I highly recommend that you dog-proof your home as I call it. Remember dogs are dependents, they do depend on you to teach them. Dogs can also have a side to them that is unpredictable. For instance, cats are curious by nature, and so can dogs. Here are some suggestions:
Table of Contents
Making Your Home Safe And Supplies For Your New Dog
First Chemicals and cleaning products including candy and chocolates should be kept away from their reach.
If you have blinds, just like you would children modify them so there is nothing that can be a choking hazard.
As for your furniture, they may have muddy paws, sometimes they can chew and scratch things. Make sure you have lots of distraction toys or chew toys to prevent this. You can also purchase a mud mat from any local pet store.
If you have young children, try to keep the toys out of reach from your dog. Chocking can happen very easily or other damage, that can result not only in high vet bills but worse, death.
Safe Space
Prepare your yard. Make sure that the yard is secure with a fence big enough that it will not jump. You can use chicken wire on the ground under the fence to prevent digging and escape. Some dogs do like to run outside as soon as the door is open.
Picking Up Dog Supplies
Leash or a Harness – A harness with a front and back hook is always best to use. Make sure you have these options. We chose one with a clip in front as well as a breakaway collar. Here is our recommendation:
Collar – Breakaway collars are much safer to buy when deciding on a good collar.
Nail trimmer or Nail Dremel and other grooming supplies. Including shampoo and toothpaste. For Instance, you can buy toothpaste that you do not need to brush their teeth. Check at any local pet store or Amazon on the link below.
Crate – if your crate training your dog, sometimes you can use a crate and just leave the door open. Some rescues find this comforting when settling in, However, others may want to jump in bed with you.
Bed – You may want to consider an orthopedic bed for a larger or older dog.
Food
When adopting a dog I suggest keeping them on the same food. If you decide to switch you need to wean them off the food slowly. Please see my other article on how to change your dog’s food without causing diarrhea. You will want to wean them slowly. It does take a week for them to adjust. You will need some training treats as an incentive on learning the new boundaries.
And my dog absolutely loves them!
Food Dishes- Make sure they are safe for use. I highly recommend stainless steel. I don’t recommend any plastic dishes or cheap ones that may have lead in them. Here is one we chose for our dog.
Healthcare/Pet Insurance – I would consider getting insurance. You can check out my reviews page and see what people have to say and their experiences. When you rescue a dog. You usually will have 30 days of pet insurance. It’s up to you to continue investing in insurance.
Toys- From experience, I would suggest getting some puzzle toys. These will keep your dog busy and feel like they are earning its treats. If your new dog may eat too fast. These toys release treats or food slowly. I highly recommend these.
Consider a Trainer
Additional training and basic care are important as well. You need to give your dog repetition and consistency. This will make your dog trust you and feel secure. To build confidence. You must set boundaries. Regular training is an excellent way to build a great relationship and a well-mannered dog. This is the trainer we use in our area. Refined Canine is fantastic. They have an extensive background with rescue dogs. I would highly recommend her!
Do What Works for You
I trained our rescue everything in 2 weeks. Jasmine was a very fast learner. She really wanted to learn new tricks those first few weeks. It helped her through the transition to a new life and made her the most amazing dog.
Here are some of the products I highly recommend purchasing beforehand—the ones I mentioned in this article.
