Top Four Changes that Come with a New Puppy
Thursday, October 10, 2019 02:59:42 PM America/Los_Angeles
Many of us know how special those first precious moments with a furry friend can be. Sometimes you choose the cutest or scrappiest puppy in the litter and other times a random puppy chooses you by placing their tiny snout in your lap. Either way, you'll probably realize on the way home that your heart has been stolen by your new pup!
While the euphoria rages on, you'll definitely begin to notice a few changes in your life: Your social media posts will get cuter. Your heartstrings will struggle during the (housebreaking) tug-of-war. Old friends may stop by to visit more often. And if you have other dogs in the house, you may find your nostalgia for those early days being rekindled.
Here are the top four things that may change with your new barking bundle of joy:
1) You will lose a small part of your house with your new friend.
Any new roommate comes with major changes in your living space. Your four-legged roomie will need their own space to feel comfortable. Providing a nice kennel creates a safe retreat from the human world. You can gauge whether your pet wants a quiet isolated location, or someplace closer to the action. As your dog eases into their new home, you'll also need to add a bed.
Some owners even provide multiple beds so their dog can sleep and play near their favorite humans. You'll also lose space to potty training areas and the occasional random sleeping place. Many puppies also enjoy a nice fluffy bed mate. You might want to visit a pet store to let your new furry friend select some favorite stuffed animals. If the kennel/bed isn't near where people spend time or sleep, you may also need to provide some items with your scent. Many little barkers will want to fill their safe spaces with socks or t-shirts from the people they love. Save your favorite items by preparing sacrifices ahead of time.
Be sure to provide easy access to the bathroom area. An indoor dog potty like DoggieLawn can provide younger dogs a consistent and designated place to go to the bathroom. Starting early with a new puppy is a great way to ensure a smoother housetraining process that will also help your puppy feel more comfortable in their new home.
2) You may suffer damages during The Great Chewing.
This is another area where being proactive can save some of your favorite items. Puppies need to chew. It's instinctual. It's fun. It's what they do. Get ahead of the problem by providing lots of safe stuff, so they can chew away. The choice is yours. Shall they destroy one of your favorite shoes or a rope toy?
The more chew-safe toys you provide the more you minimize casualties. You also might want to consider walking through your home while trying to think like a puppy. What items close to the floor look really fun to chew? You may need to change some of your storage habits. Leaving your slippers in front of the couch every morning may not be advisable with a teething puppy.
3) Potty training has consequences.
This is where the real strategy starts. The entire concept of an indoor dog is only viable if you can control the location of the potty area. Win this battle and you'll both have easy years ahead. Lose, and your home can quickly become unbearable. There is no shortage of internet experts on how to potty train a puppy. There are a few common options to consider.
Pee pads may be cheap, but they usually don't contain the mess. Most people want their adult dogs to use the bathroom outside. So the best training processes probably involve transferable cues. That high tech indoor potty may have all the bells and whistles, but it won't remind your furball of the fresh grass that they enjoy outside. A real grass potty adds the benefit of associating an outside smell with using the bathroom. Remember, dogs are all about smell. Fake grass may remind pooch more of your carpets than the lawn.
4) Entertainment and exercise become necessities.
Want to drive yourself and your new best friend crazy? Let your new puppy get bored. Idle puppies can find entertainment in unfortunate areas. It's best to provide plenty of toys of all kinds. You may want to buy enough toys to provide a different set every few days. Plan to take your puppy on plenty of walks and find open places to play.
Again, find ways to burn your new puppy's energy or they might pick an item in your home for destructive fun. Create some simple training activities to give puppies interaction and a chance to learn how to follow directions.
Feel like there's never enough time to feed, walk, and play with your new pup? A DoggieLawn can help! Once your dog is trained to use a DoggieLawn, you'll have more time to spend quality time with your new fur baby instead of just cleaning up after them. Keep these things in mind, and this can be the start of a beautiful friendship!
