If you are thinking of welcoming your new dog into your home, you will need to plan this out carefully. There are certain things you will need to prepare in advance before your home is ready for your new four-legged friend. For example, you will have to make sure that before you bring the dog into your home, you have a dog bed ready, at least some dog food, a leash and collar, and even a few toys.
Of course, you will probably have to deal with the basics in advance, such as dog-proofing your home.
Welcoming a dog into your home is a long, deliberate, and careful process. Here, we have listed eight steps you must take in order to for your new canine into your home. Here’s what you absolutely must keep in mind.
Make sure that everyone remains calm when you go to pick up your new pup. While it is easy to get carried away and to get too excited when bringing the pup home, you have to remember that this is not the time to do so.
While it is important that you accept the pet in your home warmly, try not to give him more than just a little affection, at least not yet.
If you want to make sure that your dog is well-balanced, you will have to make sure that he/she learns the rules of the house from the very beginning. You will also have to set the necessary limitations from the very beginning.
Giving your dog too much affection and letting it break the rules at the start sets a dangerous precedent. As such, if your dog then misbehaves, runs around the house, climbs on furniture, bites people, etc., you may be powerless to do anything about it, simply because you have established this pattern from the very beginning.
It’s also important to remember that when you adopt a dog, the dog is also leaving behind somewhere that is completely familiar and moving to a new environment entirely. Too much excitement can, therefore, get overwhelming for the dog, and you don’t want that.
The first thing you should do once the new dog enters your home is to take him on a long walk across his new neighborhood.
When you reach home with your new pup, make sure that it stays on its leash, and get ready to take it on a walk throughout the neighborhood.
There are two reasons for this walk. One, it will help get rid of your dog’s excess energy and will make him/her calmer. And two, the dog will be able to get accustomed to the new sounds, sights, and smells.
Once the walk is over, it’s time to introduce your dog to his/her new home. Keep the dog on a proper leash, and take it on a tour of your apartment or house.
Take the dog to the front gate of your home, but make sure he/she does not enter first. This way, you are setting boundaries and rules from the very start.
If possible, get your dog to lie down while you open the gate. Next, enter first, and do not allow the dog to enter unless and until you invite he/she inside.
You should also prep your family members before you bring your dog into the house for the first time. For example, you can make it clear which rooms the dog is supposed to visit and which he/she is not allowed to be in. Specify which family members will be responsible for walking and feeding the dog and on what day, etc.
Now that you and the dog have both entered the house, continue to keep the dog on a leash and take it from one room to the next.
Make sure not to let he/she wander away. Hold on tightly to the leash and make sure the dog stays by your side at all times.
Then, go from room to room, spending some time in every room. Take special care always to enter each room before the dog.
Each door that you enter gives you a chance to strengthen your position as the leader because the dog has to wait for your permission in order to be able to enter a room or to leave it.
During this entire tour, make sure to not actually speak to your dog. Only use body language and simple sounds to communicate because talking can actually overwhelm your dog this early on.
Once you have finished the tour, you can bring your dog to the place where you will serve his/her water and food. This can often even be construed as a reward for your dog for being good throughout the tour.
It’s finally time to take your dog to his/her bedroom. When you get to this part of the tour, you can now let your dog off the leash. The dog’s bedroom is its own little part of the house and this space can be anywhere that you want it to lie. You will be letting your dog off the leash in this space, and it will understand this as being their territory. Once the dog sees this particular spot as its own, it will slowly start to get comfortable there.
Make sure that while you do acknowledge the dog’s presence in the house, do not give more affection than required, as the dog is still getting accustomed to its new environment. More importantly, you and your family members should refrain from making any loud sounds and crowding around the pup. Doing this will scare the dog, which will only result in it taking longer to get used to its new surroundings.
Once you have gone through each of these steps, you are ready to welcome your new dog into your home. Remember to stay calm but strong, and establish early on who the boss is in this new relationship! Remember – always consider adopting – not shopping. 🙂
by Bobby J Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™ .
Facts About Animal Homelessness:
Here are a some adoptions for consideration: puccicafe.com/adoptions