GRANDVILLE, Mich. -- Becoming a new dog parent is exciting but, as with human children, raising your first fur baby can be a bit overwhelming at times. Your main goal is to make sure they're happy and healthy, whether they come into your life as a puppy or an adult, and it never hurts to get a little help in ensuring you can make that happen.
Kicking off National Pet Month, we at RiverTown Honda have assembled a list of tips for new dog parents to help make the transition as smooth as possible for you and your new four-legged bundle of joy when they arrive at their forever home.
1. DO YOUR RESEARCH
Before you decide on a dog, it's important to understand that not all breeds are created equal and have different physical and social needs. On the other hand, if you choose to adopt, a shelter dog may have a different temperament than their breed would suggest due to their experiences in the situation from which they were rescued, and thus may require special care in order to become acclimated to their new surroundings. Regardless, it's a good idea to do proper research in order to ensure that you can provide the best environment possible for your new friend. Here are a few things to consider:
- Human children: If you have young children, some breeds take well to that environment while others may not be so keen on sharing your attention or have too high of an energy level that might lead to accidental harm.
- Housing situation: If you live in an apartment, smaller breeds tend to be better suited for that because, due to their size, it might as well be a mansion. Larger breeds, however, require a good amount of outdoor space in which to run around, or you risk making them feel cramped and restless which can lead to destructive behavior.
- Other animals: If you have other animals already living in your house like a cat or small cage critters, it's important to know if your breed is able to easily share the space with them or try to use them as living, breathing chew toys. It's essentially the same as the "human children" rule.
- Lifestyle: Just like having human kids, you need to make sure that your lifestyle can handle caring for raising another living thing. Dogs love nothing more than being around their people, some breeds even more than others, so it's important that you have the time to make for them as well as understand the level of sociability required by your breed.
- Past experiences: If you choose to adopt a dog from a shelter, it's important to ask about their history and the situation from which they were rescued. Like human survivors of trauma, dogs who come from such an environment develop triggers and traits that must be respected in order for them to thrive in their new home and you to reestablish the trust that their previous humans violated.
2. DOG-PROOF YOUR HOME
Similar to baby-proofing, it's essential that you prepare for sharing your space before your dog comes home. This not only protects your belongings but also ensures your dog's safety as there are lots of things we humans leave lying around that could be potentially dangerous to the health and well-being of a curious pup. Here are a few things to consider:
- Put yourself in their paws: It may sound silly, but crawl around your house on all fours and check out any potential dangers. This will put you at your dog's eye level, seeing what he sees, and everything he could possibly want to "investigate". Things such as electrical cords, house plants, objects small enough to swallow should be kept up and out of his field of vision. Plants, household cleaners, and medication left out in dog-accessible places also pose risks and should be put up properly.
- Wet spots and hot spots: There are certain areas of your space that need to be dog-proofed as a whole. For example, if you have a pool or natural body of water on your property, make sure it's cordoned off properly. While some breeds are strong swimmers, the risk of drowning is still present for puppies who are left unattended. All hot spots such as electric heaters, fireplaces, or wood stoves should be secured and reinforced as a no-go zone with training so your dog knows to stay away on his own.
- Plan ahead and be patient: While you can plan and execute the most thorough puppy-proofing operation imaginable, your furry friend will still find ways to get himself into trouble. Just like human kids, however, patience is key and they don't come pre-programmed knowing what's okay and what's not. Accept the fact that your buddy is going to make mistakes during the learning process, and discipline him in ways that will help him and not hurt him. Use a stern voice when disciplining your pup, but refrain from flying off the handle into a screaming rage, and certainly do not under any circumstances resort to physical aggression.
3. GATHER SUPPLIES
Now that you've got their living space prepared, it's time to go shopping for doggy stuff! Here's a list of some essentials:
- Food and water bowls
- Collar
- 4-6ft leash
- Hard plastic carrier or foldable metal crate (depending on size)
- Dog bed
- Dog shampoo and conditioner
- Food (dry or soft)
- Variety of treats
- Variety of toys
- Plastic poop baggies (for walks) and pooper scooper
- ID tag with your phone number
4. GET TO THE VET
Once you bring your doggo home, make an appointment with the vet as soon as possible. Over the course of their life, it is recommended that you go in for check-ups every six months, which is the equivalent of every year for humans as dogs are on a different physical timetable than us.
- Physical exam: Your vet can identify physical problems just by looking them over and get them on a treatment plan.
- Vaccines: Your dog will have to have a series of shots that protect them, other dogs, and in some cases you and other humans from deadly diseases. Such vaccines include rabies, parvo, and distemper.
5. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A CRATE
As we mentioned above, getting a crate or carrier should be on your list of supplies to get for your dog. While a lot of people are averse to crates, as they view them as cages, they're actually very beneficial for your pooch. Breeds come in all shapes, sizes, and temperaments but they all share a common ancestor: the wolf. That being said, they display many traits that are universal of the canine species, and one of those traits is having a "den". Crates provide something that simulates this and allows your dog that "den" kind of space, even if he's an only child.
We at RiverTown Honda hope that you've found these 5 tips for new dog parents helpful, and wish you the best of luck in starting your life with your new best buddy! National Pet Month is all about appreciating the animals in our lives and all of the love, loyalty, and friendship they give us. Having a dog is a big commitment, but it is definitely worth it. Also, depending on the size of your new dog, it may be in your best interest to get a larger vehicle so that you can travel comfortably with your pup tagging along. Browse our online inventory of SUV models perfect for fitting the whole family and dog(s)! Additionally, we recommend reading up on some of our car cleaning tips to help even if your beloved new dog sheds its hair a bit inside your ride.
Give RiverTown Honda, the #1 Honda Dealer in Michigan in 2017, a call at (877) 236-9113, or visit us at 4260 Kenowa Ave. Grandville, MI 49418, one mile west of RiverTown Mall.
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