Moving pets to a new home is an unforgettable experience for any owner, but there’s no denying that this process is teeming with stress and anxiety. Whether it’s finding a suitable dog bed, or signing them up to the local vet, getting a dog gives you a lot of things to fret over. In turn, that can cause many owners to feel a looming sense of dread at every turn, transforming a dream situation into a nightmare. Therefore, this article will explore everything you need to know about getting a new puppy and how you can make the moving-in process as smooth as possible.
9 Ways to Support A New Puppy in Your Home
1. Ensure You Have Safety Measures in Place
You probably consider your home to be your safe space. A cozy sanctuary where you can detach from the stressors of everyday life and finally relax. Although this may be completely true, your home could still be teeming with safety hazards. Faulty electrics, leaky roofs, and mold infestations can all wreak havoc in your home, negatively affecting all the inhabitants, including your dog. In turn, it’s vital that you work to make your property as secure as possible, making it easier when you’re moving pets to a new home. Smoke detectors are a key safety precaution in any home and work to alert homeowners of a potential fire. Though they are known for making a distressing beeping sound at times, they are mandatory in some states, so it’s pivotal that you get one installed if you don’t already. It’s also good practice to maintain these systems, testing the battery at least once a month, and placing them in locations where fires could occur, such as the kitchen. If you’re still a bit worried about your fire safety practices, you could also benefit from researching some local fire alarm inspections. This includes a full examination of your fire alarms, including their internal components as well as their external appearance. Fire Safety Support explains that an annual fire alarm inspection typically costs just over $200, making it an affordable expense for those looking to keep their pets safe from potential fires.
2. Upgrade Your Plumbing
When in the process of moving pets to a new home, you may not give your plumbing network a second thought. Yet, if there are issues occurring within this system, your entire house could fall into disarray. When your pipes become damaged or clogged with debris, normal waste cannot be flushed away, so it tends to accumulate within your system. Over time, this can cause an assortment of troubling issues such as clogged pipes, slow drains, and bouts of cold water. If these signs occur within your home, it’s best to recruit a drain cleaning service as soon as possible. Although you could go down to your local hardware store and pick up some of the best drain cleaners on the market, these products are only useful for minor issues. Thus, if you feel like your drains are extremely damaged, you should call upon a professional contractor to give you a helping hand. Angi notes that this service normally costs $147-$341, with the average price sitting at $238. As such, this service may seem excessive, but it can actually extend the longevity of your plumbing network for many years to come.
3. Ensure Your Home is Safe and Clean
Though it’s hard to maintain a clean home when you have an energetic puppy running under your feet all the time, it’s still important to uphold good levels of hygiene. Since dogs typically explore the world around them via their nose and mouth, they can tend to come into contact with harmful elements. If the substance is especially unwholesome, you could have to rush your furry friend straight to the ER, which could also leave you with a very pricey vet bill. If you live in a particularly old home, it may be filled with a collection of cracks and gaps. This can also be a clear entryway for pests, causing a mass infestation in the confines of your own home. If you relate to this issue, you need to reach out to a local pest exterminator as soon as possible. These contractors will typically lay a series of traps and set-ups to help capture the pests in a safe and humane way. Due to the harsh nature of these traps, you may have to think about moving pets to a new home so that they are out of harm’s way. Home Guide states that extermination services can cost $100-$600 for a one-time visit, depending on the size of the property and the type of critter involved.
4. Upgrade Your Heating Facilities
Even if your dog has a long-haired coat, it can still experience the cold weather. In turn, if you live in a particularly cold area or own a poorly insulated home, it may be time to improve your internal heating system. Whether your home contains an electric water heater or a selection of heating oil tanks, you’re sure to find an HVAC contractor who can restore a comforting sense of warmth to your home. Throughout this service, a contractor will usually assess the overall performance of your heater, checking for any glaring issues or faults. Then, they will either implement a series of remedies or supply you with a brand-new heater. These services are also quite affordable, with Home Serve explaining that an average HVAC contractor will normally charge $125-$480. Not to mention, a new and improved heating system can also help you to save money in the long run. Since these facilities tend to use less energy than their older counterparts, you’re likely to see a decline in the overall cost of your energy bill. Therefore, you can use the extra money to spoil your new best friend with a variety of quirky toys and delicious treats.
5. Make Space in Your Home
Though we may not consider it, our pets’ worlds are quite small. They may take lengthy walks around the park every day, but they cannot explore other areas like humans can. In turn, when you start moving pets to a new home, it’s important that you make enough space for your dog. For those who work from home, consider adding some dog-friendly office furniture to your space. Perhaps you could add a small dog bed under your desk or play some calming music throughout the day to help your puppy feel settled whilst you’re typing away. It may also be a good idea to inform your workplace about the new addition to the family just in case you need to take some time off work or if you need to mute yourself on video calls. You should also include your dog in your after-work routine. Instead of just lounging on the sofa and catching up with your favorite show, try to indulge in some play time or spend some time playing fetch in the backyard.
6. Prepare for Sleepless Nights
Moving pets to a new home can cause them a lot of anxiety and stress, making it harder for them to drift off to sleep at night. In turn, you may also experience a few sleepless nights as your puppy learns to feel more comfortable in its new home. There are a few things you can do to help your dog sleep better at night, such as taking them for an extra walk during the day or offering them chew toys to release a calming effect on their brains. However, if you’ve tried all of these techniques and still nothing works, your bed may be the problem. If your mattress is lumpy and all out of sorts, you may be better off typing ‘ Best mattress store near me‘ into a search engine and buying a new one. Mattresses tend to come in all shapes and sizes, so they can dramatically vary in price. However, The Sleep Foundation highlights that budget mattresses can cost anywhere from $250 to $1,000, making this a useful investment for those looking to improve the overall quality of their home before they welcome their new puppy.
7. Meal Prep for Your Busy Schedule
Meal prepping is becoming extremely popular all across the US, with My Protein indicating that 8 out of 10 Americans have prepared a meal in advance at least once in their lives. This system is not just a fad trend, it’s a great way to help new pet parents take care of themselves whilst they strive to make their dog feel right at home. You don’t have to meticulously plan out every morsel of food that you put in your mouth. Instead, try creating a list of your favorite foods and adding some recipes to a weekly calendar. This will help you gain more inspiration and motivation to cook, ensuring that you don’t cave and just end up ordering Chinese food every night. Meal prepping can also help to save you money, making good use of leftovers and pantry staples. Again, this extra money can be put to good use, spending it on quirky dog outfits and essential vet bills.
8. Research Dog Behavior in a New Home
Animal psychology is an extremely interesting subject and gives humans a unique look into the minds of our cherished dogs. This information can easily be obtained online, ensuring that pet owners can read countless articles and white papers about the nuances of canine behavior. However, if you’re looking to gain a more detailed perspective on this topic, you may benefit from enrolling in an accredited course. Acclaimed academic bodies such as The Dog Behavior Institute offer a wide selection of courses, such as Learning Dog Science, Punishment and its Fallout, and Data & Dog Behavior. All of these resources work to inform us of typical dog behavior, helping us to understand when they feel scared or anxious and how they can be soothed. This is especially useful for active pet owners who may have to leave their dogs alone for long periods of time. As a result, you can make your dog feel loved and at ease before you rush off to happy hour at your local bar.
9. Enjoy Your New Pup!
Although the steps listed in this article may seem very overwhelming, moving pets to a new home is an exciting step for anyone. This is especially true if you have wanted a dog for a long time, as you can finally share your love with an adorable new puppy. It’s also important that you prepare for its arrival beforehand, purchasing any essential accessories such as leashes and collars. Plus, it’s also imperative that you earn enough money to look after a dog, as homeowners should not be putting themselves in debt in order to provide for their animals. Assuming that your dog lives for 15 years, Market Watch Guides states that the cost of owning a dog could be as high as $19,893-$55,132. In turn, it’s paramount that you don’t start booking holidays or looking at new homes if you’re already struggling to care for your dog. Owners should also strive to train their dogs, ensuring that they know the difference between right and wrong and don’t respond aggressively to minor triggers. By starting this process early on, you have the potential to raise a dog that is well-loved by adults and children alike.
Getting a new pet can be a life-changing experience, allowing us to add an abundance of love and joy to our lives. Yet, moving pets to a new home can cause us to feel immeasurable levels of stress, which can also cause us to make a lot of mistakes when it comes to pet care. Not to mention, high levels of anxiety can lead us to neglect our most vital needs, leaving us fatigued and short-tempered with our furry friends. As such, if you’re looking to remain level-headed and calm during your journey as a first-time pet owner, be sure to adhere to the tips and tricks offered in this article.