Preparing Your Home for a New Dog - Top Guide

Do you have new dog joining your household, are you excited to become a new petowner? Read on to find out about the best tips for preparing your home for a new dog. With description of how to prepare your home and what equipment is essential before you bring your dog home, read our article to learn more.

How To Prepare Your Home and Yourself For A New Dog

There are several key steps to preparing your home for a new dog

Photo by Berkay Gumustekin

Getting a new dog is a wonderful and exciting experience. However, if this is your first time welcoming a dog into your home, you may not know how to set it up to keep them safe and comfortable. Here are a few tips for preparing your home for a new dog, whether this is a young puppy or more mature furry friend.

Remove/Move Ground-Level Items

The first thing you should do is remove any ground-level items that could get damaged. Whether it be carpets, lamps, small chairs, etc, it is important to get them out the way for the first few weeks. If you have high-quality items such as indoor rugs, and you want to still enjoy them, simply move them to a different part of the house.

Whether you are adopting a puppy or an older dog, they may not be house-trained, or they could be incredibly stressed, meaning these items will be the first to get damaged as the dog will need something to destress with.

Remove Breakables

Next, you need to remove or move all of your breakables, such as sculptures, pictures, etc, that are placed on counters or tables. Your new dog will be filled with energy and unaware of their new surroundings, and there will be many times when they bump into tables or something similar.

This also applies to big breed puppies such as Great Danes, as, when they grow, it may take them a bit of time to adjust to their larger size and flailing limbs.

Secure Your Doors & Windows

This is a simple one, but be sure to double-check all your doors and windows and ensure they can’t be easily pushed open. Bigger dogs will easily have enough strength to open up a door that wasn’t closed properly, or accidentally pull down a door handle in their excitement.

Secure Your Garden

If you have a garden, walk around the perimeter and ensure there are no gaps in the wall or fence, as a new dog will easily find this and make a run for it. If you have the money and resources, there is another step you can take, too.

Reinforcing the bottom part of your wall or fence is a great idea, especially if this reinforcement has its base lower than ground level, as this will stop a dog from digging holes underneath the barrier.

Additionally, consider setting up a dog poop bucket for easy cleanup and to keep your garden tidy.

small puppy running on grass — An essential step in preparing your home for a new dog is ensuring your outdoor space is enclosed and safe

Photo by Joe Caione

Stock Up on Supplies

Once your home is prepared, it is time to stock up on supplies. For both puppies and older dogs, a toilet mat should be at the top of your list, as well as food and water bowls, and, of course, a bed or blanket for them to sleep on.

If you are getting an older dog, one that is very tall, or one with mobility issues, it may be best to get a food and water bowl stand, as this will allow them to eat and drink standing upright instead of having to bend over the entire time.

Prepare Their Area

You also need to prepare the area where your new dog will sleep and spend a lot of their time. For an older dog, a bed and blanket is typically enough, but for a puppy, a couple of extra precautions should be taken.

If possible, an indoor puppy fence is a great idea, as this will stop them from getting into trouble while you are asleep, and will also help to train them into knowing where their bed is and where they spend the night.

Safety Check

Another safety check that needs to be done is regarding electrical cords and harmful liquids. Remove or secure all of your electrical cables, and pay special attention to the ones a puppy can reach, as these will be their first chewing targets.

Don’t leave any harmful cleaners or liquids at dog-level, especially puppies, as almost anything new will quickly turn into something they want to chew or play with.

Have an “Away From Home” Area

A new dog can become very anxious when you leave the house, and therefore, you need somewhere comfortable and secure for them to spend their time when you are not there. There are a couple of routes you can take with this when preparing your home for a new dog.

An older dog will typically be fine with just what they have already, such as access to their bed or the garden, but a puppy should be placed within their puppy fence, or in a secure room. While on the surface, this may seem a bit “mean,” you must always remember that it is for their own safety.

dog sleeping on blanket — Make sure there is a dedicated area for your pet to rest when preparing your home for a new dog

Photo by Joshua Chun

Older Dogs

If you are getting an older dog, you need to be aware of the unique challenges you may face. If they have incontinence issues, for example, you should have an area inside where they are able to go to the bathroom if they can’t get to the garden or outdoor toilet area in time.

They may also suffer with mobility issues, meaning everything they use or would want to use is easily accessible. For example, if you have stairs to reach your garden, a mini ramp is easier to climb up for an older dog.

Another issue to consider when preparing your home for a new dog, is that slick tiles, vinyl, or wood can be difficult to walk on for older dogs. Therefore, it is best to either keep them out of those areas, or purchase a couple of carpets to put down if they have to move in between the rooms with this type of flooring.

Final Thoughts on Preparing Your Home for a New Dog

Whether you are preparing your home for a new dog for the first time or as an experienced pet owner it is good to prepare in earnest. Consider the age of your new pet, is this a puppy or a more mature animal? Their needs will be slightly different and you should be ready for that.

Is your home ready for the arrival of an energetic four legged furry friend? What about your outdoor areas, re they safe and fenced in to ensure your pet doesn’t run into road accidentally?

Finally, consider the equipment you will need in your home to accommodate your new pet. Once you have been through out checklist you will be well on the way to preparing your home for a new dog. Now go collect your pet