How to Prepare Your Household for a New Dog
Sit down with your family to discuss the issue of adopting a pet., Create a chart that displays everyone's name and the job they will have when the animal arrives, i.e., Discuss what breed of animal your family should purchase., Do some research on...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Sit down with your family to discuss the issue of adopting a pet.
Emphasize on the many responsibilities that everyone will have to take on to make this successful.
If any, remind your children that they will also have to help care for the new pet. -
Step 2: Create a chart that displays everyone's name and the job they will have when the animal arrives
exercising, feeding, training, etc.
Take into consideration how much time your family is willing to relinquish to the caring for this pet. , Keep any allergies in mind.
For example, if your family wants a dog, and your child has a mild allergy to dog dander, consider acquiring a poodle or a poodle mix because poodles don't shed. , Decide if you will adopt one from a shelter or a breeder.
Breeders can be more expensive, but purebred dogs can be more predictable when it comes to temperament than a mutt from a shelter.
However, if you adopt from a shelter, you are rescuing an animal from possibly harsh, undesirable conditions. , Do you live in an apartment in a city, or do you have a house with a yard? Is your house clean or relatively unorganized? Where would the animal eat and sleep? Decide on where supplies will be located ahead of time to avoid confusion.
Decide where the dog will exercise too.
No matter how big or small, exercise is a big component to a dog's healthy lifestyle. , Take any valuable objects and place them in secure storage containers that are out of reach.
If you are buying a small dog, you will need to devise a plan to block small areas in which an animal can get to, but you cannot, i.e. under dressers or beds. , One very effective way is crate training.
Buy a metal crate suitable for the size of your dog.
Put it in the area in which your dog will "live" the most, i.e. the living room or your bedroom.
Place blankets and toys in the bottom to entertain your dog and create a sense of home and security.
You want the crate to become a positive thing, not negative.
Crate training is based on the idea that by nature, dogs do not relieve themselves in the area in which they eat and sleep.
When it is time to go to sleep, lock the dog in the crate.
Do the same when you leave the house.
It may seem cruel, but the dog will soon learn that the crate is not a place to go to the bathroom, but to sleep and relax.
If the dog ever does accidentally go to the bathroom in your house or in their crate, call their attention to the stain.
Say "No." firmly, and take them outside, even if they do not need to "go" anymore.
The dog will make the connection that the crate is the place to sleep and the yard is the place to go to the bathroom.
Make sure you devise a way for the dog to alert you that it needs to go to the bathroom, i.e. the dog nudges a bell on the door, or they scratch the door.
Chances are the dog will figure out a way to alert you of this in a way that you can both understand.
Eventually, you will remove the crate and replace it with a dog pillow or a blanket.
This will serve as the dog's bed. , Think about where you want your dog to be and what places are off limits.
For example, will your dog be allowed on the couch (once it's crate trained, of course)? Will he or she be allowed on the second floor, if any? Make sure that your family agrees on these terms to minimize any confusions for you and the dog. , Keep in mind that this day will be very stressful for the dog and to have your family keep calm and collected as the dog enters.
Don't be surprised if your dog resists you when you try to pull him or her into the house.
Have each family member slowly and calmly approach the dog with their fist extended so the dog can sniff them.
If that goes well, have them pet the animal softly on the head. , food, toys, leashes, etc.
Ask a pet store employee to help you with your decisions if you are a first-time dog owner. -
Step 3: Discuss what breed of animal your family should purchase.
-
Step 4: Do some research on where or who you will buy the dog from.
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Step 5: Take a look at the conditions you live in.
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Step 6: Clean your house from top to bottom.
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Step 7: Decide on how you will house-train your dog.
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Step 8: Establish rules in which your family and the dog will have to abide by.
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Step 9: You are now ready to purchase a new dog.
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Step 10: Once your new dog has received a "grand tour" of your house
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Step 11: take the pet to the local pet store to purchase supplies
Detailed Guide
Emphasize on the many responsibilities that everyone will have to take on to make this successful.
If any, remind your children that they will also have to help care for the new pet.
exercising, feeding, training, etc.
Take into consideration how much time your family is willing to relinquish to the caring for this pet. , Keep any allergies in mind.
For example, if your family wants a dog, and your child has a mild allergy to dog dander, consider acquiring a poodle or a poodle mix because poodles don't shed. , Decide if you will adopt one from a shelter or a breeder.
Breeders can be more expensive, but purebred dogs can be more predictable when it comes to temperament than a mutt from a shelter.
However, if you adopt from a shelter, you are rescuing an animal from possibly harsh, undesirable conditions. , Do you live in an apartment in a city, or do you have a house with a yard? Is your house clean or relatively unorganized? Where would the animal eat and sleep? Decide on where supplies will be located ahead of time to avoid confusion.
Decide where the dog will exercise too.
No matter how big or small, exercise is a big component to a dog's healthy lifestyle. , Take any valuable objects and place them in secure storage containers that are out of reach.
If you are buying a small dog, you will need to devise a plan to block small areas in which an animal can get to, but you cannot, i.e. under dressers or beds. , One very effective way is crate training.
Buy a metal crate suitable for the size of your dog.
Put it in the area in which your dog will "live" the most, i.e. the living room or your bedroom.
Place blankets and toys in the bottom to entertain your dog and create a sense of home and security.
You want the crate to become a positive thing, not negative.
Crate training is based on the idea that by nature, dogs do not relieve themselves in the area in which they eat and sleep.
When it is time to go to sleep, lock the dog in the crate.
Do the same when you leave the house.
It may seem cruel, but the dog will soon learn that the crate is not a place to go to the bathroom, but to sleep and relax.
If the dog ever does accidentally go to the bathroom in your house or in their crate, call their attention to the stain.
Say "No." firmly, and take them outside, even if they do not need to "go" anymore.
The dog will make the connection that the crate is the place to sleep and the yard is the place to go to the bathroom.
Make sure you devise a way for the dog to alert you that it needs to go to the bathroom, i.e. the dog nudges a bell on the door, or they scratch the door.
Chances are the dog will figure out a way to alert you of this in a way that you can both understand.
Eventually, you will remove the crate and replace it with a dog pillow or a blanket.
This will serve as the dog's bed. , Think about where you want your dog to be and what places are off limits.
For example, will your dog be allowed on the couch (once it's crate trained, of course)? Will he or she be allowed on the second floor, if any? Make sure that your family agrees on these terms to minimize any confusions for you and the dog. , Keep in mind that this day will be very stressful for the dog and to have your family keep calm and collected as the dog enters.
Don't be surprised if your dog resists you when you try to pull him or her into the house.
Have each family member slowly and calmly approach the dog with their fist extended so the dog can sniff them.
If that goes well, have them pet the animal softly on the head. , food, toys, leashes, etc.
Ask a pet store employee to help you with your decisions if you are a first-time dog owner.
About the Author
Gary Shaw
Enthusiastic about teaching home improvement techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
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