to determine whether you can do the job yourself or whether you prefer to seek the help of a training school.

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You also need to plan for the times when you are away from the home? What about a veterinarian? If you had to travel, would you board him in a kennel or hire a dog sitter? Will your dog have a good sized back yard in which to run? What about exercise? Do you plan to walk him and let him socialize with other dogs? These are all essential considerations that must be thought about before you adopt a dog.