Owning a dog is one of life’s greatest pleasures. For those of you just getting started on your journey as a doggie parent…we’re here to help! When you first bring home your pup (or before then!), it can be an intimidating experience. With that in mind, we’ve created a list of handy tips/tricks/steps to take before your dog gets to its new forever home!
Establish a Routine
Re-homing is a huge change in a pup’s life. It can be a period of great stress and uncertainty for the little guy/girl. So, quickly establishing a set feeding/walking schedule will help your lil guy to settle in a bit more easily. In most cases, this schedule can be tailored to suit the owner’s lifestyle, but it just needs to be kept consistent.
Book a Checkup
It’s always a good idea to take your dog to the vet ASAP. If you buy from Pawfax, you’re getting a healthy pup — there’s no two ways about that. So this tip isn’t so much to look for medical issues, as it is to establish a positive, early relationship between your pup and the veterinarian. That’s going to make vet visits much, much easier down the line.
Keep Records Handy
Your pup is going to come with his fair share of paperwork. It’s really important to keep all that stuff, so we suggest putting together a doggie folder somewhere safe. That way, whenever you need your pup’s papers, you’ll know right where to look.
Assume Dog Isn’t Housetrained
Even if you’re bringing home a housetrained pup, he/she might not realize your house is a pee-free zone. For this reason, we suggest initially confining your dog to a small corner of the home, even if just for a couple of days. When you take the pup out to do its business, shower it in praise and treats for a job well done. Even if the dog is already housetrained, we strongly suggest doing this — again, even for just a day or two.
Choose the Right Food
Please, please, please don’t buy the cheapest dog food you can find. Your doggo deserves better! Keep a close eye on protein content and ingredients. Try to avoid dog food with too much filler, and if you can, ask your vet for some recommendations.
Be Patient
At the end of the day, this is the most important part of owning a dog. Your pup is going to have accidents, it’s going to misbehave, and it’s going to make mistakes. Don’t let that strain your relationship with the doggo, though, and keep in mind — your pup is absolutely trying its best! If you need help finding a puppy from a trusted dog breeder check out PawFax.