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Surviving Your New Arrival

You’ve been thinking about it for ages, you’ve dreamed, you’ve researched, you’ve scoured the adoption sites, and now you’ve gone and done it – you’ve got that new dog or puppy! It’s so exciting, you can’t wait to introduce it to your husband, wife, children, or best friend, and give it the life all dogs deserve. Then suddenly you’re home, the dog’s peed on the carpet, the puppy’s cried all night, and your other dogs are jealous. What started out as an emotional high can very quickly become a practical low. It can be a very trying time. But it doesn’t have to be if you’re prepared.

So what kind of things do you need to ensure success and keep everyone happy? Housetraining is the number one problem with new dogs, and may be necessary for older ones as well as puppies. There are many products to help here including crates, potty pads, gates, and stain and odor removers: you’ll probably need all of them! Be consistent with your training, and try putting a new arrival in a crate if you have to go out. Dogs hate to use the bathroom where they sleep, so a crate forces them to hold it for longer. They form a great den, too, in which the dog feels safe and cozy. This is especially good at night if you don’t want them in your bed! Fill it with a nice blanket- you can give them soft toys if it’s a puppy, but only when you’re able to observe them! To start with, if you have to be out for more than four hours or so, you’ll need to get someone to look in on them and let them out to potty. If you use pee pads, or the new indoor “toilets”, your dogs can be left for longer but won’t be as well trained. Enzyme sprays eat up the odor and stain-producing bacteria in your dog’s waste, so if they do have an accident it’s not the end of the world.

If the dog is young enough to still be in its chewing stage, chew toys and repellent sprays for furniture are a must-have. If you aren’t there to supervise them, always crate young dogs. Not only will they destroy your belongings, they could also hurt themselves. Puppy pens also confine pets, and double up as safe play areas outside if your yard isn’t fenced. Dog gates can seal off decks to make another secure spot.

Mostly you’ll just need lots of love and patience, and remember to give plenty of all that to the pets you already have. Jealousy can lead to fights, and no one wants that. Throw in a couple of new bowls for food and water, some great treats and toys, the best natural food you can afford, a fancy new collar and leash, and you have the perfect recipe for pooch paradise.