5 Tips to Welcome a New Dog into Your Home

Bringing a new dog into your home is a fun and exciting adventure. However, if you don’t plan ahead of time, it can also be a bit stressful for everyone involved. Here are 5 tips for making your new dog feel welcome during this transition period.

1. Have a Family Meeting

Avoid conflict or misunderstandings later by holding a meeting with your family about your pet. Decide who is going to take care of which responsibility when it comes to your dog. Think about who is going to feed your dog or take them on walks or play with them. Get family members to agree that they will help take the dog out on potty breaks. Establish a daily routine ahead of time. Decide on things such as where the dog will be sleeping and if there will be any areas that are off limits to your dog.

2. Plan Their Arrival

There are several things you will need to gather in order for your dog to have what they need to be comfortable. Obviously, food, water and bowls to contain them are an absolute must. You will need a leash and dog collar, complete with an identification tag with your current information on it. Have several toys available so that you can rotate them out and avoid boredom. If you are getting a puppy, consider any additional supplies you might need, such as puppy pads.

3. Consider Using a Crate

Your new friend needs a way to feel safe and comfortable with you. Providing them with their own crate is a way to aid them in this. A crate can help your dog to feel that they have their own special place to relax and fulfill their den instincts. When purchasing a crate for your dog, make sure that it is big enough for your dog to sit down in, stand up and turn around inside of it. Placing a comfortable blanket inside of the crate along with fresh water may help your dog become acclimated to going inside of it.

4. Get Ready for House training

As mentioned, have a schedule for everything and include taking your dog out to go potty every 2 hours. When bringing a new dog into your home, you should just assume that they are not house trained. Keep in mind that it is normal for dogs of all training levels to have accidents inside of the home as they get used to a new environment and routine.

5. Exercise Patience

Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day. Your new family member needs a little bit of time to get used to you and you to them. Your new dog needs to explore your new home and become comfortable with it. A little bit of patience can go a long way. If you are having difficulty with your new dog, remember that it is okay to ask for help.

Final Thought

Making sure that your new pet is healthy upon bringing them into your home is critical, particularly if you have other pets in your home. If this is the case, make sure that your current pets are up to date on their vaccinations too. Take your new pup to the vet within the first week of their arrival to make sure all is well with them.