Welcoming a dog into your home is a lovely thing to do, but it will take a little bit of work to get right. There is a lot more that goes into bringing a dog home than putting a ribbon around their collar and presenting them to your family.
But if it is done right, you will have a loyal and loving furry friend for life, just a little care is needed to make sure they feel comfortable and that you can handle the responsibility of owning a dog. Read on for our guide on bringing a dog home.
Prep your home
It’s possible that your new pup will feel a little anxious when they first arrive in your home. They are in a new space with new people and will need time to adjust. If you are bringing home a rescue, this might outright scare them, and you might have to keep them in the crate for a few nights to help them sleep. A rescue dog will feel comfortable in the confined space as that is what they are used to, so make sure you have one handy. A good tip to avoid separation anxiety is to give them a jumper that smells of you. Put it in their bed or crate to let them know that you’re nearby.
Do some research on the size and breed of your dog before you go out to buy their food. Different sizes need different amounts of food, and dogs aren’t great at portion control. Feeding them might take some trial and error, so remember to switch up their food if you see that the brand you’re giving them is upsetting their stomach.
Look over your finances
It’s best to adopt a rescue dog but sadly not everyone is able to. If you are not looking for a rescue, the initial price of a dog can be in the hundreds, taking a lot of money out of your pockets before you’ve even addressed caring for it. There are perks to both sides. Buying a dog means you are guaranteed a certain temperament or range of specifications that fit your lifestyle, like living in an apartment or with kids, but getting a rescue dog can offer a lonely pup a new home.
Once you’ve got your dog, look over your monthly finances. There is the food to think about, but also pet insurance. Insurance like Petsure insurance will cover all your vet bills, including treatments, so that you aren’t landed with a pricey bill if you need to stop by.
Those are the absolutely necessary bills to keeping a dog, but there is also grooming, doggy daycare, dog walkers or sitters, and other items like toothpaste and poo bags to think about.
Be patient
As mentioned above, your dog might feel a little anxious when they first get in your home. Different dogs will take different amounts of time to adjust to the home. Dogs are quick fall in love with you and your family in comparison to the human experience, but like anyone else, it’s not instantaneous and you can’t rush them.
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