Planning to help a friendly or family member dog sit for a while? Interested in owning a dog yourself for all of the positive health benefits it can offer? Whatever your reasons for bringing a dog into your home, we’ve put together a brief and helpful guide on how you can get your home ready for a dog.
Let everyone in the house know
First thing’s first; let people know! Let your family members or roommates know that you plan to bring home a dog even if it’s just temporarily. Make sure people let you know if they have allergies and also make sure everyone is accepting of the idea.
Get your dog a bed
Make sure you purchase a dog bed that is suitable for the size of your dog. This will give them plenty of comfortable space to move around when they sleep. There are many different types of dog beds, such as flat ones or ones with raised edges. You generally want to focus on the size and the materials to ensure it’s comfortable and easy to clean.
Pick a quiet corner of your home for your dog
Your dog’s first few days in your home will be hectic, so make sure you’ve prepared a quiet corner of your home for your dog. You’ll ideally want to put their bed there along with any toys that you’ve also purchased.
Make sure you’ve prepared a leash
You’ll need to get used to taking your dog outside, so make sure you’ve prepared a leash.
Stock up on food
When buying food, take a look at some of the best dry dog food options and also consider buying wet food as well to see what your dog prefers. With dry food, you’ll want to ensure that you keep a water bowl topped up next to the food so that your dog can hydrate themselves.
Purchase necessary supplies
There are many different supplies that you should be purchasing, so we’ve made a brief list to make it easier for you:
- Grooming products like a brush, nail clippers, shampoo
- Dog treats
- Bags for dog poo
- Dental hygiene such as a brush and toothpaste
- Any training products
Don’t overdo it with toys
Buy a handful of toys at most and see which ones your dog prefers before splashing out on expensive gadgets for them.
Search for a local veterinarian
Make sure you’ve found and contacted a local veterinarian so you know who to speak to and where to go should you encounter a problem.
Make a lot of space for your dog
Dogs need a lot of space to move around, so make sure there’s plenty of space in your home and try to put away anything that’s valuable so that your dog doesn’t chew or accidentally bump into it.
Don’t neglect the paperwork
There’s likely going to be a bit of paperwork involved if you adopt a dog from a shelter, so don’t neglect your responsibilities here and make sure you do all of the necessary paperwork and keep it safely stored away.
