Your New Dog

Your New Dog 

By Amie Berlant

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Before we read, answer the following true or false questions. Then, keep these ideas in mind as you read to see how your thinking changes and how much you learn! 

1. Any dog will be perfect for your family.

2. Deciding to get a dog is a big responsibility.

3. Dogs eat the same food as people. 

4. It is easy to teach a dog to do tricks. 

5. Dogs do not take a lot of work. 

6. A dog only has to use the bathroom twice a day.

7. Dogs will need specific training of basic commands. 

8. Training your dog to use a crate is mean. 

9. You should wait until your dog is home to get supplies you need. 

10. Your dog will need to adjust to life with you, just as much as you need to adjust to life with the dog. 

Before you bring a new dog home, you have probably considered many important things and made many essential, or important decisions. To start, you have probably decided whether you will go to a breeder or adopt a dog, if you want a puppy or an adult dog, and what size dog you are looking for. All of these decisions are important for making sure that your new family member fits well into your family's life. 

You may also want to consider the breed of dog that you would like. There are many different types of dogs and some are known to be very active, while other need significantly less activity.

Do you want a dog with hair or fur? This will impact how much your dog sheds, and something that people with allergies should consider. Dogs with fur can shed a lot, while dogs with hair shed very little. If you have allergies, a dog with hair might be a smarter decision for you.

Finally, you should do plenty of research about the temperament of various dog breeds. Some breeds are known to be particularly calm and great with children, while others can be more protective or high-energy. 

Congratulations! You have selected your new family member and are ready to bring them home! Before you do so, there are a few things you should have in place. First, you should ensure that you have selected a Veterinarian for your new furry friend! This is an important first step to take, as you will want to make sure you bring the dog in for a check-up or vaccinations quickly. Dogs are sometimes already vaccinated when you receive them, but a vet will want to do a check-up early on to get to know you and your dog. This is like when you go to your own doctor each year to make sure you are healthy and growing!

When picking up your dog, it is also important to have some supplies already ready to go. These include a dog bed or cozy blankets, a leash and collar, and dog food. Your veterinarian, breeder or shelter might recommend a specific food to you. Most animal professionals will recommend that dogs should not eat the same food that we eat. You might also want to have a few dog toys, such as a ball or a rope toy, and a bone for your dog to chew. Just be sure that these toys and bones are big enough that they will not be a choking hazard!

Finally, especially if you are bringing home a puppy, or if you plan to crate train your adult dog, you must ensure that you have a crate ready to go at home. Crate train means that you will teach your dog to use and enjoy being in their crate for sleeping times. The crate will be your dog's home and should feel like a safe place for them. This means it should be big enough that they can lay down, sit, or stand, but not so big that they can walk around and play in it. You can make the crate more inviting by putting a towel or blanket in it, or even over the top of it, to make it dark and comforting. 

In the first days at home, you will want to get acquainted with your dog, and you will want him or her to get to know you too. It is important to establish routines immediately.

Some of the most important routines will be when and where you take your dog to the bathroom. Find a spot in your yard that you are ok with your dog using and introduce this spot to your dog. Especially if you are training a puppy, you will want to bring the dog outside to this spot after about twenty minutes of play and after each meal, to help prevent accidents in the house.

If you have brought home an adult dog, he or she may not need to go out as often, but watch for signs of the dog crying, getting overly nippy or playful, or barking. These may be the signs your dog uses to tell you it's time to go out! 

Introduce your dog to a small room of your house immediately. Find a location in your house where their dog bed or crate and food and water bowls will reside and give your dog time in that space to feel comfortable. Do not move this space, as your dog needs to get used to their new space.

Remember that your dog may be scared or nervous in this new space. Limit the amount of free-range that you give your dog until they are comfortable with you and being in your home. For a puppy, this may be a place that is safety-gated from other larger rooms in your house, until they are house-trained. 

Leave them alone in that area for some adjustment time and to let them know they can rest comfortably there. The first few days at home should be calm - your dog is trying to adjust to life in your home and you should be adjusting to life with a dog! 

In the first few days and weeks of life with your new dog, establishing routines that remain about the same each day is important. First thing in the morning, your dog should be taken outside to use the bathroom. Then, decide when you want meal times to be. For a puppy, he or she will eat more frequently than a regular dog. Will you feed your dog first thing in the morning? A little later once you've gotten ready? Whatever time works best for your typical schedule is what you should get your dog used to expecting. Throughout the day, try to be routine about when you take your dog outside. If you have several family members in the house, alternate who takes care of these responsibilities so that your dog learns that he or she should listen to all humans in the house. 

When it is bedtime, if your dog is sleeping in a crate, place them in the crate and turn out the lights. If you find your dog is upset about going to bed, putting a shirt or blanket with your own scent on it may help to soothe, or calm, his or her nerves. If your dog is sleeping on a dog bed, set the routine of going to bed by guiding the dog to his or her bed and saying good night to them there. It is not recommended that dogs sleep in human beds until much later, when a strong bond between you and your dog has been formed. 

You might want to get started right away with fun tricks, but it is important to first make sure your dog knows basic commands. Sit, stay, come, down, and leave it are five commands that your dog should know as soon as possible. These commands will help allow you to be in charge of your dog and make sure your dog is well-behaved and has good manners. You might choose to take your dog to an obedience class or hire a trainer to teach them these skills, but you can also train your dog yourself! It is important to train your dog to know these obedience commands before you get started with fancier tricks like rolling over. You need to be able to control your dog in any situation and your dog needs to know you are the boss. 

Bringing a dog into your life is an exciting, yet challenging process! Remember that the dog is new to his or her new environment and may take some time to adjust to life with you in your home! Be patient and consistent in your training and your dog will quickly become another family member to love!

Now that you've read, check what you learned! Look back at your answers from the beginning of the book -  make any necessary changes based on what you've learned! 

1. Any dog will be perfect for your family.

2. Deciding to get a dog is a big responsibility.

3. Dogs eat the same food as people. 

4. It is easy to teach a dog to do tricks. 

5. Dogs do not take a lot of work. 

6. A dog only has to use the bathroom twice a day.

7. Dogs will need specific training of basic commands. 

8. Training your dog to use a crate is mean. 

9. You should wait until your dog is home to get supplies you need. 

10. Your dog will need to adjust to life with you, just as much as you need to adjust to life with the dog. 

AKC. (2015, August 21). How to Help an Adult Dog Adjust to a New Home – American Kennel Club. Retrieved March 1, 2019, from https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/home-living/how-to-help-an-adult-dog-adjust-to-a-new-home/

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Bringing your new dog home. (n.d.). Retrieved February 12, 2019, from https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/  bringing-your-new-dog-home

Gibeault, S. (2019, January 31). Introducing a New Puppy: How to Introduce a New Puppy to Your Home. Retrieved February 4, 2019, from https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-to-introduce-your-puppy-to-his-new-home/

Lunchik, P. (2018, September 25). Puppy Training: How to Train a Puppy - Tips & Tricks. Retrieved February 12, 2019, from https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/teach-your-puppy-these-5-basic-commands/

Taking Puppy Home. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2019, from https://www.purina.com.au/puppies/ownership/taking-puppy-home

Tips for the First 30 Days of Dog Adoption. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2019, from https://www.petfinder.com/dogs/bringing-a-dog-home/tips-for-first-30-days-dog/