How to Take Care of Your Dog? [Home Care Tips for New Dog Owners]

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As any dog owner will tell you, caring for and sharing a life with your furry friend is one of the most rewarding parts of life. However, at times it can be as overwhelming as having a child. Here are some Home Care Tips for New Dog Owners to make it easier for you and your dog…

The staggering amount of information out there, often contradictory, related to pet ownership can often leave one disheartened and confused. So let’s keep it simple! Following these basic tips will keep your pet (and home) happy, healthy, and in harmony.

**Your Dog Lives in Your Home, Not the Other Way Around**

I like to think of my dog, Nola, as my best friend who lives with me. Yes, she has her own beds in my bedroom and the living room, and yes she protects the house as it is our territory, and yes she probably thinks of our apartment as “her home.”

However, it’s important to make clear that you are the master of the domain and the things in it. This will keep your pup safe, and your home undamaged.

From the time my dog was a puppy, I made it clear that she was to chew only on her toys. She stole a shoe from my closet one time, and one time only, as I firmly told her the shoe was mine (by holding it to my chest and telling her “mine”), and replacing the space between her legs where she held it with one of her own toys.

She happily began chewing on her toy, and never took one of mine again. Replacing is a great tactic to use when puppies chew on couches, railings, anything they can get their teeth on – it’s important to have many acceptable chew toys handy so you can give them something fun, rather than just taking something away.

I was fortunate enough to have a very trainable puppy – her dog perso nality would be considered “happy-go-lucky pleaser”. But the distinction I made between my things and her things was also a very important one to make for her safety and happiness.

There are certain items in the house that belong to only me, and should not be touched by her – and that distinction made us both more comfortable quickly. Puppies need boundaries, and it is as important to provide those boundaries for them as it is for us (and our shoes).

Let Your Dog Be a Dog

As much as you might see your dog as your child, he or she is in fact another species with different drives and different methods of communication. Nola probably filters out about 98% of the words that come out of my mouth.

Know Your Dog’s Stress Signals

Like all of us, dogs visibly show when they are stressed – and different dogs often have different signals. Nola is a yawner, tongue flicker, and a shaker. If she yawns (and I know she’s not tired), and that’s coupled with a tongue-flick and then a shake-off, I know she’s stressed and I should change the situation for her.

She doesn’t need to tell me, “this big scary dog who keeps rudely getting in my face while I’m just trying to play with the ball with you, is stressing me out.” She displays her own stress signals, and I politely ask the other dog owner to get his dog to give us more space.

You will get to know your dog so well that you understand their triggers and signals, so that stressful situations do not need to turn into something worse – like a fight or a traumatic event. And don’t be offended if your dog sometimes shakes you off after giving them a hug! We don’t all want to be hugged all the time (and dogs especially do not all love being hugged) — something that Nola has to remind me of when I’m being less than sensitive to her wants.

Training and Socializing Are Very Important

The number of trainers, training techniques, and classes out there can be daunting. But the most important thing to do before choosing one is to decide what kind of dog owner you want to be, your dog’s unique personality traits, and what kind of dog you want to raise.

When I decided to adopt my first dog on my own, I knew that I wanted a dog who would be cool doing everything I liked doing – going to restaurants, traveling (in cars, vans, trains, planes), seriously exercising once per day, and being calm and gentle and happy when just chilling at home.

I achieved this with Nola by taking her to puppy classes as soon as she was fully vaccinated, continuing my positive reinforcement training techniques at home and in subsequent classes, reinforcing her positive socialization experiences at the park each day, and making every outing with her adventurous and fun. Scary things like escalators can be made fun with high-value treats and lots of verbal rewards. But also accepting that she will never like going through a subway turnstile was important. After all, I don’t like going through them that much either!

Remaining Calm is Key

This sounds easier than it is, but is of paramount importance. Like babies, puppies need calm. If you have a calm and stress-free home, your dog’s energy will reflect that. That means not freaking out when she has an accident on your favorite rug (odor- and stain-removing cleaning products will become a staple on your shopping list), not having violent screaming matches with your partner, and not overreacting when your pup does something you don’t like.

One of the biggest pitfalls I have seen is shouting your dog’s name in a negative way when they behave incorrectly, and then they associate negativity with their own name – and might not respond to you calling them the way you would like.

The word “Nola” has become my dog’s favorite word – and is generally greeted with her looking at me, listening attentively, coming closer to me, and wagging her tail. This can be accomplished early on with simple training, positively reinforcing the behavior you want when they hear their name each time they perform that behavior.

Find a Vet You Can Trust – and Stay Informed

When I moved with Nola from New York to Colorado, I was pleasantly surprised that many of the vaccinations that pets need in one state are not necessary in the other. I’m not talking about rabies, as most states require those vaccinations by law.

But heartworm, lime preventatives, and other vaccines are not necessary where I live now because of climate, wildlife, and other differences. I choose to vaccinate as little as possible, and perform “titer” tests on my dogs in lieu of keeping to the recommended vaccination schedules; titer tests measure the amount of vaccine still remaining in the dog’s blood, and can render an additional dose of the vaccine unnecessary. The costs do add up, so you will have to decide what is best for you and your family.

Your et’s office will usually also have wall-mounted signs that as a dog owner, you will probably memorize. These will help you steer clear of any foods that might be “poisonous” to your dog if consumed in large quantities. Many of these off-limit foods can provoke an autoimmune response and the situation can become very dangerous for your dog. But easily avoidable!

Many vets also offer grooming services and tips. It is important to keep your dog’s eyes, ears, teeth, nails, and coat in good condition to keep them comfortable and healthy. Much of these tasks can be done easily at home, but it’s also nice to get professional help (especially where nail trimming is concerned!).

Like Humans, They Will Evolve as They Age

As Nola gets older, I find myself thinking more and more of my grandfather when I see her interacting with other dogs. Whereas younger adults might sometimes keep their mouths shut in some situations, not always speaking their minds, erring on the side of politeness, my grandfather does not let issues lie, does not worry about being polite if he has something to say, and mainly does more of whatever he’d like to do in most situations.

Nola, now a dignified eight-year-old, is less patient when other dogs push her around, and is quicker to give signals to other dogs when she does not like the way they’re behaving. This can have many positives, including being less timid when confronted with pushy dogs, and being a powerful training mentor for younger dogs (she was basically my training ally when we brought our new puppy, Swifty, into the house when she was four years old).

Her age has also meant I have gotten to know her better, and am able to avoid situations that I know she will not like, or how to shield her more from dogs that I know annoy her.

The new addition to your family is sure to bring you joy, fun, and fulfillment. Treat them with love and respect, and they will return so much more.

I have lived with dogs my entire life. I have read many books and articles about dog psychology and training, and have attended many training classes in order to give my pups the best lives possible. I have been traveling with my dogs for about 10 years now and converted to part-time vanlife about 3 years ago. Living in my van with my dogs has been one of the most freeing and joyful experiences of my life.