Having a new dog in your family can be an exhilarating experience; however, without proper care, sharing a home with these fluffy companions can be quite exhausting. It is no secret that dogs are considered by many to be “Man’s best friend,” but there are several things you need to consider to make this relationship blossom into a genuine friendship. Dogs need a lot of attention and care right from the start, it is a huge responsibility to take care of them, but this doesn’t mean that taking good care of them has to become a chore, as you can enjoy taking good care of your new friend. Dogs can be very different from each other even dogs of the same breed have unique personalities and react to uniquely to different situations.
When living with a new dog, having enough discipline and patience is key, even more so when they are young pups. Dogs can sometimes do stuff we consider bothersome or displeasing, (i.e., doing their business on the carpet, or gnawing on that new pair of sandals), because of this, dogs need to discipline and rules. Remember, there is a line between genuinely disciplining a dog and being harsh or downright mean to them.
Dogs have a lot of energy, and they often need to release all of that steam by playing or running around. Because of this, you should learn to have a routine you can both enjoy, taking them out for a walk every day at the same time, or settling on a certain time of the day to play with them can help a lot, they’ll be more willing to follow these activities with enough time. Some dogs will develop habits when they have a set schedule. When your dog gets used to a certain action at the same time every day, you will notice these habits. For example, a dog that is consistently taken out for walks during the afternoon will probably sit by the door at about this time of the day, ready and willing to follow the schedule.
Dogs also enjoy relaxing after spending all of their energy, so make sure they have enough to eat and drink. A dog’s health is also very important; some dog breeds are more vulnerable to certain diseases and medical conditions than others, so you’ll want to keep their vaccines up to date while also having regular medical check-ups, this way you’ll be able to keep your dog healthy and full of energy.
Another way of keeping a new dog happy is letting them interact with other dogs. Having dogs play or just letting them sit around together can significantly improve their mood and disposition. But at times, dogs need their own time. Some dogs can be quite reluctant to engage in these activities with other dogs or even people. This can happen if the dog is not used to a new place or person or could happen even more when a group of strangers surrounds them. For this reason, they may bark at new people or at other dogs who are curious. Shy dogs need to be treated carefully and with patience to build up their trust and confidence, but once they build up enough trust, they can be quite playful and calm.
Following these guidelines, you will be able to keep your dog happy, healthy, and comfortable in her/his new home, remember, having a dog requires a lot of patience, discipline, and lots of love and dedication.
