You have made the decision to add a dog to your family, congratulations! Dogs are great companions and are they become part of the family fast, provided you do things right.
There is a lot of things you have to consider from whether to get an adult dog or a pippy, where to get it from and the importance of socialization. You have to go through the process of choosing a name for your dog. The following checklist is going to help in preparing and getting everything in place before you bring your new companion home. If you are in Stockbridge then I would recommend you see ‘pet sitting Stockbridge‘.
Things that you need before bringing the dog or puppy home:
- A comfy bed
- Water bowl
- Food bowl
- A lead. This is important to teach the dog how to walk next to you.
- A plain-buckle collar with your details or a tag. This is one of the legal requirements in the UK that you have to keep in mind.
- A harness. It is important to attach a dog’s lead to a harness so that they don’t feel pressure on their neck when they pull. Choose a harness that is not going to make it hard for the puppy to run or walk naturally. Avoid those that restrict the dog’s movement.
- Toys for play
- Toys for teething
- Toys that keep them amused or calm
- Crate
Choosing a training class
It is a good idea to take the dog to a professional training class because it is going to help in building your relationship in a structured and safe environment with an expert guiding both of you. The best option is to go along to a class instead of home training. The trainer is going to give you pointers that will help train the dog in an effective way.
Before you start classes, you should consider going and watching the class without your dog so you can know what to expect. A good class is going to have:
- A friendly trainer who helps both the dog and the owner
- A calm atmosphere without lots of barking or over-excited, which is sometimes the result of stress. The owners and their dogs need to be relaxed.
- The dogs shouldn’t play uncontrollably
- The trainer should be in a position to handle all the dogs attending their class
- The trainer employs training methods that are positive and reward-based. You shouldn’t take your dog to classes that use punishment or use equipment such as electric or choke collars
One thing you need to know is that there are no regulations when it comes to dog training classes. This is why the classes vary widely. It is important to choose the right dog training classes because it is going to have a big impact on your relationship with your dog and its personality. A good class uses science-backed training methods where the dog is rewarded using food, praise, and play when they do something right instead of punishing them when they don’t do something right. The dog is going to repeat the good work when you let them know that they did well. Positive training is going to help you build trust with your dog and they will also have confidence in themselves.
Tay away from trainers using aversive training equipment like a pinch or choke collars, or harsh methods like pushing them to sit or in another direction. The dog is going to go through a lot of stress and pain when such methods are used.
Take your time and find the right trainer because it is one of the most important things. There are a lot of resources online that will help you learn more about science-backed training methods so you can choose a trainer that uses the right ones. Don’t make the wrong choice because you might end up regretting later.
