The Ultimate Guide to Dog Care. Tammy Gagne

Brush

      ✔ Flea Comb

      ✔ Clippers (for longhaired dogs)

      ✔ Nail Trimmers

      ✔ Toys

      ✔ Safety Gate(s)

      Finding a Veterinarian

      If you already have other pets, you also likely have a veterinarian to whom you take them for checkups and when problems arise. If you are new to dog ownership, though, finding a vet may be one of the tasks on your to-do list. Or, you may be looking for a new veterinary hospital even if you have dealt with other vets in the past. Finding the right match is important because this person, more than any other, is your best resource for your dog’s health. If you don’t feel 100-percent comfortable with a veterinarian, you should keep looking.

      You can probably get the names of half a dozen veterinary hospitals in your general vicinity instantly simply by asking the digital assistant on your smartphone. What the automated voice can’t tell you, though, is which vets are the best. A better way to choose a vet is by asking for recommendations from your breeder, rescue group, or local humane society. You can also ask dog-owning friends or family members for their vets’ names.

      Once you have narrowed down your search to one or two veterinarians, head to the Internet to research them further. Most veterinary hospitals today have websites or social media pages that offer basic information about the practices, including photos of the staff and facilities, hours of operations, the types of animals they treat, and maybe even brief bios of the doctors. You can also look for reviews posted by other pet owners. Read all of this information, and if everything looks good, plan to stop by for a visit.

      Dropping by unannounced to make your first appointment may seem like a sneaky trick, but it gives you the opportunity to make sure that the hospital is indeed what it seems. I do recommend avoiding the busiest times of the day—typically first thing in the morning and just before closing time—out of consideration for the staff, however. If the waiting room is filled with patients when you arrive, simply let the person at the front desk know you would like to schedule a well visit for your dog and patiently wait until someone can speak with you.

      Take a look at your surroundings. Is the facility clean and well organized? Is the staff friendly to both the pets and their owners? Do you feel welcome and at ease? The answers to all of these questions should be yes.

      Preparing a Safe Place in the Home

      Owners aren’t the only ones who can feel a bit overwhelmed by the new dog’s homecoming. As you worry about whether you might have overlooked an important step or item, your new dog may feel scared or stressed on his way to his new home. Bear in mind that he does not yet know where he is going or what he might encounter there. It is your job to help him feel as relaxed as possible.

      One of the best ways you can accomplish this task is by limiting how much you expose him to right away. On his first day home, try to keep the hoopla to a minimum. As excited as you surely are, more commotion means more for your pet to process. Meeting his other household members is a must, but introducing them one at a time can make it easier for your dog to see that there is nothing to fear. If extended family, friends, or neighbors want to meet your new pet, hold off on those introductions until the next day, again introducing just one new person at a time.

      Make all introductions low key, and supervise any children with your new puppy.

      Giving your dog free run of your entire home right away may be too much too soon. For his first day home, it might be wiser to provide your pet with access to just one or two rooms. He will surely find plenty of new objects and scents to explore in this limited space as you keep an eye on him and how he is adjusting. Don’t be surprised if he sniffs around for a few minutes and then proceeds to take a nap. Puppies in particular wear out quickly, but even an older dog may need to recharge after a long car ride to this new environment.

      What matters most is that you make sure that the room you choose for your pet’s homecoming is safe and comfortable for him. Tidy up before your dog’s arrival to make sure that personal belongings, such as shoes, children’s toys, and anything else you don’t want chewed, are put away. Any items small enough to fit in your pet’s mouth should likewise be removed from his space. Like human babies, puppies have no way of discerning safe objects from the ones that pose a choking hazard.

      Many owners opt to keep their dogs in the kitchen for the first day or two to make it easier to clean up any housetraining mishaps as they begin the training process. If this is the case for you, either place your dog’s crate in the kitchen or offer your dog a pet bed or folded blanket for comfort. A few toys will also be soothing to your pet as he settles into his new home.

      Your new dog will fit into the family in no time!

      Puppy-Proofing

      Before your dog can begin exploring the rest of his home, you should make sure that each new room he enters has been properly puppy-proofed. Do not assume just because your dog has been well behaved in the kitchen that he won’t get into trouble in your family room or bedrooms. Puppies have a knack for finding items that people didn’t even realize they left out, so, as mentioned, intentionally inspecting your living areas and removing potentially dangerous items is a necessity.

      Begin puppy-proofing each room with a general cleanup. The saying “a place for everything and everything in its place” can be mighty useful for new dog owners. Similarly, you will find it easier to keep your rooms puppy-friendly by establishing basic house rules, such as:

      • Coats and shoes get placed in closets as soon as they are removed.

      • School and work supplies get placed on desks—never on the floor or in chairs where your dog can reach them.

      • Leftover food gets covered and placed in cupboards or the refrigerator.

      The exact rules you choose for your home depend on your individual circumstances, but a neat home is the safest place for your new dog. In order for the rules to work, all household members must respect the protocol. Among the most insidious threats to your pet’s safety are board games and other children’s toys. Small to medium pieces pose a choking hazard to dogs, and a swallowed object can cause a bowel obstruction—or worse. Magnets are of particular concern because their attraction to one another doesn’t stop after they enter an animal’s digestive system. Magnets have been known to rupture a dog’s stomach or intestines due to the objects’ strong magnetic force, putting the dog’s life in jeopardy.

      Even after you have removed all of the obvious risks to your dog, you still have a few more steps in the puppy-proofing process. One of the best ways to identify the dangers that still lurk in a room is by getting down to your pet’s level, literally. Lower yourself down to your pet’s height and look around. Do you see any exposed nails or sharp edges on furniture? Is that your favorite pen under the sofa? Is there a web of tangled power cords behind your television or computer?

      Most fixes are simple. A hammer can drive a nail back into the underside of a chair in just seconds. Childproofing kits made for human toddlers come with soft corner covers for furniture. You’ll find enclosures at your local office-supply store that keep electrical cords organized and out of the reach of teething pups. Whichever tools you use, taking proactive steps is vital for your pet’s safety.

      As you get to know your new dog, you may discover additional puppy-proofing steps that are necessary for your individual pet. For instance, some dogs have an impressive talent for getting into cupboards or trash cans. Safety kits also contain childproof locks for securing cabinets and cupboards, which will keep your pup away from dangerous food items, toxic cleaning chemicals, and even medications.

      Your dog may show no interest in your pantry or garbage, but he might enjoy drinking from the toilet. This behavior isn’t just unpleasant for owners, but it can also