Bringing home a new dog — whether they're a puppy or adult — is an awesome thing, no doubt! But it can also be a bit overwhelming, both for you and your new dog. Regardless of where your dog came from — shelter, rescue, foster home, breeder, or even your neighbor down the street — joining your family is a change. An awesome change, but a change none-the-less. And change can be stressful for dogs. This is why many dogs will go through an "adjustment period" when they first come into a new home.
You can ease and shorten their adjustment period — and minimize your own stress — by being well prepared with products and aids that can help your new dog settle into their new life. This article aims to make things easier for you, with some behavior and safety awareness, shopping tips, and recommendations for products that may help you and your pup during this time of transition. I cover everything from calming aids (including pheromones and music), to how to make bedtime "sleeptime," as well as safe toys and crate essentials.
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Topics:
Dog,
Puppy,
new puppy,
puppy tips,
Puppy Training,
adjustment period,
Chewing,
Dog Treats,
bedtime for puppies
Potty training is certainly no walk in the park — though it may involve some! Every puppy is different, and everybody’s living situation and schedule is different, too. Just as there’s no “one size fits all” recipe for potty training puppies, there's also a whole range of potential reasons why your pup might not be picking up on this important life skill as quickly as you were expecting (and hoping).
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Topics:
Dog,
Puppy,
new puppy,
puppy tips,
Potty Training,
Puppy Training
Many companies now allow their employees to bring dogs to work, and more workplaces are doing the same. According to the 2015 Society for Human Resource Management survey, 8 percent of American workplaces allowed employees to bring pets to work, which was up from 5 percent that had such a policy two years earlier.
Amazon, for example, has not only opened its own downtown dog park, but “more than 2,000 dogs are brought in regularly to Amazon's main campus where about 25,000 employees work,” according to CNBC.
You could even say that modern workplaces have really... gone to the dogs (cue rimshot).
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Topics:
Dog Tips,
Puppy Training,
Dog Training,
adult dog tips,
puppy tips,
Dog Safety,
Behavior & Training,
Benefits of training,
Socialization,
Pet Hazard
Dog parks can provide excellent exercise and social interaction for most dogs, and even their owners! But not all dog parks are created equal. Certain parks aren’t safe (or fun) for every dog, and situations within the park can change quickly... even drastically. Depending on the type of dog and the type of person, the experience can vary wildly. Some dogs take to the new environment with ease, while others take longer to adjust. And some just aren’t going to take to it at all — not now, or ever.
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Topics:
Dog,
Dog Safety,
Behavior & Training,
Socialization,
Puppy,
Puppy Training,
Dog Leash,
Vaccination,
Vaccines
When you get a new dog, you may be eager and excited to welcome this new member of your family into your home, and your kids will likely be consumed with giddiness and the anticipation of a new best friend. But before your kids try to smother your new puppy or dog with hugs and kisses, you need to consider how best to make these important introductions, and how to do so safely for all involved.
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Topics:
Dog Tips,
Puppy Training,
Dog Training,
adult dog children,
introducing puppy to children,
adult dog tips,
puppy tips
Potty training on the 28th floor
You’ve done your research to find the perfect puppy for your apartment life and you bought the toys and training aids. The phone numbers for your veterinarian and animal poison control are on the fridge, puppy classes are booked, and your homemade first aid kit is at the ready. Now the time has come to finally welcome home the new addition to your family, but there’s one problem: you’ve just entered the front door of your 28th floor apartment and your new puppy needs to go... NOW!
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Topics:
Dogs,
Adopted Dogs,
Dog Behavior,
Potty Training,
Puppy,
Puppy Training,
Crate training a puppy
Many people ask when to start socializing their new puppy – and receive many different answers!
It’s possible that you’ve received a different answer from your breeder or shelter than you have from your trainer, and it’s equally as likely that you’ve even received an answer from your vet that’s different from both of those. So who’s right? When exactly should you start socializing your new pup?
There’s no doubt that puppy socialization is an important topic. We’ve all seen the sad results of dogs who weren’t properly socialized, and many of those dogs end up abandoned or in shelters. The need for proper socialization for dogs just makes sense inherently, doesn’t it? And now a building mountain of scientific evidence is helping to prove it, too.
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Topics:
Dog Training,
Safety,
Puppy Training,
Puppy,
Socialization,
Dog,
Vaccines,
Vaccination,
Puppy classes
Please do not ask emergency or other specific medical questions about your pets in the blog comments. As an online informational resource, Preventive Vet is unable to and does not provide specific medical advice or counseling. A thorough physical exam, patient history, and an established veterinary-patient-client relationship is required to provide specific medical advice. If you are worried that your pet is having an emergency or if you have specific medical questions related to your pet’s current or chronic medical conditions, please contact or visit your veterinarian, an animal-specific poison control hotline, or your local emergency veterinary care center.
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