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Here’s the Deal: Getting Your Home Ready For Your New Dog

Tips on preparing your home for dog hood, and how to choose the right vet

By Cash & CloverPublished 3 years ago 4 min read
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Getting Your Home Ready for Your New Dog

By Sarah Elizabeth

So you’re thinking about getting a new dog…

You’ve narrowed it down to a few choices of breed….

Now what?! There’s still so much to consider, from prepping your home to choosing a vet for your new or soon-to-be pup. Here we will give you the down-low on everything you need to know about bringing your dog home.

Prepping the Home

First thing’s first…. You’ll need to take a good look around your house to see what needs to be dog-proofed. Will you be getting a puppy, or an older dog? Do you have nice furniture in a particular room and you’d like your new fur baby to stay off it? As we mentioned in our last blog, you may want to consider pet gates in your home.

Put yourself in your dog’s shoes…

…..What is going to be within their reach? Will they want to chew up those dangling electrical cords? Tear up the tasseled rug? Gnaw on your favorite pair of shoes? Sneak food out of the trash can? Here are some common household areas new dog owners miss when dog proofing their home.

The next thing to consider is where you will dedicate a space for your dog. This includes where they will eat or get a drink of water, sleep - both napping during the day and sleeping at night - or play. Will you put your dog in a crate during the day or the night? Depending on their breed and your daytime schedule, you may need to consider a crate to avoid destruction in the house while you’re away or sleeping. Consider their breed also when finding toys to play with, to include variety and durability. Our collection of dog toys can be found on our All the Best Dog Toys Pinterest board.

Think about whether or not you’ll need a pup sitter, doggie daycare, or dog walker to give your dog potty breaks and attention during the day. Your dog’s needs will be different based on their breed, and your evolving work schedule may require you to be away from the home for extended periods of time.

Another area to review is your plants - what house or backyard plants do you have that might be harmful to your dog? According to Rover.com, the most common house plants toxic to dogs include aloe vera, ivy, elephant ear, and bird of paradise, or backyard plants include iris, tulip, hydrangea, and yarrow. Your dog ingesting any or too much of the wrong plant can cause issues ranging from an upset tummy for your pooch, to a skin irritation, or even as serious as a swollen airway.

Prepare the Family

You should certainly make it a priority to sit down with your family and discuss what the new dog will change for your family, what sacrifices may need to be made, and what is everyone’s responsibilities with your pup? Here is a list of responsibilities based on each member’s age.

You should anticipate how your other animals in the house will react to a new friend in the home, and make accommodations to help them cope and get acclimated to the family's addition.

Choosing a Vet

Lastly, you will need to select a veterinarian for your new pupper. This person will need to be someone you trust with your dog’s care. Get recommendations from friends and others in your community, but more importantly, choose a vet with similar viewpoints as you. Prepare a list of areas of importance to you, and bring it along when you meet with your vet the first time. For some ideas, here is a great checklist for bringing home your new dog.

Once you’ve chosen a vet, you will want to bring your pup into their office within a few days of your dog’s house warming. Based on their age, history, health, breed, or other factors the vet will make a health care plan for your fur baby. This may include vaccinations, deworming, heartworm treatment, dental care, and regular check ups.

Are You Ready?

If you have gone through all of the important decisions, you might be ready to bring home a new fur baby for you and your family. We can’t wait to see which special pup captures your heart; come join us Cash & Clover and share a picture and story about your fur family member!

This post was written by Sarah of Cash & Clover.

Cash & Clover is a subscription box for dogs and their humans to enjoy together. Get a monthly box of gifts for everyone in the family, furry or otherwise, and give back with a donation. We provide matching donations from our customers to Mac’s Mission, a 501(c)(3) charity specializing in homeless "janky"dogs in crisis, neonatal puppies, and dogs with cleft palates.

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About the Creator

Cash & Clover

Cash & Clover is a subscription box for dogs and their humans. We match donations to Mac‘s Mission, a nonprofit dedicated to special needs & “janky” dogs, and partner with small artisans to curate boxes designed for the whole family.

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