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Are you new to dog ownership? We bet you’ve just got your first pet and you are a bit scared and confused as well as stressed about what it takes to own and care for a dog. Don’t worry! We have got you covered here in our guide where we present 10 tips for you in your new journey. Dog ownership is a joy and fun, while it requires proper preparation and some essential steps that you need to take to get there. Let’s get introduced to the steps.
Prepare your house
We suggest that you put all of your dog’s items in one place safely. Secondly, clean your house and put all of the items that you think your dog would touch or break in a safe place. Make sure that there is no dangerous item around triggering your dog’s safety by any means. After the house is ready, open the door and welcome your cute little puppy in the house.
Spare space for your dog to sleep in
When welcoming a new dog, you need to prepare your house for your dog’s convenience. You need to spare and create a space for your dog to sleep. Get your dog’s beddings, blankets, and everything in one space that is enough for the dog to sleep and relax in. We suggest that you put all of your dog’s items in one place safely.
Get the essential items and supplies for your dog
When owning a dog, you should be aware that there are certain supplies that they will be in need of throughout the time of living with you. The items that you need to buy for your dog include the right food for them, their cleaning materials, beddings, collars, toys, etc.
Know your budget
There are some necessary expenses that you will need to prepare a budget for. Your budget should be ready for food, supplies, collars, vet bills, and other small purchases that are essential for your dog. There can be a possibility of changes in your expenses as your dog grows and his or her appetite increases, however, food and toys are consistent costs in your budget. Be flexible about other incidents that may take place and charge you some amount of money, such as unexpected injuries and vet bills.
Come up with a routine and practice it
It will be very helpful for you to start setting a routine for your dog which includes her or his daily food intake, sleep, clean-ups, outdoor activities, etc. Stick to the plan and be flexible to new and unexpected changes, if they occur.
Introduce your dog to the family
If you live in a family of more than one member, then you will certainly need to introduce your dog to them. Gradually let your dog play with the family members, organize fun playful sessions where your dog can be the main character and feel special. Of course, the more frequent your pet and your family members meet, the easier the adjustment will happen.
Consider microchipping
Microchipping is another important step that you will probably need to take in your first days of owning a dog. It is very crucial because it allows you to identify your dog out of hundreds of dogs. A microchip is smaller than a grain of rice and it is put under the skin between the dog’s shoulder blades. The microchip has a unique ID number that is scanned by a shelter or a vet. Remember that this will always help you to reunite with your dog if he or she is lost.
Communicate and train
It is highly suggested to start communicating and establishing connections with your dog from Day 1. Start cuddling them and talking to them with a few commands that will slowly get them trained. Sit, stand up, stop, run, and other commands will help you control your dog in big crowds and other situations in the long term. Take your dog outside for a walk and gradually make them realize that you are his or her owner. Warm welcomes and love, care will always stimulate the relationship between you and your pet.
Practice leaving them alone
Lastly, after a few days of adjusting to each other, start slowly leaving your dog alone in the house for 5-10 minutes, and increase the time span as you go. You can set a surveillance camera in your home to watch your dog and his or her behavior or you can simply leave them and get back to see what changes happened at home. Training your dog to calmly stay at home while you are out for other responsibilities is essential, therefore, pay close attention to it and get started!
Be patient
We understand that owning a dog is a very exciting process and life event, in general. Sometimes it gets tricky and stressful when you can’t control the situation and your dog is very energetic or vice versa, however, it all requires patience. Dogs have their preferences and emotions, they can’t be completely controlled. You, as an owner, need to identify behavioral patterns, train your dog for good and handle them if needed. Good luck!
Check some of our latest blogs on how to dress your dog and how to be a good owner by finding the articles on our website.