How To Welcome A Dog Into Your Home

There are various benefits of welcoming a dog (or puppy) into your home. They can be a great way to teach your kids to be more responsible, encourage you all to spend more time outdoors, improve your mental health and even better - they’re always happy to see you. 

However, it's also important to remember that they require a lot of care, love and attention. After all, they are a living, breathing being, not a fashion accessory to keep you entertained when working from home. While this may seem obvious, it's important that you understand the weight of your responsibility ahead of time, especially when you consider how many people have abandoned dogs they adopted during lockdown. 

Photo by Pauline Loroy on Unsplash

With that in mind, here are some top tips for welcoming a dog of any age into your home. 

• Prepare for a little mess. If you have kids, you’re probably already used to dealing with a bit of mess from time to time. This is because children simply don’t know how to clean up after themselves - and the same goes for pets. Instead of sticky fingerprints, however, you’ll find they leave hairs everywhere. As a result, you should brace yourself for a little mess and perhaps increase your cleaning schedule if you are planning on entertaining at home. While you might also have to prep for a few mishaps during toilet training, over time you’ll find that cleaning after your pet becomes easier to manage. 

• Think about your lifestyle. Different dogs have different levels of energy and require different levels of support. For example, older dogs will favor a more sedentary lifestyle where they can relax, while puppies are constantly on the go. As a result, you should research different breeds ahead of time to see which dogs will align with your lifestyle. For example, if you’re looking for a travel companion that you can take everywhere with you, from glamping to road trips, then you need to look for a dog with a calm temperament. 

• Pay attention to their diet. It's no secret that dogs will eat anything you put in front of them. They’ll also try their best to eat anything you keep away from them too, such as your own food. However, as their stomachs are more sensitive than our own, it's important that you take their diet seriously and ensure they are getting all of the food and nutrients they need to survive. One way in which you can achieve this goal is by reading reviews of food from other pet owners, such as walmart pet food so that you are able to make an informed decision. 

Get pet insurance. There are various different expenses that come alongside owning a pet, which means it's understandable if you’re looking for areas to cut corners. However, it's important that pet insurance is not one of them. This is due to the fact that pet insurance is always worth it - especially if your pet gets sick and requires expensive treatment or medication that you may not be able to afford upfront. While it may seem like an initial payment, pet insurance can keep your pet happy and healthy (and save your bank account).

Have you tried our FREE 10 part puppy training series yet? If not and you find you could use your puppy's attention in high stress situations like walks, dog parks, vet visits, then take our free, quick and easy training course on gaining your puppy or dog’s focus today!

Please contact us if you have any questions on these tips, [email protected]

Also, follow us on Instagram and Facebook @newmansdogtraining. You can also follow us and our dog Barry on our training and outdoor adventures on Instagram @adventuredogbarry.