It’s finally time. You and your family have decided to get a dog, which means everyone needs to start preparing. Not sure where to begin? Here are a few tips that will help you prepare both your home and your family for your new dog.
Teach Your Kids Proper Dog Etiquette
For your kids, getting a dog for the first time can be super exciting. While that’s great, it also doesn’t erase the fact that almost half of all annual dog bite victims are children. So before you let your kids get carried away, it’s important to cover a few important lessons in dog behavior and dog respect.
Learn Warning Signs – Teaching your kids to pay attention to a dog’s body language is important. For instance, if a dog is backing away or pinning its ears back, it’s time to back off. Growling shouldn’t be the first sign that it’s time to step away.
Respect Personal Space – When a dog is eating, sleeping, or playing with a toy on their own, teach your children not to bother them. If your pup wants attention, they’ll let you know!
Ask Permission Before Petting – While this is a good tip for helping your kids interact with other people’s dogs, it also applies to your own family’s dog. Make a habit out of asking the dog’s permission to pet. Tail wagging usually means yes, and backing away usually means no.
Being Gentle Matters – Kids don’t always have the best control over their fine motor skills, which means it’s extra important to teach them to be gentle with animals. Practicing on a stuffed animal or even with you can help a lot.
Puppy Proof Your House
The next most important thing you need to do is puppy proof your house. This means making sure your new pup has a dedicated space in your house to themselves, and it also means cleaning up a few things you might not have thought about before. For example, loose cords and cables should be bundled up and tucked away somewhere inaccessible. Failing to do so could result in your pup chewing on something they’re not supposed to. In addition, set clear boundaries for where your dog isn’t allowed to go. Baby gates are a great way to do this, and odds are you still have some around with children in the house. And finally, it’s a good idea to invest in some carpet and furniture protection. If you, like 84% of Americans, believe a clean carpet is important, this is an essential step to take. Early training can also help protect your carpets and furniture.
Establish Dog Care Responsibilities
Getting a family dog means everyone in your family shares responsibility for your new furry friend. In order to make sure that stays the standard, everyone should take on a few different dog care responsibilities. If you have younger children, responsibilities like rewarding your dog with treats or monitoring mealtimes can be good starter activities. Brushing and helping with dog baths can also be great activities to get younger children involved in. Other responsibilities that need to be accounted for include:
- Daily walks
- Bathroom breaks
- Poop scoop duty
- Daily training
- Feeding the dog
- Changing out the water bowl
- Cleaning dirty paws after being outside
And these are just a few of the many responsibilities you can divvy up among family members. When everyone takes one or two tasks, caring for your new dog becomes a great family effort.
Adding a new furry friend to your family can be incredibly exciting. Just make sure you, your family, and your home are all prepared to take on the responsibility!
Speak Your Mind