“Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished.” - Dean Koontz

Providing a loving home to a dog can be quite fulfilling. Whether you are bringing home a pup or a senior dog it is equally important to have some strategies in place to help them acclimate better to the new environment as well as the people and animals inhabiting it. The better the adjustment process the happier you new furry friend will be, and thus less likely interested in biting or chewing on things.

So here are several useful things you can do in order to make your new companion feel right at home.

Check to see if your home is pet-safe

Before you bring your new pet home you need to make sure that your house is pet safe. Here are a few things to consider. First, curious animals can at times eat things they shouldn’t, so try to eliminate the temptation. Keep you kids toys on high ground and check that all your electrical cords are safely tucked in. Secondly, make sure that you seal all possible escape routes. Everything from open windows to a loose fence can lead to you walking around the neighborhood in search of your new pet. Finally, hide the food. It is important to keep harmful food away from your dog. Things like chocolates, artificial snacks and certain types of fruit should not be left within your dog’s reach.

Give them some space

When you first bring the home let them explore freely the new environment. In addition, ask your family members to stay away and not immediately jump into petting mode. At first, your dog will feel a bit timid and out of place, but in time it will relax and start wagging its tail around. Make sure you have a space prepared for you new friend, it should be a corner in your living space that is equipped with food and water bowls, a place to rest their heads, you can consider the comfortable Snooza dog beds, as well as a couple of chew toys for it to play with. They will claim this space as their own and spend a lot of time just enjoying themselves there.

Make a formal introduction

Now that your dog is settled in it is time to give it a formal introduction to the family. Start with other animals that you already have at home, be especially careful with cats. If you have gotten a pup, their might be a chance that your cat won’t be too keen on playing with it, so make sure you keep an eye on the introduction process. On the other hand if you are bringing home an older dog, you should make sure it gets along both with other dogs and cats, just to avoid any unnecessary chaos. Finally when you are introducing your new family member to you kids, make sure they are gentle, and that they don't smother it with hugs and cuddles.

So there you have it, you are now ready to bring a new pet into your family. Dogs make for great companions and they bring a lot of joy into our lives, all they ask in return is for us to love them and feed them. By providing a warm home environment to your furry friend you will enable them to give you the best they have to offer. So, start enjoying the new chapter of your life with a trusted companion by your side.