Your family has decided to add to their family. Everyone has agreed they want a new puppy! Here are some tips you should consider when searching for a new family pet and what to do to help your new puppy call your house home.
1. Decide what type of dog would be a good fit for your family. Is the dog you have your heart set on a good family dog? Will this dog need lots of exercise? Do you have a yard big enough to give your new member the room it needs to get enough exercise? Is your yard fenced in? Will this dog need lots of grooming? Be prepared to send your dog to a groomer on a regular basis if the dog has a particular cut by breed (like a Poodle). Some dogs, although they are desirable to you, may not be the best choice for a family with small children. Do some research and find out all you can about that breed.
2. Preparing your home for your new member. Purchase a crate. This crate will be called home for your new pup and you should plan on encouraging that the dog to use this crate for sleeping and eating their meals in. The size of the crate should be just big enough to let your dog stand up in and turn around. As the dog grows, you will need to upgrade to a bigger crate. Giving a dog a very large crate could invite habits that may be hard to break, like doing its business inside the crate! When you leave home, put your pup inside its crate. It will be safe and feel safe and you won’t have to worry about your dog. Dogs that are able to roam freely can get into a lot of trouble. I had one customer who had a small dog that ate through dry wall when she was gone at work for the day! She began to use the crate and the dog was fine after that. People think crates are a bad thing, when in fact, they are a GOOD thing. Don’t look at it like prison….it’s home for them!
3. Purchase a brush and comb specific for the breed. That means if you have a dog like a Samoyed, you need to purchase a brush that will get all the way through the coat and lift out the undercoat. If you have a dog like a beagle, then a Curry Brush may be the perfect choice for you. No matter what kind of hair your dog has, it needs to be brushed for the exact same reasons a human’s hair needs to be brushed.
4. Find an appropriate size water bowl and food dish. These can change as the dog grows up. It’s not a great idea to give your puppy a new bowl that is HUGE…let them grow into their bowls just as you would for a child.
5. Purchase a few pet gates that will serve as a temporary barrier to parts of your home until your dog is trained. Pet gates will help the dog understand that these areas are off limits.
6. Purchase a dog leash. You should have two types of leashes. A short leather leash and a flexi leash. The short leather leash will be the perfect leash for walks and when you take rides in the car. The flexi leash is great for when you take your pet to large open spaces, like a park or a field. When taking your dog for a ride and using the leather leash, put part of the leash inside the door before you close it. This will keep the dog from jumping and walking all over your car while you are driving. Don’t make it too short or too long. The amount of slack will depend on the size of the dog, but plan on having them on the floor of your car until they learn. It will keep them safe and keep you from being distracted while driving. There are other options such as carrying your crate and putting them inside the crate, too. It all depends on the size and type of vehicle you have.
7. As a former groomer, I have a request for all groomers out there. Your dog will need to have their nails cut and depending on the breed type may need to have ‘ear hair’ plucked. One piece of advice that I always gave to my customers was:
a) Play with their feet. Squeeze their toenails horizontally and vertically. Nail clippers put pressure on the nail and if they have never had their feet or nails squeezed, it freaks them out. If you play with their feet, squeeze their nails and maybe even give a firm squeeze on the paw as a whole, they will become used to that feeling and will make their grooming experience and the job for a groomer much easier.
b) If your dog has ear hair: play with their ears! Rub them and gently pull on the hair that begins to grow inside their ears. Again, this will prepare them for the plucking.
c) Blow driers! If you style your hair, invite your dog into the bathroom while you have your blow drier running. The more they hear ‘that noise’ the less stress they will feel when the grooming time comes!
d) Brush your dog! Please brush your dogs. Groomers do use brushes but dogs that are not brushed regularly will cause the dog to misbehave as well while at the groomer. The more you brush them the more they will like it and the less time they will need at the groomer.
A dog that is not ‘prepared’ for a groomer causes great stress for your new pet. You can play a big part in getting them ready for the grooming scene.
I had a customer who blatantly said to me, ‘Oh brushing? That is YOUR job!’ I felt like asking this customer a question but refrained. If I did ask it would have been…’Do you brush your hair or is it your hairdresser’s job?’ If you don’t want to brush your dog, then expect increased grooming visits. More money out of your pocket and more money into the groomers pocket. Or…if it is really bad all the time, the groomer may ask you to find another groomer. I charged more for extra brushing since I was a mobile groomer and on a schedule. That usually helped the customer understand that they need to step up to the plate and brush their dog’s hair! Some dogs that have light skin are susceptible to irritation from pulling while brushing. Don’t be mean to your dog if it has light skin…brush it!
Ticks! Have your groomer or Veterinary Doctor show you how to properly remove a tick. Once you know how to properly remove a tick, place it in a jar of rubbing alcohol. They will be sure to die. Do not step on a tick. Do not flush a tick and do not burn a tick. Check your dog regularly for ticks and be prepared to dispose of it correctly.
In my next article I will be offering you more tips on common puppy training techniques.
