Getting a new dog is an exciting time. You have a new furry friend in your home, and this changes everything. If you’re a first-time dog owner, you may be wondering how to go about taking care of your new friend. Below are 6 tips you can use to take care of your new dog and make sure they love their new home.
Vaccines and Other Medical Procedures
The first thing you should learn is whether your dog needs any vaccines or other medical procedures. This will largely depend on where you got your dog and whether they took care of these things before you got them. In some cases, you may need to get your new dog some vaccines. If you are adopting a rescue dog, they may have some lingering health concerns that you need to take care of. Finally, you may need to get your new dog spayed or neutered. Keeping all this in mind, you should get your furry companion some pet insurance, since unexpected vet visits can occur, and the insurance can make your life easier and waive some of the costs of any procedures you need to do and when they need to be done.
Get Your Home Ready
If you haven’t gotten your new friend yet, you’ll want to take some time to get your home ready first. For example, you may want to put up some child gates around areas that you want to keep your dog away from. You’ll also want to get your dog some dishes to eat out of and perhaps a bed to sleep in. Lastly, in some cases you’ll want to crate your dog when you’re out of this house. If so, you’ll need to pick up a dog crate and find a good location for it.
Find the Right Pet Food
Next, it’s time to pick up some dog food. Talk to a vet or the previous owner about what kind of food they would recommend. While dogs will eat just about anything, you want to be sure you are feeding your dog the right amount of healthy food. It may take some time to figure out which food your dog likes best and when you should feed them. For example, some dogs you can fill their dish once each morning, while others dog like to eat both in the morning and at night. As you get to know your dog better you’ll learn the signs that they are hungry and you can adjust their schedule accordingly.
Give Them Plenty of Time Outside
Dogs love to spend time outside. This includes running around in your yard, at dog parks, and just going for walks. Try to give your dog at least an hour or two outside each day, especially when the weather is nice. If you’re not home during the day, consider hiring a dog walker to give your dog a 30 minute walk each day. This will not only make your dog happy but it will keep them healthy.
Play with Them
The other thing dogs love is playing with their owners. Your new dog may be a little shy at first, but over time they’ll warm up to you and start enjoying play time. Grab some toys that they can chase or teach them how to play fetch. Chasing your dog around outside is a great way to play with them and give them some exercise at the same time. Taking care of your dog is about more than just keeping them alive. Playing with them will allow you to bond with them and keep your dog friend happy.
Get to Know Your Dog
Finally, you should get to know your dog. Figure out activities they like or what snacks they enjoy. No two dogs are alike, so this new dog will like different things than any other dog. Learning to read a dog’s body language can also help you to figure out their mood. According to The Dog House Pet Salon, a provider of pet grooming in Houston, “Understanding what your pets are feeling can be a huge progression in building a long-lasting relationship between human beings and our canine buddies. Ears and tails are often the best emotional indicators.”.
Training with your dog is a great way to get to know them. It is a rewarding experience for both you and your pup. If you end up enjoying the process of training your dog and find that is an area you are skilled in, you may want to consider starting a dog training business. Helping others train your pets will allow you to help others understand their dogs just as you have.
Getting to know your dog takes some time but it will happen eventually. Before long you and your dog will be best friends and you’ll be able to tell what they want just by looking at them. Hopefully this guide was able to give you some insight into how you can take care of your new dog. You’re taking on a big responsibility, but one that is well worth it. Take the time to try new things with your dog – such as different foods or activities – and see what they respond to best. If you can do this, you should have no trouble taking care of your new dog.
