The Ultimate Guide To Keeping A Dog: Everything You Need To Know
If you’re somebody who’s new to keeping a dog, then this guide might be of interest to you. As soon as they enter your home, things tend to change forever, so knowing how to handle these new living arrangements can be handy.
Dogs are great because they provide you with unconditional love and loyal companionship, but of course they also come with some downsides, like maintenance, barking, and sometimes bad behaviour. Whether you’re adopting a new puppy or taking on an older dog from a shelter, this post is for you.
Preparing Your Home
The first step, of course, is to prepare your home when your furry friend arrives. You’ll need to prepare the environment for them. Dogs and puppies, especially younger rescue ones, tend to be quite curious, so you’ll need to make sure everything they can chew, bite, or scratch is out of the way.
Ideally, you want to dog-proof your home, just like you might baby-proof it if you’re expecting a new baby. Get down on their level and see what your home looks like from a dog’s-eye view. If there are power cords, sockets, and outlets everywhere, that’s a sign you need to shift things around.
Sometimes you can do this by moving furniture in front of them, but it can be useful to get dog-specific products, especially when it comes to sockets and wiring. Placing them higher up the wall or out of the way is usually the best option.
You might also want to get a gate if there are certain areas of your property that are going to be too difficult to dog-proof. These gates can prevent dogs from getting through and causing havoc.
Ideally, you want a yard or an outdoor area where your dog can spend some of its time during the day. If they are cooped up in the house all the time, they are much more likely to behave badly and cause damage, especially if they are a rescue dog or one that has been in a shelter for a while.
Lastly, you want to think about the collar and the essential supplies that you might need. Collars should have an ID tag, and you want a 6-foot leash. Stainless steel food and water bottles are also nice, as are two toys and grooming tools.
Consider Your Schedule
The next step of owning a dog is to think about your schedule. Dogs, a bit like people, require attention and looking after, so you want to think about how you’re going to deal with that.
If you are out at work all day, then you might want to consider options like dog daycare. These prevent your dog being left at your home all day long without anybody to look after them, preventing anxiety. Dog daycare can be a lot of fun because dogs are supported by people who really love animals and pets. They can be around other dogs, which helps to socialise them as well.
You should also think about whether you have time to take them for walks in the evenings or on weekends. If you’re currently working a job and have two side hustles on the run, then you probably don’t have time to take care of your pet as well as you might want to.
Consider Diet and Nutrition
When it comes to health, diet and nutrition are the absolute cornerstone for healthy dogs. Ideally, you want a dog with healthy digestion so you don’t have to clean up mess every morning from their pooping areas.
Unfortunately, dietary needs can vary significantly between dog breeds, so you’ll have to research what type of diet your particular dog will thrive on the most. Provide senior dogs with a lower-calorie diet, and give all dogs a mix of dry and wet food where possible. Be sure to be consistent in your feeding routine. Consistency is the key to building trust with dogs and making them feel safe and secure. It also prevents them from begging for food at other times. If you can avoid it, don’t feed them food from the table, as it can instil bad habits.
Exercise Them as Much as Possible
The amount of exercise your dog requires depends on their breed and size. Larger dogs, like German Shepherds, require around two hours of physical activity per day in order to be at their best. Smaller breeds don’t need as much as that, and they may be more docile anyway.
If you haven’t got a fenced yard for your dog to run around in, consider taking them to local dog parks. If you don’t have time to do that, you can hire dog walkers, as we recommended earlier. The more exercise your dog gets, the less likely they are to engage in destructive behaviours like digging, chewing, and barking.
Understand Hygiene and Grooming Essentials
Hygiene and grooming are essential for dogs, just as they are for people. Grooming is more than aesthetics. It’s actually vital to dogs’ health because fur covers the vast majority of their bodies.
Depending on your dog’s breed, their fur may need daily or weekly brushing. Always research this in advance of bringing them home. If you don’t do this, it can lead to painful matting and lice. If possible, give them professional grooming every few months.
When it comes to teeth, periodontal disease is a major risk factor for dogs. Rotting around the gum can lead to extreme pain and tooth loss. Therefore, make sure you use a canine toothbrush and toothpaste on them regularly.
Give Them Mental Games
Lastly, you want to give your dog some mental games to keep their minds active. Dogs aren’t as smart as people, obviously, but they still have a high level of intelligence, and they need some sort of diversion. Dogs quickly get bored, and when they are bored, they often find ways to entertain themselves that you won’t like.
A standard stuffed toy and a rubber chicken are a good idea, although it’s also nice to get specialist toys that have treats like peanut butter inside to keep them entertained. Training sessions can also be a good way to keep your dog’s mind active, but limit these to around 15 minutes per session. More than that can cause fatigue and exhaustion, which can ironically lead to even worse behaviour.
