Tips for a New Dog
You’ve just adopted your new best friend, and it goes without saying that you will always love them unconditionally, but it’s also vital to be prepared to give your new pup the best life possible before you welcome them into your home.
At The Dog Buzz, we want you to be totally ready for the exciting and life changing experience of adopting a dog or puppy, so we wanted to share some important tips and information, including when to start training and grooming your pup.
To begin with, and before your dog gets to your home, there are several important items that you should consider purchasing in order to make your dog as comfortable as possible in their new home. These basic items include a collar, a leash, a food and water dish, dog food, a dog crate, an ID tag, treats, a dog brush/comb and nail clipper, dog shampoo and ear cleaner, dog toys and bones, and of course, toys!
Whether your dog is a puppy or an adult, starting training early after adopting them can be very beneficial. You can choose to sign up for dog training classes or work on the training at home. Some useful at-home obedience training can be done to train your dog to not jump on people, training them to be patient and wait for a reward, and of course rewarding your dog and using positive reinforcement during house training.
Routines are super important for dogs and puppies–having a set routine can help your dog to feel secure and safe in your home. When your dog knows at what time to expect feeding, exercising, training and sleeping to happen, they will appreciate the sense of consistency and grow to be more confident.
After adopting a new dog, try to get an idea of what their energy level is and make sure to take them out for an appropriate amount of exercise each day. If you have a new puppy, this can be especially important due to their high energy levels. You can play with your dog inside the house using toys, take them out for a walk or hike, or even meet up for a play date at the dog park. If your dog gets tired out easily, another option is to break up exercise or playtime into short spurts during the day. Once you get to know your new friend better it will be easier to ascertain what type of exercise routine works best for them!
Once your dog has settled in at home, be sure to make them a vet appointment right away. It’s critical to have a trusted veterinarian examine your dog’s health and perform a check up, but it’s also very helpful to have a veterinarian lined up in case of any future emergencies or health needs your dog may have.
We also highly recommend getting your dog or puppy groomed as soon as they have settled in with you and have received their rabies vaccination. Starting grooming early will allow puppies to be at ease during the grooming process in the future, and is very important for your dog’s fur health and maintenance. If you have a new Doodle or long haired dog, consistent at-home brushing is extremely important, as is regular Grooming and trimming. Short haired dogs can benefit from our Full Service Bath or Deluxe De-shedding Bath to keep their coats shiny and healthy, as well as to control shedding.
Most of all, be sure to drink in the beautiful moments and make happy memories with your new dog–”The journey of life is sweeter when traveled with a dog.”