Did you see an Australian Shepherd picture on the internet and fall in love with it? Do you want to start caring for him as soon as possible? Read these tips before bringing a new dog home.
If you decided to take an Australian Shepherd from the shelter, you may not know the history of his previous life. So ask the shelter staff about him. Of course, they may not know much about the dog‘s past. Animals enter shelters for a variety of reasons: they may have been homeless, and their owners may have refused them when they moved elsewhere.
The living conditions that a dog had to experienced in the past can have an impact on how he interacts with people. So, you have to get as much information as possible before bringing a new pet to your family. The dog can be scared of people and was not properly trained or socialized, that‘s why it is important to know how to prepare properly. In this article we will share some tips how to prepare your home for a new dog an an important change for your family.
How To Prepare Your Home For an Australian Shepherd?
Pets are living beings that need water, food, adequate space and living conditions. When purchasing a new pet and before bringing it home, we need to make sure that the conditions in our home are suitable for keeping the pet. As well, everyone living in the home should be ready to take care of the animal. Before bringing a purchased or sheltered animal, you must prepare will all the necessary items for its general care and needs.
However, first check that your environment, that is the house and yard are suitable for it:
- Home inspection according to the puppy’s needs;
- You should install a gate for children at the bottom and top of the stairs to prevent the puppy or older dog from accidentally falling or entering areas of the house where the dog should not be;
- A properly sized dog cage is not only a good way to give your new dog a safe shelter, but also to protect him from potential dangers when you can’t take care of him;
- Do not use or remove toxic items from the house, including plants that could harm him, strong chemical cleaners;
- Keep the door of the oven, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, dryer and washing machine closed. Small puppies can sneak into the weirdest places and often can’t resist a warm dryer.
- An energetic puppy can slip, fall and be injured very easily when moving around the house. Identify places where the dog may accelerate and lay a non-slip surface or carpet on any place or hardwood floor, where the dog could slip.
- Put all stretched wires behind the furniture, as the puppy may want to chew on them very much. If this is not possible, you can buy thick wire protection in many household goods stores and cover the wires with it.
- Buy plenty of chew toys to keep your puppy from biting the legs of chairs, or electrical equipment. Bored dogs can come up with a variety of activities, especially when they are left home alone!
- Get used to keeping the toilet lid closed – some dogs just can’t resist to taste what’s inside the toilet.
Yard Inspection According To the Needs of the Puppy
The yard must be a safe place where the dog can run freely and have no opportunity to escape. It is important to make sure that the yard is safe for the dog before bringing the new dog or puppy home.
Here are some things to think about:
- Make sure the fence is high enough to hold an energetic dog. Inspect for cracks through which the dog could pass, make sure the fence elements are well let into the ground and the dog does not fall through them, and they must be strong enough to withstand the jumping dog.
- Immediately fill in the cracks through which the dog could get through. You can direct unwanted digging by offering a pit of sand or dirt for dogs who always wants to dig.
- Some dogs love to root out flowers and other plants, so if you love gardening, you may need to fence off your previous flowers.
- Dogs should grow in a dog-friendly garden, it means that in the yard should not be any plants that could risk of poisoning or skin irritation. The most common plants that should be avoided or not grown in the garden as they can cause irritation or poisoning: lilies, azaleas, daffodils, turnips, yew and hydrangeas. If the dog eats a poisonous plant, go straight to the veterinarian and, if possible, take sample of the plant.
- Ladders and other things that your dog might think of climbing on, should be taken away. As well, if you have pool or hot tub, it is better to fence or cover them when not in use.
- If your dog spends part of the day or night in the yard, provide him with a wind and waterproof shelter. It will also provide sun protection on hot days. If the temperature rises or falls abnormally, let the dog into the house, even if the dog usually lives outdoors.
- Make sure your Australian Shepherd does not get into the garage, as many car care products, such as antifreeze, can severely harm him.
- If there is a gate in the yard, remind everyone that it is important to close it. Also, you can install self-closing devices, but set them so that they close gently and do not risk trapping the dog.
Final Thoughts
There are many things to do in preparation for the arrival of a new puppy, and it will take a long time to prepare the house and yard for it. Even if you got an adult dog, you still need to think about the dangers in the home and make sure the home and yard are safe and suitable for the dog.