A home should be safe for all members of the family of all ages. If you are starting a new family or building a new home, you should make sure all aspects of that home are safe for everyone. That includes furry friends.
When it comes to introducing a new family member — especially a furry one — everyone should be involved so that the furry friend can get easily acquainted. What should you keep in mind when bringing home a furry friend, especially with young kids around?
Becoming Fur Parents
Being a fur parent is a big responsibility. This is a major responsibility that should not be taken lightly because another living being is concerned. It is cruel and irresponsible to abandon a pet, no matter how small, just because you lacked judgment of your capacity to care for it. So are you ready to bring home the new baby?
One of the first steps you have to consider when bringing home a puppy is to have it trained. This is most important if you have young kids running around the house. You would want to keep both of them safe from each other. There are dog training programs available that can train even as young as puppies so that they can have the proper foundation as they grow older. Make sure to research training before getting your puppy to prepare financially and in terms of your schedule.
As we are on the topic of schedule and finances, these are two factors that should be kept in mind when deciding to get a puppy. Your schedule, especially if you are a parent, should be free enough to care for another living, breathing being. A puppy, no matter what breed, requires high maintenance. You should be able to provide enough time to train them and to allow them to adjust to their new home.
Your financial capacity is another major factor. This is the more obvious factor to consider because what funds will you use to buy puppy necessities if you do not have a stable or sufficient income? Caring for a dog entails many expenses, close to caring for a human child, so make sure you can provide, or else you might end up making your puppy ill from diseases. You wouldn’t want that to happen.
Your schedule and financial capacity will also determine if you will be able to follow up with the dog’s veterinary schedule, which is especially important in keeping your dog healthy and disease-free. This can even prevent your family from getting deadly rabies.
These are a few but major factors to consider before bringing home your new puppy. It is a lot of hard work and a lot of responsibility, but if you are truly invested, you and your family can make it work.
Once you have established that you can maintain a puppy, how can you set up your home to keep it dog-proof?
Having a Dog in the House
There are outdoor dogs, and there are indoor dogs. If you are more into small canine breeds, you might opt for indoor dogs such as a Chihuahua or a Shih Tzu. Getting a breed like these entails keeping them inside the home because they are too small to stay outside the house. How can you dog-proof your home?
Your home interior plays a big role in keeping your home neat and tidy, even with a dog roaming around the house. A good home plan will also prevent dog accidents due to their hyperactivity.
Make sure your furniture pieces are stable to avoid unfortunate accidents in case your puppy bumps into them. Secure your furniture with straps or locks to ensure they are stable enough for your hyperactive dog (and kids).
For dogs who like to scratch doors, install a scratch-proof sheet on the part where they are most likely to scratch on. Dogs often claw on doors whenever they want to go out for a walk or if someone else on the other side of the door. Prevent your door from getting claw scratches through this little life hack.
Spray a deterrent solution on household items that you don’t want your puppy to chew on. Examples of this are remote controls, shoes, and other items that may seem attractive to teething puppies but are off-limits.
Keeping a dog inside the house is heavy work. Exerting excess energy may help in keeping them calm while inside the home.
Playtime
As mentioned, you should provide enough time for your puppy, especially for playtime. Your puppy needs adequate exercise for growth and to exert excess energy that may build up inside. Pent up energy may come across as aggression towards you and your family. You would want to avoid this, especially if you have a big dog breed. Playtime should be a part of your regular daily routine.
Having a dog is a great decision for any family. You have to ensure you can provide the resources that a puppy needs to grow and develop as an excellent dog.