The journey begins…
A guide to welcoming your dog home
So you’ve lost your heart to a dog — your dog now — and are about to bring her* home. Congratulations! Here’s what you’ll need to welcome her home and ease her into the new space:
- Puppy-proofing the house:
Go through the entire house and make sure you put away anything within a dog’s reach and can cause trouble when chewed or consumed. If you have plants at home, make sure they are not toxic to dogs. Ensure your pantry is at a safe height. Unlike toddlers, dogs can and will jump and climb to get to anything that smells inviting. It might be something that smells normal or even repulsive to us.
Cover all sockets that are at the dog’s height and put away extension boards and wires. You do not want to wake up to your new dog chewing your charger. Get into the habit of putting your footwear, makeup, jewellery, even your dirty laundry in a closed space. Make sure the door to the toilet is always closed, as is the dustbin. Your kitchen is a magical place full of new smells and tastes for a dog. Unfortunately, it also has spices and food that’s poisonous to them, plus hot appliances and utensils, and it should therefore be off-limits.
Extras: Chew stopper spray and gates and barriers (renters: there are options that you need not fix into the wall — Trixie is one of the companies that makes them).
2. Bowls:
Get separate food and water bowls. It’s good to establish a dedicated area for serving meals. The food bowl should be rinsed after every meal, and the water bowl, every day. You can use a bio-enzyme cleaner to ensure no harmful residues are left behind after washing.
Your dog should have a bowl large enough for her to drink/ eat comfortably from — it shouldn’t be so small that her snout hits the base as soon as she reaches in, and it shouldn’t be so large that she falls in face first. The bowls should hold an adequate amount of water and one meal’s worth of food. Choosing a bowl with a rubber base ensures it won’t slide around while your dog is eating/ drinking from it.
Extras: Slow feeder, a doggy diner (elevated bowls), a self-refilling bowl, treat-dispensing cameras and a food mat for use under the bowls. Get a slow feeder or a doggy diner only if your dog needs it. Self-refilling bowls can often lead to diet issues in dogs and should be used cautiously.
3. Bed/ Crate/ Safe space:
Your dog needs a safe space within your house. It should ideally be a bed. Opt for a crate only if necessary — inefficient crate training often causes more problems than it solves.
Just like bowls, there are various beds available for dogs. Some dogs do well with just mattresses, while others, like mine, enjoy bolster beds. It’s advisable to get a bed with a washable and removable cover since dogs can always have accidents within the house and might soil the bed. An additional waterproof cover will help too. For any removable cover, check to see if the zipper will poke the dog or not. Dogs with joint issues can benefit from an orthopaedic mattress. I have one from Pawffles for June (Instagram: @pawffles).
If you decide that your dog needs to be crate trained, either do it perfectly or engage the services of a professional trainer. The dog’s crate has to be a safe space, not a punishment or confinement area. Choose a crate that has sufficient space for the dog to move around with ease. Ensure that there are no sharp corners or edges in it and that the bars don’t poke into your dog’s body. Put your hand or foot inside, or try crawling into it and seeing how comfortable it is.
Extras: Blankets, pillows, calming spray and foldable mats for use around the house.
4. Poop & Pee stuff
Like most Indian dog parents, I used newspapers for Bailey’s toilet training (June came to us housebroken — toilet trained). You can use pee pads as well. When you’re starting with toilet training, buy pee pads in bulk and get the most basic ones. You can also get a pee pad holder to hold it in place. There are various sprays to prevent or encourage peeing in certain areas of the house. I’ve not had to use them much and frankly didn’t find those helpful.
You need to pick up after your dog; it’s non-negotiable. Invest in good poop bags that don’t tear easily and a scooper (if you’re uncomfortable using the bag over your hand). Carrying a few tissues is helpful when your dog has an upset stomach.
Your dog’s poop will tell you a lot about her health. I prefer using a bag over my hand to pick up after my dogs. This way, I know the texture of their poop and can adjust their diet if I need to. Gross? Maybe. Useful? Definitely.
Extras: Premium pee pads, grass pee mat, poop bag attachment that goes around the tail (I’ve never used one, but I guess it will be uncomfortable and inefficient), and stain and odour removers.
5. Food & Treats
You can feed your dog raw, cooked or processed (kibble — wouldn’t recommend it) but no matter what you’re feeding your dog, do not change their diet suddenly. Ask what your dog was being fed before she came to you. Transition slowly from that to what you would like to feed her. Make a feeding schedule and stick to it (not by the minute, though). Be careful not to feed your dog too much out of the joy of having her home.
Treats are a great addition to your dog’s daily schedule. Just like food, you can give raw, cooked or processed treats. Dogs come programmed with puppy eyes, so make sure you do not go overboard. Treats should not be more than 10% of your dog’s daily intake. It’s good to give your dog treats that add nutrition to their diet or serve a purpose. Bite-sized treats are great for training. Natural treats like bones and trotters allow your pets to de-stress while also cleaning their teeth.
IMPORTANT: Please do not give your dogs rawhide bones and chews. These can cause indigestion, and in severe cases, have caused complications from internal bleeding as well. Note that these are different from raw dehydrated chews.
Extras: Food toppers, supplements, and a diet plan. Discuss with a vet or a canine nutritionist before you add these.
6. Collar, Harness, Name Tag & Leash:
You will need a leash and harness to walk your dog. For starters, get a non-retractable, flat leash with a padded grip and a harness that fits your dog comfortably. Flat nylon leashes without a padded grip can cut through your skin if the dog pulls. The harness should allow unrestricted movement of the dog’s shoulders and limbs.
In recent years, the use of collars for walking dogs has been increasingly discouraged because of the strain it puts on their throat and neck area. However, it is still advisable to get a collar for your dog. Get a name tag that clearly states your dog’s name and your phone number + an alternative number or your address. You need not use this collar for walking your dog, but let the dog wear it when at a park or dog boarding. Your dog does not need to wear a collar at home.
Extras: You can get your dog fitted with a microchip, but it is not necessary on the very first day. Discuss it with your vet and do it after a while. If you live in an area with frequent rain, you can invest in a good raincoat for your dog. If you own a car, get a car seat cover so that your dog can sit comfortably with you.
7. Toys:
There are so many types of toys available that choosing the best one for your dog before she’s home seems impossible. For her first day home, get her a plush toy to cuddle with (non-squeaky if you can’t bear the sound) and a rope or rubber toy for playing. You can always get her more toys once you know what kind of play she likes, and also make toys out of newspaper, bags and cardboard boxes to keep her engaged.
Extras: Puzzles, sniffing blankets and toys and treat-dispensing toys. Toys stimulate dogs just like walks. So ensure that between walks and playtime, you do not overstimulate your dog.
8. Vet visit:
Ideally, you should visit the vet on the first day that your dog comes home. If you have adopted the dog, you should get a vaccination and de-worming record for the dog. Getting a physical checkup + blood test done will give you a clear idea of your dog’s health since day one. It’ll also serve as the dog’s introduction to her vet. If the vet finds issues with your dog’s health, you might need to schedule more visits. For healthy young dogs, you need not visit the vet frequently.
Extras: Look into getting insurance for your pet.
9. Grooming and first aid:
While you may decide to always go to a groomer for your dog’s bath and grooming, it is good to have at least a basic two-sided brush and a tick and flea comb at home for daily use. You can also keep a tick and flea repellent spray or powder, and a dry shampoo + cleaning wipes for when your dog is dirty, and you can’t rush to the groomers. If you have a long-haired dog, you might need a detangling brush too.
I find using wipes convenient and have an assortment of wipes — ear, eye, teeth and body — that I use for my dogs. I also maintain a constant stock of Scooby Dub Dub from Back In The Day (Instagram @backintheday.in). This powder goes both in my grooming as well as first aid kit.
For first aid, you can find readymade kits online. At home, you can make a small kit containing Betadine solution (do not use Dettol because it stings), cotton, Soframycin, Scooby Dub Dub and a soothing spray or oil. If you’re adding medicines to this kit, or are using any from a readymade kit, always check with your vet first, especially if you are using human medicines for your dog. Home remedies are always useful to have on hand. I’ll dedicate an entire post to those.
Extras: Shampoo (when you want to bathe your dog at home) and conditioner (for long-haired dogs), clippers, trimmers, toothpaste and toothbrush, and perfume (if we’re being really extra!)
The pet lifestyle market has grown tremendously over the past few years. As a result, there are limitless options for the products you can get for your dog. When choosing for your dog, remember to invest in things that will last and are suited to your dog. Not every dog will enjoy the latest trends in toys or treats, and that’s okay! Additionally, when you’re out on your first shopping trip for your dog, remember that that is only the first of many such trips. You’ll have opportunities to buy for your dog later as well, so just getting the essentials will do. Instead of the extras, what your dog will need in those first few days and weeks, is your attention and love and some space to adjust to the new house and family.
Good luck with your new dog; the best days of your life have begun!
* I use ‘she/her’ for referring to the dog because I live with two female dogs and it’s easier for me to type that way. The information applies to all dogs, irrespective of gender.
