Welcoming a New Dog? Here’s How to Prepare Your Home

About to welcome a new dog into your home? Congratulations on your new family addition!

Your first few weeks with your new friend are likely to be exciting and memorable, but welcoming a new dog into your life also offers its fair share of challenges. By preparing your home beforehand, you can make the transition into your new friendship easier on the both of you.

In this article, we’ll review some of the most important factors to consider when welcoming a new dog into your home — such as proper introduction techniques, puppy-proofing your home and investing in the right containment supplies.

Arrange a family meeting

When first bringing your new puppy home, they might need some time to adjust to their new smells, sights and surroundings. As such, it’s important to make sure their transition into their new family is as smooth and welcoming as possible.

If you’re bringing a dog into a family setting, there are a few steps to take to keep them comfortable:

Let the puppy approach each person one-by-one: Your dog will feel much safer and calmer if they decide when to introduce themselves to each family member, rather than it being the other way around! The best way to encourage the puppy to take matters into their own paws is by having each family member sit down calmly and letting the puppy come to them first.

Speak in a calm tone: Dogs are more sensitive to loud noises than we are — and in a new setting, these can be scary and unwelcoming. To keep your puppy from getting anxious or overly excited, each family member should speak calmly to ensure them that their new home is a safe space.

Be patient: It can sometimes take time for a dog to fully adjust to its new home and family. Take things slow and give them time to get used to each new person. The example you set during your dog’s first days will set a great precedent for how they’ll react when meeting new people outside of the home.

Stock up on supplies

Before you bring your dog home, it’s important to get stocked up on all of the right supplies to make their home life (and your life) as streamlined as possible. Amongst food, treats and a reliable leash, be sure to purchase:

Toys: These will come in handy when keeping a puppy engaged and giving them something to mouth while teething. Some breeds also enjoy having something to mouth on into adulthood.
Dog crate: These are essential for containing puppies during crate training.

Dog fence: These will help keep your dog away from any rooms or hazardous areas you don’t want your puppy to access.

Puppy-proof your house and your yard

Puppies are a lot like small children. Given that they’re young and still developing, they’re usually curious about everything and want to learn more about their surroundings by chewing, sniffing and mouthing. As such, you’ll want to make sure you eliminate any potential hazards and dangers in your home, yard or surroundings that your dog will have access to.

Some ways to “puppy-proof” your home and yard may include looking for:

Electrocution hazards

Any cords, electrical wires or charging cables should always be kept out of a puppy’s reach, as this will reduce their risk of being electrocuted if they decide to chew them (it’s also a great way to prevent your items from being destroyed).

Choking and strangulation hazards

Keep an eye out for any small items that are easy to leave scattered around your floors, tables or desks, as these can be easy for a puppy to choke on. Common items include rubber bands, strings, paperclips, safety pins or twist ties. Also review your home for anything that may pose a risk of strangulation — such as hanging cables, dangling curtains or home decorations — and remove them as necessary.

Poisonous items

Consider putting locks or barricades over any cabinets or sheds where your dog might have access to harmful chemicals, such as household cleaners, pesticides or medications.

Your most valuable items 

Whatever these may be, we highly suggest you keep them out of harm’s way when bringing a new dog into your home! Puppies tend to chew more objects during teething and some breeds tend to mouth more than others. Whether it’s an important device, a child’s stuffed toy or expensive sporting equipment, your dog won’t understand its significance like you do — so be sure to put it in a safe place or in a room with restricted access.

Installing a dog fence

Pet containment systems, such as a dog fence, are a great way to keep your new dog in line while also keeping them inside your yard. Providing your new dog with space to run around and exercise is key to providing them with a healthy lifestyle — but it’s also crucial that you put the right perimeters in place to allow them to play safe.

Find a good trainer or class

Once you’ve welcomed a new puppy into your home, your next step will be to make sure it is properly trained and disciplined. Proper puppy training requires a great deal of hard work, time and perseverance, which is why hiring a professional trainer to help manage their behavior is always a good idea.

Finding a good trainer or class in your area for your dog is a great way to help you better communicate with your dog, interpret their unique language and become better at building the perfect bond between you and your new companion.

Let us help you with training challenges

Installing a pet containment system is one of the best ways to keep your pet safe and secure when welcoming them into your home. Investing in a quality dog fence doesn’t just provide your dog with a safe site to run around — it can also provide you with necessary peace of mind.

At Dog Guard of St. Louis, our mission is to provide our customers with top-quality pet containment systems that ensure maximum safety and security, all for an affordable price. When it comes to mitigating difficult training challenges with your new dog, pet fencing can be one of the best investments you make.

To learn more about our services and how we can get started, contact us today!