Getting a new dog or even getting your first dog is exciting for you and other members of your household. Making sure that your dog settles in well at home can be a concern or worry. However, you do not need to panic as there are lots of simple and quick things that you can take on board and put into action so that the transition into your home will be easy for you and your new dog. Below, Kip Doggy Day Care has provided three key tips on introducing your new dog to your home.
Getting into a New Routine
No matter how young or old your new dog is, they need time to adjust. You are new, and so is your house, and because everything is so unfamiliar, you have to have time and patience to give them the time they need to settle in and adjust. When it comes to introducing a new routine, you need to take things slow and steady. Repetition is important with new routines, and so too is consistency. Of course, you also have to be prepared for routines taking longer to establish and grasp than you may think, especially if you are getting a rescue dog or little puppy. Taking your time with a new routine and not putting too much pressure on yourself and your new furry friend will make the transition and new routine easy and stress-free for everyone involved.
Crate Training
When a dog comes into your home, it can be feeling very nervous and perhaps even a little bit anxious. It is important that your dog feels safe at all times because when they don’t feel safe, or they feel anxious, they may then start displaying behaviors that you don’t like or want in your home. For example, they may start chewing everything in sight. To give your dog the safety and security that it needs, you need to look at crate training. When your dog has a safe place to retreat to, you will notice that they are a lot calmer and easier to train. When it comes to crate training, it is important to establish when you want to use the crate and for what purpose. Crates should never be used as a form of punishment; they should be like the safety blanket that your dog reaches for in times of distress. Crate training can be more difficult than you think, and here are 9 Tips for Crate Training a Rescue Dog provided by Diamond Pet Foods that you can easily put into use. When you are purchasing a crate for your dog, you must take into account its size and its breed. It needs to have space to turn around and stand up when it wants to.
Food and Nutrition
Your dog needs to have a healthy and balanced diet from the moment that it enters your home. Getting the right dog food in place for your dog will ensure it is healthy and happy and does not struggle with anything such as sickness and diarrhea. When you give your dog tasty food that is nutritious, you ensure that it looks forward to all mealtimes. When it looks forward to mealtimes, you will find that it will settle into mealtimes a lot quicker.
