| www.pageresource.com |
Let the adventure begin! It’s great
that you’ve decided to open your heart and home to a dog. This chapter walks
you through some of the things you may want to consider and plan for during the
early days of introducing a new dog into your life. If you’re prepared for the
transition, you’ll be better equipped to deal with the ways that it can affect
both of you.
As with many topics, there can be a
difference in how homecoming relates to the puppy versus the mature dog. When I
refer to a “mature dog,” I mean over a year old, while “puppy” means anything
up to that age. One year is the generally accepted cutoff for puppyhood, even
though puppies of very large breeds can take twice that long to mature and will
act like puppies until about two years of age. Unless you see either the term
“puppy” or “mature dog,” then any other reference—pooch, pet, dog, canine,
companion—applies to dogs of all ages. Some of the topics you’ll find in this
chapter include:
1. The emotional aspect of bringing the
dog home
2. Practical suggestions about the
homecoming and preparations for it, including a basic gear chart
3. The puppy’s first days at home,
including puppy-proofing; the puppy layette; and special tips on the pup’s
first night
4. Sleeping arrangements for now and
later
5. Introduction to other dogs including
planning ahead for the introduction; the logistics of the meeting; possible
fighting; temporary loss of housebreaking
6. Introduction to cats and children
Copyright © Tracie Hotchner – Originally appeared in The Dog Bible: Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know by Tracie Hotchner
No comments:
Post a Comment