6 Best Advice For New Dog Parents
If you’re a new dog parent, or considering getting a dog, congratulations – you’re in for unbelievable amounts of love, joy and companionship.
Owning a dog is a biggest responsibility and privilege. It’s important to do your research before you bring a new furry family member home.
However, as with anything worthwhile in life, being a pet parent of a dog comes with its own set of responsibilities too.
To help set you (and your new furry friend) up for success from the start, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best pieces of advice for new dog parents.
Trust us – this is one read you don’t want to skip!
Get To Know Your Dog – Spend Time Playing With Them, Learn Their Favorite Toys And Foods
You can learn a lot about your dog is by spending quality time with them, get creative with toys and treats, and learn their individual preferences.
Regular playtime helps strengthen the bond between you and your pup and can even lead to new discoveries about their personality.
For example, take a look at the toys they gravitate towards – do they tend to favor interactive or solo games? Are they more interested in plush items or those that make noise?
Keep an eye out for any favorite activities such as fetch or tag, too. Treats are another great way to reward good behavior while forming a bond – discover what flavors your pup likes best and offer healthy snacks.
As you spend more time together, you’ll get to know one another better.
Establish Rules And Boundaries From The Start – Define Acceptable And Unacceptable Behaviors
Establishing rules and boundaries from the start of any endeavor is an essential step to success.
Even though it can be uncomfortable to identify certain behaviors that should not be tolerated, outlining what is considered appropriate behavior will make everyone involved more comfortable and capable of achieving their goals.
Setting ground rules helps define expectations, builds respect, provides safety nets for all parties, and eliminates confusion and misunderstanding surrounding expectations.
All of these elements create a more organized environment which results in increased productivity, improved relationships and better outcomes for all.
Crate Train Your Dog – This Will Help With Potty Training And Keep Them Safe When You’re Not Home
It is possible to crate train your dog in a safe and efficient way to help them understand house rules, such as not destroying furniture or being too rambunctious.
Thinking about their safety and comfort when you aren’t home is important for any pet parent and crate training makes it easy to keep them secure without causing anxiety.
Not only does it provide a safe space for your pet, but it also assists with potty training by giving them a designated den where they won’t want to soil the area.
With enough consistency, patience and positive reinforcement, your pup will learn to love their crate in no time!
Socialize Your Dog – Introduce Them To Other People And Animals So They Can Learn How To Interact Properly
Socializing your dog is an indispensable part of ensuring their health and well-being. When done properly, it ensures that your dog knows how to interact positively with other animals and humans.
A good way to start the process is by slowly introducing them to other people and animals in a calm, stress-free environment.
It’s important to pay attention to their behavior so you can tell when they’re feeling threatened or overwhelmed, and intervene if necessary.
By making sure they stay calm and comfortable, you’ll be helping them learn the proper behaviors for interacting safely with others.
Exercise Your Dog Regularly – Walks, Runs, Fetch, Etc. To Tire Them Out Both Mentally And Physically
Take time to exercise your dog regularly. It’s important to do more than just walking to tire them out both mentally and physically.
Enrichment activities such as running, playing fetch, agility activities or anything else that engages their minds can be greatly beneficial.
Dogs enjoy not only physical exercise but mental stimulation too, keeping their brains engaged while expending excess energy – high reward activities are recommended!
When you consistently engage them in activities they will continue to learn and look forward to daily challenges.
Investing the time into exercising your pup will build strong relationships as well as keep them healthy and happy.
Be Consistent With Commands And Rewards – This Will Help Your Dog Understand What You Expect Of Them
Consistency with commands and rewards is an essential component of successful training for your pet.
By using the same words and tone to give a command and the same reward every single time, you can help your pup better understand what expectation you have of them.
Not only will this repetition help reinforce their learning of a skill, but it will also create a clear understanding between you and your dog that obedience is rewarded and disobedience will not be tolerated.
Consistency in the words used, intonation and treats given goes a long way towards reinforcing desired behaviors.