Preparing for a new dog

If you’re preparing for a new addition to your family, it’s important to set aside plenty of time for this new dog. Whether this is your first dog or your tenth, there are things you’ll need to prepare for to ensure the adoption process goes smoothly and the dog can transition easily. Rescue dogs, or dogs that come from no-kill shelters, are a great addition to any family or home. But, as with any new pet, you need to prepare yourself emotionally for what lies ahead.

Many people find it easy to think about all the things they have to do around the house to get ready for the new dog. Not many people think about mentally and emotionally preparing for the arrival of the new dog. If you have children in the home, it is important that they understand the rules regarding the dog in advance.

You don’t want to wait until the child is literally dragging the dog by the tail before instructing him how that’s a bad thing. The more prepared your children are for your arrival, the safer they will be. Especially since you can’t really know for sure what kind of environment the unkilled shelter dog was in before.

You will have a lot of work ahead of you. Even if you’ve been told that the dog you’re adopting is housebroken, chances are there are still some accidents in the home. This is natural, as there is a small chance that your new home will be unsettling. Most dogs don’t like drastic changes as it makes them very nervous. Until the new dog is comfortable with you, your family, and your home, he’ll want to be prepared for a great deal of cleaning.

Make sure you take the time to dog-proof the house. Just as you would put things out of a baby’s reach so they don’t get hurt, you want to make sure you’re helping the dog stay out of trouble. As you and the dog get to know each other, you’ll be able to figure out what can be left in the house and what should be kept out of reach at all times.

Also make sure you and your family are clear on what you will be training the dog on. Make a list of the specific commands you want the dog to learn and make sure everyone is on the same page with this. If you want to use the word “out” when you want the dog to get up from the bed or couch, you can’t make everyone else say “jump down” when you say “out” to the dog. Keep commands simple and to the point. Read as much as you can, especially about rescue dogs if these are one of the dogs you’ll be bringing into your home.

The more prepared you and your family are for this wonderful new pet, the easier the whole process will be. Last, but most importantly, ask the vet or the agency you’re getting the dog from about proper feeding and nutrition. Proper nutrition will keep the dog healthy and happy.