Are you ready to bring your rescue dog home? If you haven’t brought your new foster dog home yet, here are 4 things you should do before bringing any new dog home? Just like if you were bringing home a new baby, your house needs to be safe for your new dog. Oh yeah, dogs are cute and cuddly, but they can be packed full of trouble.
- Dogs are constantly looking for things to test with their mouths, sniffing out the best-tasting shoe, figuring out what all those wires are hanging just waiting for someone to play with. Pick up small items a dog may find enticing to chew, gate off areas of the home you don’t want the dog to have access to. Dogs are curious, just like a baby, they use their mouths to explore.
- Walkthrough your yard and make sure the fence is in good shape with no areas the dog may squeeze or dig under the fence. Check the gates to make sure they are closed and latched. Ensure any fertilizers, bug sprays or other chemicals are stowed away.
- Purchase a crate and set it up in a quiet place, such as your bedroom. A crate will give your dog a safe place to decompress. The crate must be large enough for the dog to stand up and turn around comfortably. If you have a large dog maybe use a hexpen or baby gate to make a quiet area for them to rest.
- Purchase necessities such as food, food/water bowls, collar, leash, and ID tag. Of course, a few toys and a bone would be nice too.