BEFORE YOU BRING A DOG
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DOG-PROOFING YOUR HOME
Put away breakables and valuables. Having a new
dog or puppy in the house is similar -- in this regard -- to having a toddler. Take
a good look around your house at the height your dog will be at. Place items of
value in places the dog will not have access to or be able to reach. Clear off
coffee tables of trinkets and make sure electrical cords are secured and won't be easily
tripped over. Make sure that children's toys will not be mistaken for dog's toys by
establishing two separate areas for each type of toy to be put away. It is best to
store children's toys in a cabinet or box of some sort. Dog's toys can be stored in
a small milk-crate that the dog can easily reach. Do not make the assumption that
the dog will naturally be able to tell which toys are his and which items in the house
belong to humans. On that note, it is not a good idea to give the dog old shoes or
socks to play with. Not only can the components in these items harm your dog, it
will confuse him as to which things are his in the house.
Identify house-hold poisons and secure them away.
Did you know that chocolate is poisonous to dogs? Dogs
can also be poisoned by aspirin, Advil®, and Tylenol®. Anti-freeze (often
found on the floor of garages or in driveways and parking-lots) is extremely toxic and
dangerous because, like chocolate, it tastes sweet to the dog. Less than one tablespoon of
anti-freeze could be lethal to a 20-pound dog. The ingestion of azalea,
oleander, mistletoe, sago palm, Easter lily, or yew plant material, by an
animal, could be fatal. Please see this Pet Owner's Guide to Household Poisons
from the American Veterinary Medical Association and make sure that these items, and other
plants are safe out of reach of your dog. Bookmark the ASPCA'S National Animal Poison Control Center Web Page.
Decide where the dog will eat and sleep and purchase the basic equipment.
Many dogs like to sleep near their human
counterparts because they are pack animals by nature. However, for many reasons, it
is important to give your new dog his own bed to sleep in. It is also important that
your dog be able to eat his meals undisturbed by other pets or children. A crate is
extremely useful for both of these things as well as for house-training.
Make sure you have a
non-chewable bowl, a collar, and leash ready for your new dog. Go ahead and order identification tags for your new pet.
SHOPPING LIST AND TO DO LIST FOR A NEW DOG OR PUPPY
BRINGING A DOG HOME
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Try to arrange to pick up
your new dog when you will have several days (a weekend or a holiday) to help him adjust.
Do not however, bring a dog home when other activities (like Christmas or a birthday party)
will take precedence and the dog will get ignored. Getting a dog as a present for
someone for a holiday is usually a bad idea. Instead, give a picture of the dog and
wait until the festivities are over. Always let the person who will be living with
the dog pick the dog out.
Immediately following car ride show dog outside
and wait for it to do its business. Praise heartily! Do the same after meals and exercise.
(see Housebreaking Hints)
Acquaint dog with his feeding area, water bowl,
sleeping quarters, toys. Make sure children's toys and dog toys are kept in separate
places.
Be patient with house training and do not scold your dog unless
you have successfully gotten him to go outside at least five times. Crate training is highly recommended by almost all
veterinarians. Leaving a dog in a crate while you are away will prevent him from chewing
on furniture or eliminating in undesirable places. Remember that your canine is not
a human and that wolves live in caves or den-like shelters in the wild.
Explain to children that dog must be handled gently
and not to disturb him while he is eating. Adults should accustom the dog to having its
food taken away while eating and toys and bones taken away while playing.
Be consistent and firm with the rules for the dog;
make sure everyone in house follows the same rules. While dogs and puppies may be
incredibly cute, they crave leadership and rules. If you do not establish rules and
stick to them, your dog will quickly lose respect for your leadership, and problem
behavior will be very likely.
Schedule a visit with a
veterinarian for a general check up and for any needed vaccinations. Make
sure dog receives all recommended boosters and administer heartworm preventative
medicine as directed. Make an appointment to have your dog neutered or spayed to prevent
yourself from being responsible for unwanted puppies.
Sign up for
obedience class
after your dog has had all of its vaccinations. It will help you establish
who’s boss and give you the opportunity to bond with your dog. You may even one day
want to compete with your well-trained, perfect dog!
This page was last updated on
07/17/03.
The Choosing the Perfect Dog Web site is based upon a class
designed by Michele Godlevski in 1994. This class was featured in the AKC Gazette in
1995.
Black & white drawings
by Jane Finneran.
None of the images on this page may be
used without permission.
Site and text written by Michele Godlevski.