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New puppy?
Learn how to
prepare your
home for a
furry friend
(ARA) -
Anyone who's
welcomed a
new pet into
the home can
tell you how
important it
is to
prepare for
that
four-legged
friend.
Whether it's
moving
furniture to
accommodate
a dog cage
or learning
to host a
puppy
play-date
with the
bulldog next
door,
becoming a
pet owner
can be a
definite
learning
process.
When
getting your
family and
your home
ready to
welcome a
furry
friend, a
few simple
steps can go
a long way:
 *
While your
new pet is
getting used
to his/her
surroundings,
it's a good
idea to keep
them in a
defined area
of the
house. Baby
gates are
perfect for
closing off
an area in
your house
and
designating
it as the
"puppy
area."
Having a
small rug in
your puppy's
play area
will not
only protect
your floors,
but also
protect your
dog from
sliding and
potentially
getting
hurt. Think
twice about
what
furniture is
included in
your puppy
area - the
more excited
they get,
the clumsier
they get.
* Keeping
cleaning
supplies on
hand will be
your
greatest
ally. The
Swiffer
Sweeper with
new Wet
Mopping
Cloths are
great for
wiping up
pet
"mistakes"
and dirt
that they
might track
in the
house.
* Don't
forget to
brush your
new furry
friends.
Brushing
your pet
regularly
and
frequently
helps to
keep his/her
coat in
check,
especially
if they are
going
through
seasonal
shedding.
Brushing
stimulates
the skin to
keep it
naturally
moisturized,
which can
cut back on
dander. If
possible,
brush your
pet outside
to avoid
spreading
pet hair in
the house.
*Get down
to your
pet's level,
on your
hands and
knees, to
see what he
could get
into. Dogs
love chew
toys, so
don't entice
them with a
ball of
wires from
your stereo
system.
Zip-tie the
cords
together so
they stay
neat and
tucked
behind
furniture.
Also, cord
covers are a
great idea
for those
extension
cords
running
along the
floor.
Certain
types of
floor plants
can be
poisonous if
ingested, so
be sure to
move them up
and out of
the way.
* Pets,
especially
puppies,
need to
expel excess
energy by
playing with
others just
as much as
children do.
When hosting
a puppy
play-date,
keep collars
on both
dogs. If you
need to grab
one of the
dogs in a
hurry, you
want to be
sure you
have
something to
take hold
of. Also,
when
inviting a
four-legged
friend over
to your
home, have
the dogs
meet
outside.
This way,
your pup
won't feel
threatened
in his own
territory.
It's no
secret that
having a pet
can benefit
a family,
but making
certain that
you and your
home are
prepared to
welcome a
four-legged
friend will
also benefit
you. Taking
a few simple
precautions
and making
the effort
to keep your
home
pet-friendly
will make
the
transition
easy.
Courtesy of
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