Things You'll Need:
- dog beds
- leash
- collar
- food
- and water bowls
- crate
- training pads or newspaper
- toys
- chews
- Urine remover
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Step 1
Establish the boundaries. Put a pet bed in each room where you and your family will be spending time with your new pet dog. Dog beds are comfortable alternative to letting your new dog jump on the furniture. Close the doors to rooms that are off limits and use baby gates for areas with no doors like hallways and the entrance to stairs.
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Step 2
Pet proof your home. Put chemicals up high just as you would for a toddler. Get all mini blind and curtain pulls off the floor so your dog won't strangle on them or pull them down. Lay small throw carpets between entry ways with doors. Once you're behind a closed door, your dog may scratch to get to you, ruining the floor.
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Step 3
Stock up on supplies. Get the obvious like food, dog bowls, toys, and leashes and collars. If you plan on grooming your dog yourself, you'll need a grooming kit and shampoo. If the dog you're getting isn't potty trained, you'll need urine remover for unexpected accidents, training pads or newspaper and a crate.
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Step 4
Prep your family. Figure out who's going to do what. Assign feeding, bathing and walking chores. Warn children to avoid picking up your new pet dog too often and show them how to do it correctly to avoid hurting the dog. Let everyone know that it is not okay to make sudden and aggressive motions toward the new dog until it is familiar with everyone in the household.
