Are you looking to rehome a dog? The good news for you is that rescue centres are brimming with dogs and other pets waiting to find a new home. Dogs of different breeds, ages and sizes are waiting to find their new forever home.
After searching for a dog that will become the new addition to your family, the next stage is bringing them home. Bringing home a dog for the first time is an exciting chapter. It marks the beginning of creating memories with the home’s latest addition and planning for future adventures you will take them on.
For those in the exciting stages of welcoming a dog to the family, here are a few ways to help prepare for the arrival of your new canine friend.
Prepare Your Home
Getting your home ready for the dog’s arrival will be something that you will be thankful for when the newest addition arrives. If there are any valuable items you do not want to be destroyed from being knocked over or accidentally chewed, move them into a location where they cannot reach or get access.
If you are bringing home a puppy, you may want to install safety measures to help you keep a watchful eye over them. For instance, you could choose to add baby gates to block the puppy’s access to other rooms or areas you do not want them to go in.
Have Supplies Ready
Alongside dog-proofing your home, purchasing the supplies needed for your new addition is something else worth considering. Food, toys and a bed to sleep in are the essential items you will need when they first arrive. You will also need a lead, harness and poo bags ready for when you take them on their first walk.
Look into the extensive selection of products available from online businesses, such as Time For Paws. You can buy all of the supplies you need for your canine friend, from their food and treats to hygiene and grooming products and various toys.
With all the supplies ready to be used, you can help to create a comfortable space for your dog to enter.
Create A Routine
If there are multiple members of the family living in the household, consider creating a routine that you will all follow. The routine can include how many times the dog will be fed and when they will be fed. Decide who is responsible for walking the dog and when they will take them on their walks.
Another thing you might have to decide is whether the dog will be allowed on the furniture, such as the sofa or on beds. You will also have to choose where the dog will sleep and what they will sleep in or on. Additionally, you may decide there are rooms that you do not want the dog to go in. Knowing these different rules and schedules before you pick up your new addition will mean that everyone is on the same page when looking after the dog. Your new four-legged friend can get used to it from their first day.
Plan For The Arrival
With the routine down, the house prepared and all of the supplies stocked and ready, the next thing to consider is your dog’s arrival. Select a day to collect them that provides you with a few days to spend at home, ensuring they feel comfortable and settled into their new home.
Consider bringing them home on the weekend, booking a few days off work or working from home to help with getting them settled. During the first week of them being with you, aim to keep a consistent routine that is quiet and calm.
Have a comforting toy to give them when you leave them at home alone. It will provide them with something to keep them distracted whilst you are away, helping to minimise the chances of them developing separation anxiety.
Find A Vet
With a new canine addition in the family, you will likely have to make a few trips to the vet. If you are bringing home a puppy, they will need certain vaccinations to be booked in for them to get. Additionally, you will want to take them for check-ups and visits if you notice something that does not seem right.
Finding a vet enables you to register your new canine friend as soon as possible. Getting them registered means you do not have to spend time finding a vet on short notice should your pet need medical attention.
Putting plans in place and ensuring most things are organised before your canine friend arrives allows you to spend quality time bonding with the home’s latest addition. Keep these tips in mind as you prepare for your canine friend’s arrival.
