10 Tips for New Puppy Owners

We all know that getting a new dog is equal parts exciting and difficult.  Some people who bring a new dog home are not prepared for what being a new dog owner entails.  Whether you just adopted a new family friend or are just thinking about the process here are some helpful tips to the transition of being a new dog owner.

                                      

  1. Puppy Proof Your Home-  Even if you adopt an older dog they still will be curious of their new surroundings and naturally like to explore that can sometime get them into trouble.  Keep an eye out for household dangers like electrical cords, poisonous houseplants,and other small items that can be swallowed.  They are in a sense like a small baby and can easily swallow something or chew on something they should not.
  2. Get Your Gear-  Being a new dog owner you should prepare yourself with the essentials when bringing your new family friend home.  You should have foods, treats, chew toys, a cozy bed or mat, toys, a leash/collar, poop bags, and grooming supplies just to get started.  
  3. Go to the Vet-  Find a trustworthy vet in your area or ask for recommendations.  At Sierra we use Renton Animal Healthcare Center and Renton Vetrinary Hospital.  We also have Good Neighbor Vet that comes to our store each 3rd Saturday for low cost  vaccines and microchipping.  Make sure your puppy is healthy and is up to date on all its vaccines.
  4. Microchip and Register-  It is always a good idea to get your pet microchipped that way if your dog gets lost or stolen the microchip will help insure his safe return.  It is also a great idea to get a name tag with your information and contact  but remember collars can come off but microchips are there to stay.  
  5. Clear Your Calendar-  Make sure you avoid extended days away from your new family member.  Consistency is very important first step in the training process.  Having your dog stay with someone else during the first few months could interrupt your bonding time, especially for rescue pups, being around them as much as possible with the new transition home will be the best thing possible for your new family member.  
  6. Reach Out to Other Puppy Parents-  Having a new dog can be overwhelming and a ton of work.  Keep in contact with the puppy parents or foster family for assistance and support.  It is crucial in the development of your dog to understand its tendencies, and routines.  Plus the support will help you remain calm through the difficult training process.  Some reassurance that you are doing the correct thing goes a long way in the pups overall development.  Remember puppies do not come automatically trained nor do they have an operation manual.
  7. Enroll in Puppy Classes-  Even if your dog is a rescue and already is somewhat trained, it is still a good idea to get to the basics and take them to an obedience class.  Your dog will get more socialized, learn basic commands, and become much easier to handle and have around other people and dogs.  
  8. Set Rules-  It can be very tempting to bring home a new dog and bend the rules just a bit, make sure you resist the temptation to have your dog snuggle with you in bed and stick to the rules.  It will avoid problems later on.  It is much easier to prevent a bad habit from starting then have to break a bad habit that has formed.
  9. Expect Rules to be Broken-  It is so very easy to get frustrated when you think your pup should understand you and your rules quickly, but he still does not and it takes time and consistency.  It can take up to 50 or more perfect repetitions before your dog may truly understand a command.  
  10. Introduce Outside-  If you already have another dog or cat in the household, let your pet(s) met the new dog outside before your bring them into the house if possible.  Take the dogs on walks together so they can fell like they are a pack and can start to bond without felling territorial of one an others space.  

There are many helpful tools to help you adjust to a new furry family member.  Ask for one of our new dog adoption packs that has useful training tips and valuable coupons with up to $250 in savings to be used long-term.  You can also check out some helpful articles on Dog Crate Training Guide, House Training Guide, and Puppy Training to help with your transition to his new home.