you offer any follow-up services?
A breeder has no formal obligation to help new owners raise their puppies. You will be your puppy’s primary caregiver, after all. It isn’t uncommon, though, for breeders to want to be consulted if a new owner is having a problem. Often, the breeder can offer the best advice in these situations, and the best breeders will be more than happy to do it. A breeder friend of mine once told me that the saddest part about breeding is the owners she never hears from again. So if the breeder asks you to stay in touch, consider reaching out every so often, even if just to share that things are going well. A recent photo is often appreciated as well.
2: Preparing for Your New Dog
Whether you are a seasoned dog owner or you are completely new to canine companionship, taking your dog home for the first time is an exciting event. New dog owners may feel a bit overwhelmed by homecoming day, though. What if you forget an important item that your pet needs? What should you do if he gets sick or injured? What if your new dog slips out the door and gets away from you?
Fortunately, a little planning goes a long way when it comes to pet ownership. Perhaps you have picked out a puppy and are waiting for him to be old enough to come home with you, or maybe you are adopting a dog from a rescue group and need to pick him up in a few days from his foster home. In either case, you can use this waiting period to make sure that both you and your home are ready for your new arrival.
Equipment, Supplies, and Accessories
The sheer number of items that a dog needs is a big part of why pet ownership can seem overwhelming at first, but you will need to buy many of these things only once. Think of your dog’s crate, bowls, and grooming equipment as investments rather than expenses; they should last for many years. Certainly, consumable items like your dog’s food and shampoo will need replenishing periodically, but he probably won’t run out of everything at once.
Crate
You can help your dog feel right at home by having his crate all set up before he walks through the door for the first time. A crate—or kennel, as it is often called—is the perfect place for your pet to eat meals, take naps, and enjoy special treats. Using a crate can also help with housetraining because dogs are known for not wanting to soil the areas in which they rest.
Rigid plastic carriers with plenty of ventilation are the best choice for traveling with your dog.
Pet-supply retailers sell several different types of kennels. You can choose between hard plastic models, wire crates, soft-sided kennels, and even decorative pet enclosures that double as end tables. The exact type of kennel you need depends on certain factors. First, you must consider all the purposes that this item will serve. Do you plan to take your dog on trips with you? Airlines require rigid-sided pet carriers for safety purposes. These more resilient kennels are also a smart option for traveling by automobile. If your dog’s crate will remain in a fixed location, you might opt for a wire model. A wire crate offers a dog a special place of his own while simultaneously making it easy for him to see all of what’s going on around him. The more social your dog is, the more he may prefer a wire crate. You can always place a blanket or towel over the crate for privacy when needed. Another important consideration is your dog’s age. A puppy is much more likely than an adult dog to chew a crate made of plastic or one with cloth (usually canvas) or mesh sides.
A crate with soft bedding makes a comfortable den for your puppy or adult dog.
Place your dog’s kennel in a location that will allow him to rest without feeling too far away from the action of the household. A corner of the kitchen or living room is ideal. Remote locations of your home are usually a bad idea because they typically isolate your pet from the rest of the family. You don’t want your dog to view spending time in his crate as a social-deprivation experiment.
Once you set up the kennel, leave the door open so your dog can go inside as soon as he likes. Place a toy or other treat in the crate to encourage him to investigate the enclosure. Don’t forget to add a crate pad or other type of bedding for comfort. If your dog is still a puppy, you may want to use an old blanket until he becomes reliably housetrained. Some pups will chew on crate pads, so waiting a while to purchase one could save you from having to buy several. I still use a blanket with my two-year-old dog, Jemma, because she has “de-stuffed” three crate pads to date.
SIZING THINGS UP
Choosing the right size crate for your dog is essential. The ideal kennel offers your pet enough space to stand up and turn around comfortably. While it might seem like an indulgence to buy your dog a crate that is far more spacious than he needs, doing so is a bad idea. If you are planning to implement crate training as part of the housetraining process, a crate that is too big will likely negate its housetraining perks. A resourceful dog is likely to create his own “bathroom” at one end of a too-large enclosure and still have plenty of space to lie down. If your dog is still a puppy, look for a crate that will accommodate his adult size, but block off part of the crate in the beginning. A piece of cardboard can serve this purpose, although some crate models come with their own divider panels.
If you have an adult dog, it is important to measure him as well as the crate you choose for him. After measuring your dog’s height and length, add about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) to each measurement. These two totals should equal the respective height and length of the crate you select for your pet.
The chart on the opposite page offers an overview of the most popular crate sizes, as well as examples of the breeds and sizes that these crates most commonly serve. If you have a mixed-breed dog, select a crate based on what you know about his background. A Beagle-Pug crossbreed, for example, typically grows to be closer to the size of a Beagle than to that of a Pug.
Crate Alternatives
I adopted my mixed-breed dog, Jemma, when she was about five months old, and I began crate training her right away. While she has never shown any fear or discomfort toward her kennel, it is important to note that crates aren’t right for all dogs. They tend to be poor choices for dogs who began their lives in puppy mills. Animals who have been kept in crates for unreasonable amounts of time can develop a phobia of crates. In these cases, it is best to skip the crate altogether. When used correctly, safety gates can serve a similar purpose without stressing out the dog.
Leashes
The only safe way to take your new dog home is on a leash. Your pet will also need to be on leash when going for walks and any other time you take him out in public. In addition to keeping dogs safe, leashes are required by law in many municipalities. A leash will also come in handy when training your new pet.
At one time, leashes occupied only a small part of an aisle in most pet-supply stores. Today, however, leashes can take up an entire aisle all by themselves. The materials, functions, and prices of these items can vary dramatically. Owners can choose from a wide range of leash colors and patterns in a variety of options, including conventional fixed-length leashes, extendable leashes with ergonomic plastic handles, and leashes with attachments that hold small rolls of cleanup bags.
The best first leash for an average-sized dog is a simple 6-foot leash made from a sturdy material. For larger dogs, you’ll need a wider leash, but smaller pets fare better with narrower leads, which tend to weigh less. Likewise, a small dog or one with a delicate neck, such
