| HOMECOMING FOR YOUR DOG |
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| Home sweet home The first day you bring your new dog or puppy home, it's not a good idea to let him have complete run of the house and yard. He is probably going to be a little intimidated by all the new things to see and sniff, as well as different people (and possibly other pets) to get acquainted with. If he has a good disposition and isn't timid, he will adjust more quickly to his new surroundings. If he happens to be a bashful canine, you might have to move a bit more slowly until he feels confident. Regardless, you should put him in his own doggy-proof room or in a large kennel crate until he becomes accustomed to you and your home. Slowly let him explore the rest of his new surroundings under your supervision. Sleeping area Cats will usually pick the most unsuitable places to take a snooze i.e. your brand new sweater or your black jacket. Dogs, however, will almost always sleep on a doggy bed that you have specifically chosen for them. Dogs don't sleep as much as a cats do, but they still need a comfortable, safe, and secure place to sleep, preferably away from the high activity areas of your home. If your dog spends any time outside, he should be in a well fenced-in area and have some sort of shelter (like a doghouse) where he can escape disagreeable weather or retreat to if he feels threatened or scared (perhaps by another animal or strange person). At first, though, a room inside the house will be a good place to put his bed until he feels more secure. Eating utensils Your new family member will need a proper food and water bowl (or maybe several if he goes indoors and outdoors). The food and water bowl should be in a quiet area where he won't be disturbed while eating. Dogs will sometimes bite if they think someone is going to take away their food (even if you just gave it to them). Also, make sure you have the right size bowls for your puppy or dog. Your veterinarian will be able to recommend what type of food to fill your dog's bowl with, as well as how much and how often. Your dog may be able to handle free-feeding (which means available dry food twenty-four hours a day), but if he has a tendency to overeat when food is available, you will have to set up a feeding schedule for him. Again, your veterinarian should be able to advise you on these nutritional matters. Dog toys Perhaps toys for your dog do not seem like a absolute necessity, but they are nice to have around to occupy your dog's time. The reason you should want to keep your dog occupied with HIS things is so that he doesn't decide to use YOUR'S as chew toys, like those expensive running shoes you just bought. Dogs, especially puppies, like to chew on everything in sight so until you get him used to chewing on his toys and not yours, keeping your canine in his room or crate while you are away is still a good idea . . . at least in the beginning. Meeting the rest of the family Finally, when you bring your new dog home you may not want to bombard him with lots of people and other household pets. He will naturally be nervous on his first day, so it's a good idea not to add to his tension with a bunch of new and unfamiliar faces...especially if your pooch is confused or on edge. Instead, you should spend time with him in his room, but leave him alone for periods of time so he can to rest. Other family members can be introduced one by one to your new addition, but you (or the person who he is most comfortable with) should be present for the first few meetings to make sure he feels secure enough to be with someone other than you. Note: young children should be supervised and not be left alone with your dog at any time. If you have any other pets, integration might take a little more time with them than with their human counterparts. Some people find it easier to introduce your new pet to your other pet/s on neutral ground. If that doesn't work, just keep the pets separate until you feel they are used to each other's presence to avoid any aggressiveness on either of their parts. Some time and patience may be required, but in the long run, your new dog will soon become a cherished and loved member of your Pet Family. |
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