Congratulations on welcoming a new furry family member! Whether it’s your first time or not, bringing a dog into your life is a big deal. Having the knowledge and supplies you need for the smoothest transition possible will prevent you and your pup from becoming overwhelmed. With these new dog tips in mind, your pet will feel right at home in no time.
Helpful New Dog Tips You Should Know
Have Supplies Ready to Go
Before you bring your dog home, it’s ideal to have all the basic supplies they’ll need to thrive. This includes but is not limited to the following items:
1. Properly sized crate (for puppies especially)
2. High-quality dog food and treats
3. Water and food bowls
4. A collar, harness, and leash
5. Identification tags
6. Dog bed
7. Dog poo disposal bags
8. Toys
9. Outdoor containment (aka SkyShepherd)
If you need to change your dog’s diet after bringing it home, it’s crucial to transition slowly by gradually. Many people try to transition too quickly. To properly transition, mix in the new food over a two-week period, adding just a little bit of the new food at first and reducing the old by the same amount. Keep progressing the new/old exchange bit by bit until after two weeks, it’s just the new food. A slower transition will reduce the chances of an upset stomach or diarrhea.
Be Calm and Patient
Keeping things calm around the house when your dog first arrives can help it take in its surroundings with less anxiety. Give your dog a couple of days to adjust to its new environment. All the new sights, smells, and experiences can make it a challenge for your new dog to settle with your family. You can proactively help create a calm environment by freeing up your schedule during the time you’re bringing your dog home, if possible, and by talking with any children in your home about dog etiquette.
Patience goes a long way in the beginning. Puppies will need some leeway when it comes to accidents in the house or destructive chewing. If you already have dogs, they will all need to become familiar and comfortable with one another at their own pace. Exposure to all new situations should be positive and not forced.
Prepare Safe Spaces Indoors & Outdoors
Your new dog should have a safe space where they can relax and decompress. Providing a properly sized crate offers many benefits, such as giving them their own den-like area, keeping your pup safe while traveling or when not at home, and helping with potty training. Young puppies need a LOT more down time than most people realize. Make sure that you allow your pup to be in their crate a number of times each day. This allows them to decompress, calm down, and get ready for the next play or training session.
Having a fenced-in yard or a virtual GPS dog fence like SkyShepherd will help to ensure your pet’s safety outdoors, preventing your dog escaping the yard and getting lost/potentially hurt. For SkyShepherd, all you need is the lightweight smart collar and connected mobile app to contain your new furry friend. SkyShepherd works autonomously and uses patented progressive zone feedback and a Shepherding Mode feature to keep your dog in the boundary or guide them back to safety if they ever leave the boundary.
Dog trainers recommend that you do quite a bit of your training outside with your pup so that they can become acquainted with the sights and sounds of your neighborhood. Working outside allows you to train for a few minutes and then let the puppy run and play. Working in this manner makes training more effective and much more fun for the puppy.
Train with Positive Reinforcement
Training can offer physical and mental stimulation, increase your dog’s confidence, strengthen your bond with your pooch, and improve overall behavior. Using positive reinforcement and rewarding successes is the key to having them learn faster and be more comfortable with you. The SkyShepherd GPS dog fence collar also uses positive reinforcement to quicken and solidify training on staying within bounds.
Training shouldn’t ever be painful or aggressive, as these methods can lead to more problematic behaviors and poor welfare. You can teach yourself how to properly train your dog through online/written resources or by seeking help from a professional trainer/going to a training class.
A trained dog is a happy dog. Dogs that begin training early better understand what their owners need and want. Without question, early training improves communication and understanding between dogs and their humans.
Provide Mental Enrichment & Physical Exercise
Dogs need to be stimulated both mentally and physically to live their best lives. Mental and physical stimulation go hand in hand to keep your dog happy and healthy.
Mental enrichment from training, solving puzzle toys, or playing games helps to improve cognitive function, releases stress, and builds confidence.
Physical exercise in the form of walks, playing fetch, and going to the dog park help to keep your pup active, which can prolong their life and prevent obesity. Depending on the size and age of your dog, it should receive between 30 mins to two hours of exercise a day.
Connect with a Vet
A trusted vet is one of the best resources for your new dog’s health and well-being. Setting up this relationship early will be especially helpful during your dog’s transition to your home. Bring in any previous history, medical records, and vaccine records to your first appointment, so your vet can perform the necessary tests/shots and schedule future visits.
Establish a Routine
Dogs thrive on routine, and puppies are particularly adept and picking up a routine. Routines keep puppies calmer and happier because they know what to expect when.
Having a consistent routine for your dog is essential for creating a calm and organized home environment. This includes regular feeding and walking schedules, as well as deciding who is responsible for caretaking tasks. Disorganization or disruptions to the routine can create a stressful environment for your pup that may lead to anxiety and unwanted behaviors.
Conclusion
With these new dog tips in mind, set yourself up for success in the long run. If you prepare and patiently help your dog settle in, you’ll be laying the foundation for a strong bond that will last a lifetime.
