Bringing a new dog into your life means there will be some changes for you both.
To make the transition smooth, there are a few things you need to know and we’ve got just the right set of advice for you.
First, Get to Know Your New Best Friend
First of all, you need to understand and know things about the dog you’re adopting.
Whether it’s a Cane Corso or a Maltese, you need to know what kind of personality and background he has. A stray that has been re-educated within a rescue organization will always be more suspicious than a small puppy you’ve just adopted.
If you choose to adopt a full-grown dog, you need to know about its past, what kind of family it grew up in, why it was abandoned, and how it managed to adapt to life in the animal shelter.
Understanding your dog’s past will help you understand its current behavior and how you can help your relationship develop.
Observe Its Behavior
Observing your dog’s temperament and behavior in various situations will be very helpful for this beginning stage.
This will give you a hint about what kind of personality it possesses. An adult dog that has been traumatized will be shy and might avoid certain situations, places or people.
In other cases, it might get aggressive, because it is scared and uncertain. Such a dog may require additional time to settle and adapt to your household and family.
Teach Your Family and Pets How to Interact with the New Pup
All the family members should observe the dog’s behavior and give it time to adapt to the new environment. It’s particularly important for small children to learn how to interact with the new dog, respect its boundaries, and give it some space.
Your children must approach the dog calmly, allowing him to come to them, and not overwhelm the dog with sudden movements or (apparent) aggressive behavior (like babies or toddlers usually behave, for example).
They also need to know that (at least while being accustomed to his new surroundings) not to disturb the dog while it’s eating or sleeping, as it may become unintentionally aggressive.
If you already have another pet like a dog or a cat, you’ll have to introduce them to the new dog gradually, carefully, and under supervision.
Keep the interactions brief and allow them to retreat somewhere safe, or even hide (for cats). Never force interactions, giving them time and space to know each other’s scent, and letting them approach on their own.
One good method that’s usually chosen for pet first-time meets, is to put a barrier in-between and leave them to smell and gauge each other, with some kind of protection or “defense” in-between. The separator could be a (glass or net) door, a small fence, or in some cases the pet carrier (which often offers solid protection).
Make sure they have separate food and water dishes filled with enough food and water, as many conflicts start from here. In the first few weeks, it would be a good idea to also put their food/water bowls in altogether different rooms, not just “separated” but close.
Make Your Home A Safe Place For the Pet
When you bring your new furry friend home, it’s important to create a safe and comfy space for it. Even if you already have pets (which are not dogs) you still have to do a few things extra, since a dog can sometimes knock down a fence or open the refrigerator, for example. You will never have these problems with a cat or a parrot, right?
Whether you adopted a puppy or an adult dog, it will require preparing your house and backyard, if you own one, entirely, for the safety of the pooch.
Think of the areas you don’t want your dog to get to, and secure them, using specially designed inside gates or fences.
You’ll have to secure all small objects like coins, jewelry or screws that may become the dog’s lunch. Many dogs are big chewers and will put their mouths on everything they can reach.
Your pooch may be attracted to houseplants, so remove any plant it may come across, as many of them are poisonous to dogs.
Make sure to secure any loose electrical cables and hide all the outlets and sockets that lie on the ground.
Remember all those shiny and colorful bottles of detergents or cleaners? Put them away, far from the dog’s reach. That includes medicine and any supplements the dog might come across.
If you have a backyard, check the fence out, to ensure there are no gaps or loose boards that may allow the dog to escape or hurt itself. Remove toxic plants, if possible, or at least put them behind a fence that doesn’t allow the dog to chew or eat them.
Some of the most common toxic plants for dogs (both indoor and outdoor ones) include sago palms, tulips, tomato plants, aloe vera, ivy, daffodils, milkweed, azalea and lilies. For a full list of poisonous plants, have a look at ASPCA (beware, there are hundreds).
Don’t forget about fertilizers or other garden chemicals it may be attracted to. If you used rodenticides or insecticides in the last few months, don’t allow the dog to enter that specific area. It can intoxicate itself because it may touch or step into those and lick its coat and paws. Remove any rodent traps.
Be sure to remove all the small objects from the yard as well (gardening tools, trash, debris, small balls) since they are all a choking hazard for dogs.
If you intend to leave the dog outside at all times, it needs a shaded area, especially in the summertime, and a covered place for its food and water bowls, where dirt, rain or snow can’t reach.
Remember to always provide your dog with enough fresh water, especially on hot days.
Set Up Your Doggie’s “Spot”
So, you doggy-proofed your house and backyard. Next, set up a dedicated space for the dog.
Pick an easy-to-reach place where you’ll put its water and food bowls.
If you adopted a puppy or your dog isn’t doing great in potty training, consider using pet pads, but place them away from the feeding area. Some contain attractant chemicals that mimic the scent of urine, stimulating the pooch to use the “toilet” easily.
On average, your pooch sleeps somewhere between 12 and 14 hours a day. If yours is a puppy, they may need 18-20 hours a day. A newborn puppy sleeps 90 percent of the day – about 22 hours.
John Donovan, Stacey Jones, Your Guide to Dog Beds, WebMD
If you think the couch won’t do, and want a soft dog bed for your pup, install it in a quiet area, far from the feeding and “toilet” area. Some owners choose to put the dog bed close to them, so the pooch will feel secure. After all, you brought him here, you’re the first person it will get attached to.
Your dog’s “spot” should be easily accessible, offer a view of the room it’s in and be placed away from a lot of “traffic”. Please bear in mind that while most dogs need their privacy, they also need closeness with you, as we’ve mentioned above.
Might not be a bad idea to get two beds (if you can afford it). Place one near where you spend time, and one away from all the noise and action.
If you intend to confine your pup while you are away from home (some owners do, some don’t; it’s clearly your choice) or want to train him and address certain behaviors, buy a big enough crate to fit the size of your furry friend.
Puppies under 6 months of age shouldn’t stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time. They can’t control their bladders or bowels for that long, even during potty training. The same goes for adult dogs being housetrained.
How to crate train your dog or puppy, The Humane Society
Place the crate either in your bedroom or in an adjacent spot, especially when dealing with a puppy. Puppies often require outdoor trips during the night to potty, so put them within earshot if they call on you to let them out.
If you are concerned about your furniture and belongings, you may use blankets or slipcovers to protect your couch or other sit-on furniture from the dirt your hairy friend may bring from outside and hair.
If you find out the dog’s got the taste for chewing objects or shoes, you can use bitter-tasting sprays, that will stop the chewing.
It’s better to find appropriate toys to keep the little fellow busy and your couch intact. Make sure these don’t break and get swallowed and are made from durable and non-toxic materials.
You may want to consider the Kong toys, which are nearly indestructible. You can also hide food inside them, to keep your pup busy. Be sure to choose the right-sized toys for your dog.
Take Your First Walk Together
When you first take the dog out for a walk, make sure to use the right accessories. If you prefer a collar, use one that fits the dog’s neck and doesn’t slip off easily. It shouldn’t be too tight (at least two fingers as space, between the collar and the dog’s neck).
If you don’t like collars, you can use a harness (we recommend it). It is more suitable for dogs that pull the leash. It has to fit the dog, especially in the armpit area and chest, and not slip off easily if the dog pulls back.
Whether you choose a collar or a harness, you might want to consider using an ID tag with your phone number written over it. Placing an ID tag for harnesses isn’t always straightforward, so here are a few solutions.
We recommend walking the dog using a leash at all times, extensible or not. It’s up to you, but make sure it’s long enough to allow the pooch to walk comfortably. Don’t forget to socialize your dog with its neighbors and places you’ll stroll together through.
We like consistency, so another important aspect is the feeding and bathroom schedule. This prevents smelly or liquid “accidents”, by predicting digestion and bathroom times.
We recommend feeding adult dogs twice a day, in the morning and evening, and puppies three times a day. This will also predict a puppy’s urge to poo or pee, as they get stimulated by eating.
To end, you made the best decision of your life. May you both have a happy and cheerful life together.