Ever felt stressed out when you found yourself in the unknown, surrounded by people strange to you? Well, this is exactly how dogs feel the first time they are brought into a new home. It can be a stressful experience, and for some of them, it might take longer than others to get used to their new home. For that very reason, it’s important to be patient and do your part in making your home as dog-friendly as possible.
A Place of Its Own
It’s important to remember that the first couple of days everything will be strange for the dog, the surroundings, the people, other pets (if you have them). So, it’s okay to expect a little withdrawal in the first 24 hours or even longer, depending on how shy and insecure the dog is. This is why it’s necessary to provide it with a place of its own, where it can feel safe to go to without being disturbed.
You can choose between a pet bed or a crate. Keep in mind that the crate will be helpful when potty training afterwards, which is why we suggest getting both: a bed for comfort, and a crate for training (as long as you leave the door open) and transportation.
Freedom of Movement
It’s okay if you want to keep the dog inside and only go out with you, but dogs need fresh air as much as we do. And let’s face it, as owners, we may not always have the time to take them for walks when they need. That’s where a door for dog comes in handy both for you and your canine as it opens up a world of possibilities.
There are various styles to choose from, and they’re also easy to install on screen doors. But if you want to have the peace of mind knowing that this addition to your home wouldn’t invite some unwelcome visitors, then it’s good to look for automatic flaps that work with apps, and those connected to the dog’s collar through sensors.
Now, if you’re wondering what the benefits of installing a door for dog are, let’s start from the fact that your furry friend can do potty outside whenever necessary, without having to wait for you to the point of doing a mess indoors. Likewise, it has the freedom to explore around the house, meet other dogs and stay in shape while chasing after birds and insects. And in case of danger, it would be able to defend your home straight away, preventing a break in for example.
Furthermore, these units enable your dog to stay entertained on its own as it can go out and play whenever it’s bored in the house. This, in turn, will reduce the chances of it staying in the house and scratching and chewing on your furniture or other valuable items. However, remember to provide your furry pal with an ID tag, microchips and all the needed shots.
Food and Water
This is more than obvious, but it’s always good to point it out. Same as cats, dogs need to have their separate feeding area, with their own food and water bowls. Now, in terms of the food itself, since there would be a change with the nutrition, it’s normal to expect there to be some stomach issues, like diarrhoea.
To prevent such issues, it’s advisable to contact the shelter or the people you adopted the dog from to find out what your new pal used to usually eat and preferably get the same. In case you want to try a new one, you’d get a better outcome by mixing it with the old instead of fully changing it. Last but not least, don’t forget to consider the dog’s age and decide whether you’ll go with dry and wet food and keep the water in the bowl fresh.
Routine
While there’s no doubt a dog needs its freedom and would make good use of a door for dog, they also require a stable routine because their daily habits will help you to teach them discipline. This is why it’s necessary to feed it, go outside for potty breaks, go for daily walks, and go to bed at the exact same time so your dog knows what you expect from it. The good thing about routine is it makes training easier, but still, it all depends on the dog’s personality. The important thing is not to stress out over it because you might easily make your dog anxious too.