When you acquire a new dog for Christmas or at any time, regardless of the background or history, there are many things to think about before you bring her home. Although I don’t know of anyone who would bring a pony home without making sure of a proper stall, feed, etc., I am amazed at the people who acquire a dog impulsively and have no plan of action. Here are some tips to help you plan for success.
Do You Have a Veterinarian?
Most of the time, if you have adopted a dog from a reputable breeder, shelter, or rescue organization, the dog will be up to date on vaccinations, and you will be provided with proof.
Do you have a veterinarian already? Although most people don’t do this next step, I highly recommend it. Within the first three days you have the new dog home, take her to your veterinarian. Bring in the vaccination record and establish a chart for her. Find out her “starting” weight. Does she need to gain? Lose? That’s a conversation to have with the doctor. Be sure she has medication for heartworm, flea, and tick prevention.
Where Is She Going To Sleep?
The first 24 hours at home are spent establishing routines for sleep, food, and potty. Ideally, you are planning to crate-train your new dog. If so, you should have the crate or kennel confinement set up before you bring the pup home. There are so many options for crates, exercise pens, and playpens. You might have found out whether she is crate-trained and what type of crate she has been using.
If you are bringing home a young puppy, find out if the puppy has been separated from mom and siblings. She might cry and howl when you want to sleep. A crate for her to sleep in can be smaller than her normal confinement crate. You might want to place it next to your bed so you can soothe the puppy if she is anxious and whiny.
Where and What Is She Going To Eat?
Ideally, you can get the same food the puppy has been eating and gradually switch her to your preferred food if necessary. For example, the first three days, give her what she is used to eating. On Day 4, give her 90 percent “old” food and 10 percent new. If that goes well, on Day 5, give her 80 percent old food and 20 percent new. Keep decreasing the percentage of old food and increasing the new as she adjusts. You want to avoid tummy upset at least for the first week you have her.
Where you feed the dog is also important. Many dogs are not social eaters. They won’t eat if you are watching or if another dog is around. Or they might “resource-guard” their food from you or other dogs. If crate training is going well, you could feed your dog in the crate.
Determine what her daily ration of food should be and feed her twice to three times daily at first. Don’t “free-feed” or leave food in front of her. For some dogs, that is overwhelming — they are either resource-guarding or anorexic.
Where Will She Potty?
This is a biggie if you want to prevent “accidents” in your house. I like to reward my new pups with a treat for proper potty behavior. For the first three days, take the dog outside to the potty area on a leash. She might be reluctant at first to potty on leash or in front of you. If you decide to unleash her, stay outside with her. Always take her out the same door until she is well established on how to ask to go outside.
I know many people with small dogs who live in apartments, and the potty area is inside the bathroom. Teaching the dog to potty on a pad in your bathroom is especially useful if you are traveling with your pup. Go through the same process of going to the potty area with her on leash and praising and treating when she uses the pads appropriately. Some people have cool dog toilets on balconies.
Is Your House Safe?
Remember that puppies taste EVERYTHING!
Do you have a lot of houseplants? If you do, find out whether they are safe for pets. If not, be sure they are unreachable by your new dog. Put electrical cords in PVC tubes or other protective items so they cannot be chewed. Do you have slippery floors? You might need to add rugs or runners in high-traffic areas so the dog doesn’t race around and get injured.
Do you have stairs? You’ll need to spend some time teaching the dog how to navigate stairs safely. I always recommend having the dog precede you down the steps so she doesn’t clip you from behind and send you sprawling. If the stairs are off limits, install a baby gate and use it consistently.
Is Your Yard Secure?
Secure fence, doors, and gates. Check everything! A lot of dogs end up in rescue facilities because they are escape artists. They climb fences, dig out, and bolt out of doors.
Planning for safety is a good way to start off with your new pup.
Mary Green is a Certified Professional
Dog Trainer Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA), Certified Dog Behavior Counselor (CDBC), and Certified Nose
Work Instructor (CNWI) at K9 Manners
& More in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
