Doggy Mentor

You have been probably been hearing the request from your children “Please can we have a puppy?” Owning a dog is a big responsibility and it can be a perfect venue in which to teach your children. Before you adopt a new dog, there are a number of things to be considered. You and your family will have to come up with a game plan in advance and agree to what your new furry family member can and cannot do in your home.

First of all, you must make sure your house is dog-proofed.  A great way to do this is to crouch down and look for danger such as dangling electrical cords that would be great to chew; pick up toys and other small objects off the floor that could be harmful if swallowed; remove chemicals, paper sacks, plastic items and even plants away from the prying jaws of a pooch. Area rugs should be removed while your new pet is being house trained. You wouldn’t want him to think that this is a good place to pee!

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You should buy a baby gate to restrict your dog’s access to those areas of your home where you don’t want him to go. This might also be used to separate off an area just for him. This is particularly helpful when it comes to housetraining. In addition, dogs (and particularly puppies) are curious creatures that love to look around. To prevent your dog from chewing your shoes and clothes, make sure that he can’t access them. Your closet or bedroom doors should be closed.

Getting some rawhide bones and chew toys will help to distract your dog from gnawing your possessions. Giving your puppy something safe to chew on while he is teething will stop him from chewing your possessions. As well, buy lots of toys to keep him amused. A dog that is bored may be destructive! Plush toys, tug ropes, rubber balls, and squeaky toys are particular favorites of dogs. As with human children, you should give your dog toys that are appropriate for his age. As well, make sure you purchase several different kinds of toys so your dog won’t get bored.

Prior to bringing your puppy home, you should make sure that the house rules are in place. Is he able to climb on the furniture? Will he be allowed in your bedroom? Where do you plan for him to sleep? You will want to know that in advance so that you can put his dog bed there. Are you willing to be adaptable and change your game plan somewhat? At times, dogs will latch on to a favorite spot in the house and if it is your bedroom, you will either have to teach him to sleep elsewhere, or allow him to sleep on his dog bed in there. As with people, dogs have their own unique personality traits. You will have to learn to adapt.

As well, you should should have a plan for your dog’s obedience training. A well-behaved dog is a great member of the family.  In addition, you will gain so much more out of the doggie-human relationship if you invest in dog obedience training. Do your research and decide if you can tackle the job yourself or if you want to find a training school to help.

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You also need to plan for the times when you are away from the home? What about a veterinarian? Would you employ a dog sitter or have him boarded in a kennel if you needed to travel? Do you have a decent yard for him to roam in? How about exercise? Will you be walking your dog to allow him to mix with other dogs? All of these are important matters to think about BEFORE adopting a family pooch.

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