Bringing a puppy home for the first time can be an exciting experience. As the little fur ball nuzzles against you and you hold it’s trembling body, the happiness you feel is on a whole new level of awesomeness. The love from a dog is like no other. If you have kids around, or even if you stay by yourself, a dog can really add to the happiness quotient of your home. True, you will want to play with it as much as you can, show it around the house and click endless selfies to upload to your social media account for all your friends’ approvals. However, once you’re done with the introductions and sloppy kisses from the cute canine, it’s time to get down to business. Here are some tips on what needs to be done as soon as you get your pet home for the first time:

  • Rule 1 is potty training. Your pet will get all the time in the world to explore its surroundings, once it gets used to the environment. All the puppy care books insist that getting your pet familiar with the space they are allowed to do their business, they can then comfortably mark their territory wherever they want. For an animal, the spot they choose depends on their sense of smell – they will go around hunting for the location that is most familiar to them and that smells of well, their urine and stool. Once they nose the location, they will want to do it there again and again. Here’s the best tip: keep your puppy on some newspaper and wait for them to unload. Then, take a piece of the soiled newspaper and place it in the location that you will want them to go to every time, be it the bathroom or the yard. Potty training is key, and if you want your house to smell fresh, this is what you will need to do.
  • Rule 2 is to de-worm and de-flea your pet. They may have been bred on a farm or in a shelter, but one quick trip to the vet can do wonders. Ticks and fleas can cause itchiness and diseases for your dog, not to mention that they will infest your house as well. What you want to do is to first physically check them for ticks and then apply anti-tick powder or invest in a medicinal collar. This prevents pests from taking up residence within the soft fur of your pet, or worse still, hide in the cushions of your couch. Depending on what breed you have chosen, ask your vet for a complete check up and advise on the type of food and vitamins your pet will need. The Internet can only do so much to provide tips, but your pet will need special treatment.
Image Source: notjustanimals.com
  • Rule 3 is to create a schedule for your pet. Maybe it was used to being awake at night and eating once or twice a day. With a fixed regimen, you can ensure that it doesn’t feel scared about when the next meal will happen or when the next round for relieving itself will occur. If it knows that breakfast and a walk happen in the morning and again in the evening, it will adjust accordingly and not whine or feel neglected in between. This also helps with it not feeling abandoned during the day or agitated when it can’t go for a walk. With a schedule, you won’t find puddles around the house in a desperate attempt by your pet to get going because it doesn’t know when it will be let out next.
  • Rule 4 comes with instructions. As in, you setting rules for your pet. This is your home, you are the boss and your pet needs to know that from day one. You know how you hate it when you go to someone’s house, and the pet, though cute, starts getting boisterous and acting like they own the place? You don’t want that to happen. If you want your pet in bed with you, go ahead and allow it. But if it is supposed to sleep on it’s own cushion, then set that rule. Also, other things like jumping on the couch, barking at outsiders, chewing the furniture, etc. need to be off limits. If your pet doesn’t follow you, there’s always puppy school. You may want to pamper your pet, no doubt, but you don’t want them to be misbehaved in the bargain. Set limits and watch them follow.