What Can You Do to Prepare Your Home for a New Dog?

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There’s so much excitement and anticipation when it comes to getting a new furry friend! It’s just one of those exciting and joyful milestones! But there’s one thing that you absolutely need to think about, and it’s how to ensure a smooth transition for both your family and your new furry friend. 

You absolutely need to ensure that your dog is properly taken care of, and there’s actually a lot to think about when it comes to all of this (yes, all of it). It’s essential to prepare your living space thoughtfully; it’s not like a hamster or bird where they’ll be in a cage most of the time; when it comes to dogs, they need to roam around, and they especially need to be inside of the house, too. 

You’ll Need to Start By Securing Your Space

How safe is your space? Chances are high that you’ve heard of baby-proofing, but are you familiar with dog-proofing? So, before your new dog arrives, conduct a thorough safety assessment of your home. You and your family will need to identify potential hazards such as loose wires, toxic plants, or accessible chemicals. 

But this isn’t all; you’re also going to have to secure cabinets, rubbish bins, and any items that could be harmful if ingested. Dogs are similar to babies in the fact that they’re curious and will basically put anything into their mouths. So, it’s a strong encouragement to start creating a safe environment, which is crucial for the well-being of your new pet.

Make it Cosy

You read that right; you need to make it cosy for them! Dogs, especially in the initial stages, benefit from having a quiet and comfortable space to call their own. So ideally, it’s best to just go ahead and designate a cosy retreat with a comfortable bed or crate in a quiet area of your home. This retreat will serve as a safe haven where your new dog can retreat when they need some time alone.

Have All the Essential Supplies Before Their Arrival

It’s always a bad idea to get your dog and then get the supplies afterwards; it just never works out like that. So, you’ll need to ensure you have all the necessary supplies ready before your new dog arrives. This includes a collar, leash, identification tag, food and water bowls, high-quality dog food, toys, grooming tools, a comfortable bed, and the list could just keep going on and on. Having these essentials on hand will help your new pet settle in smoothly, and it’s going to be far less hectic for you, too.

Create a Routine Immediately

One thing that you need to do by all means is to set up a routine. Dogs need this and get confused if something goes out of routine. In fact, you can pretty much say that dogs entirely thrive on routine. So, establishing a consistent schedule is incredibly beneficial for their well-being (but for yours, too, in the long run). Essentially, all dogs need a routine; it doesn’t really matter what type of breed it is, so regardless of what type of lab puppy or any breed you choose, they’ll still need a routine to help them thrive. If you think about it, it’s the same for babies too. 

You’ll need to make sure that everything is super consistent, so this means setting up regular feeding times, daily walks, and play sessions. All of this needs to be around the same time every day, too. In general, consistency in routine helps your dog feel secure and allows them to understand what to expect in their new home.

Is there Anything Unsafe in the House?

What about outside of the house, too? As mentioned earlier, you’ll need to puppy-proof/ dog-proof the house before their arrival. Canines are basically little troublemakers, always looking for new experiences and constantly staying curious. But their curiosity sometimes gets the best of them, and they can potentially end up getting hurt in your home. 

If you haven’t done it already, you’ll need to remove any items that could be harmful if chewed or ingested. Plus, it’s a pretty good idea to just use gates to block off areas that are off-limits, and secure electrical cords out of reach.

What Are Their Sleeping Arrangements?

Do you want the dog to sleep in a dog house? How about a dog pet? A cage/ carrier? How about on a piece of furniture? Would you want them to sleep in the bed with you? So, what you’ll need to do is to just go ahead and decide where your new dog will sleep and introduce them to this area early on. As stated earlier, you need to really look into establishing a routine around bedtime will help your dog feel secure and comfortable.

They Need a Play Area

Your dog needs to know that they can’t play in every single room in the house, so there needs to be a designated space so they know what they can do. When it comes to this special play area, you’ll need to ensure it’s free from potential hazards and has enough space for your dog to move around. You’re also going to have to try to keep a variety of toys to engage your pet mentally and physically.  These shouldn’t be just toys where they’ll be playing by themselves, but they should also be toys that you can play with them so a bond can be created. 

Don’t Forget to Check Your Outdoor Space!

If you have an outdoor space like a backyard, then you cannot forget about this either! You’ll need to check fences for any gaps or weaknesses that could allow your new dog to escape. Are there any poisonous plants outside that they may accidentally consume? Are there any sharp objects or anything that they may want to chew on? All of this really needs to be kept in mind when it comes to preparing for your new home, so be sure to do an extensive look around your property far before the arrival. 

This is a collaborative post.