Welcoming a new dog into your home is like having a new baby. Whether you’re a new puppy parent or an experienced pet owner, it’s important to prepare your home for a dog to ensure a safe and enjoyable time living together.
And in your preparations, safety is the most important consideration. Here are the things your need to know to prepare your home for a dog.
Prepare for the Responsibilities of Taking Care of a Dog
Great puppy parenting is about being responsible. So for pet parents, it’s important to assign the responsibilities at the get-go, even before your new furbaby comes home. Who’s going to walk the dog? Who’s responsible for feeding and playtime? These are only some of the things that responsible pet parents must agree on before the puppy arrives.
Buy All the Supplies you Need
Your puppy is going to need a lot of essential things to make sure it grows up a healthy and happy dog. Here are a few essential items you need to stock up on to prepare your home for a dog:
Food
Puppies grow at an extremely fast rate. They require a lot more nutrition to support their growth and getting the appropriate puppy food is critical. Make sure to stock up on food because they’ll need all the nutrition they can get! This includes dog food for their meals and treats for training.
Toys
Toys are going to be important if you want to save your furniture, shoes, and other items. Giving them a variety of toys gives them something to play with and chew on and redirects their attention from your household items.
Interactive toys give them something enjoyable to play with and stave off boredom. They also provide mental stimulation that can aid in their cognitive development. More importantly, using toys to play with them can help build a strong bond between you and your dog.
Bed / Crate
Of course, your new puppy will need a place to sleep or hang out. Giving them their own bed or using a crate will be important in crate and potty training. This also gives them the personal space they need when they need their alone time.
Cleaning Supplies
Naturally, puppies will make a mess. Whether it’s pee, poop, saliva, or anything else, you’ll need to have the cleaning supplies to tidy up their mess. This includes cleaning agents, wipes, doggy bags, and others. But before buying anything, make sure that you’re getting products that are safe for pets.
Other Pet Supplies
Aside from the list above, you’ll need other pet supplies to be ready for your new puppy. Feeding bowls, water bowls, leash, dental care supplies, ID tags, strollers, and car seats, if needed.
Puppy-Proof Your Home Indoors
Move and Hide Electrical Cords
Aside from being a tripping hazard, your dog might get an interest in chewing these rubber cords which can cause electric shock.
Keep Cleaning Supplies Out of Reach
If you’re not using pet-friendly cleaning supplies, it’s important to store them at a place where your dog can’t reach them. The fumes that these supplies can be too strong for their sensitive noses to handle. Not only that, they can be toxic if ingested by accident.
Remove Choking Hazards and Sharp Objects
Choking hazards can come in the form of small toys, house decor, coins, paper clips, and even jewelry. Meanwhile, sharp objects like knives, cutters, screwdrivers, scissors, and the like should be kept out of reach as well.
Keep Doors and Windows Closed
Leaving doors open invites your dog to go out and explore the world on their own, and they might not come back. Open windows can be dangerous as they can fall by accident.
Puppy-Proof Your Home Outdoors
Preparing your home for a dog doesn’t just apply to the inside of the house, it’s important for outside as well. Here are some of the things you need to prepare outside your home.
Fence the Yard
This makes sure your dog doesn’t go out wandering on its own. It not only keeps them safe from accidents but also prevents them from doing their business in your neighbor’s yard. It can also prevent any untoward incidents with other people or dogs.
Remove Toxic Plants
Most dogs love to smell and bite leaves from plants, not knowing that some of them are toxic. If you have different kinds of plants in your yard, be sure to remove these to avoid any incidents. Plants like avocado, tomato, aloe vera, and more are highly toxic to dogs. If unsure about the plants you have, do your research and consult experts to identify and remove them.
Keep the Lawn Trimmed
Ticks usually hang out on tall blades of grass, waiting for a chance to latch on to your dog. You can prevent this by trimming your lawn and making sure it’s well kept.
Welcoming Your Dog
Once you have all your supplies and are done puppy-proofing your home, it’s time to welcome your new pup! But there are still a few things to consider to make sure you and your home are ready for the newest member of your family.
Your Dog’s Personal Space
Just like humans, dogs need their personal space too. Determine where this space will be. Is it in the bedroom with you? Will you put their crate in a different area of the house? Wherever it will be, give them their personal space.
Puppies can easily be overwhelmed and this can impact their behavior. Giving them their personal space allows them to wind down and relax when they’re anxious, scared, or just tired.
Where They’ll Be Staying When You’re Not Around
Not all parents will be available to monitor and watch their dogs all day. There will be days when you may not be around for a couple of hours or more. It’s important to determine where your dog will stay during that time.
If you’ll be leaving them at home, they should be safe and the area is puppy proof. Get the proper materials to ensure your dog is comfortable while you’re away.
Observe Habits and Tendencies
Your new pup will take a bit of time to acclimate to the new environment and new home. Let them take their time and make it as easy as possible for them by balancing love and space. When they get more comfortable, take note of their habits and tendencies.
This will help you make any adjustments to your puppy-proofing strategy and determine if you need additional preparation, supplies, etc. This will also help you greatly in their potty and obedience training sessions with you.
The first few weeks are going to be important for both you and your puppy. Always keep your dog’s safety the main priority when you prepare your home for a dog. Once you establish this, your first few weeks together will be fun and enjoyable, the first of many great days ahead with your new puppy!