How to prepare your home for a new dog, according to a vet

So, you’re bringing home a new dog? That’s so exciting! A canine furry friend will bring so much joy to your life, but the experience is not without a few challenges, of course. The thing is, a pup’s early days can help shape the dog they become — or if they’re already an adult, the way they interact with you and your family from here on out. (No pressure!) Maybe you’ve already read up on whether or not you should let your dog sleep in your bed, how often you should bathe them and how to properly socialize with other pups. However, there’s a lot of info out there, so we’re breaking it down with this “New Dog Checklist.”

We spoke to Dr. Teresa Manucy, a veterinarian at Chewy, to get her take on the best way to introduce a new dog to your home. (Yes, Chewy offers free virtual vet advice and has started opening physical veterinary offices around the U.S. too.) She shared tips for first-time dog parents and what to do from day one, how to introduce your dog to pets you already have at home, and a few products you can get to set you all on the right track to a healthy and happy home. Take a look at Manucy’s tips and our shopping checklist to get started.

Getting your home ready for a new dog

OK, so maybe you’re a first-time dog owner or you just haven’t had a dog in a long time. Either way, you’ll want to start by getting your home set up for your furry friend. “When bringing a new dog home, it’s helpful to have all of their essentials ready to go, such as dog food, food and water bowls, poop bags, a leash and collar with ID tag, crate, a cozy bed, plenty of treats and toys,” Manucy says.

If you’re bringing home a puppy, you’ll also want to do a bit of puppy-proofing. Manucy recommends getting down on your hands and knees to view spaces from your dog’s perspective — in essence, seeing what they can chew or ingest. Keep small clothing items and objects they could potentially swallow off the floor, get trash cans with lids, lock cabinets that contain potentially dangerous items (like cleaning supplies), and tuck away electrical cords as best as you can (or put safety tubes around them). For spaces that can’t be puppy-proofed, you can block access with a puppy or baby gate.

However, if you’re adopting an adult or senior dog that already has some level of training, you can assume they may be a bit less curious. Still, keep small items that they could ingest put away. An older pup may also want an area for itself. “For an adult dog, it’s important to give them their own space, such as a small room or bathroom to allow downtime for de-stressing,” Manucy adds.

Introducing your new dog to a pet-free home

On day one, before you even bring the pup into your house, Manucy recommends taking it on a walk around the area to help it calm down, get used to its new surroundings and go potty. After that, the dog can enter the home and begin exploring its new territory. “It may be best to limit access to only one room at first, until they understand how to ask to go outside and respond to you,” she adds.

Also, stick to your normal day-to-day schedule. “Ideally, the first few weeks spent with your new dog will allow them to learn the routines of your household. This will also give you time to hang out and play with them, getting to know their personality and temperament,” says Manucy.

Additionally, she says to stagger introductions with new people so they happen over time and don’t overwhelm the recent addition to your family. Don’t have a welcome party for your pup, as much as you may want to.

Introducing your new dog to a home with pets

If you’re bringing a new dog into a home where you already have other pets they’ll interact with, Manucy recommends keeping them separated at first and only introducing them under direct supervision.

“Allow them to smell each other through an enclosed crate or pet gate first, without directly interacting,” she says. “Cats may hiss and dogs may bark initially. Cats can get overwhelmed and scared, so it may help to provide a place for them to hide or vertically climb to feel more secure. Allow the pets to interact in a neutral location without toys or food to avoid competition for these items. Giving the pets time to get to know each other may encourage them to become peaceful housemates and possibly friendly roommates,” she adds.

Once everyone is under the same roof, try to keep your routine consistent and ensure that each of your pets gets to spend quality time with you, not just the new guy or girl, to limit any jealous behaviors.

Making your dog’s first night at home more comfortable

The first night is likely going to be the hardest on your new dog. For puppies, it’s their first time away from their mom and siblings, but for dogs of all ages, it’s a new environment.

With that in mind, give your new dog a small, comfy space of its own to relax, whether it’s a small room or a crate — and dismiss the idea that a crate is a “cage.” Instead, Manucy says, it “can feel like a den to retreat in when they are nervous or seeking comfort.” She adds that you should also keep food and water near your new pet’s personal space.

Puppies will need special attention, though, and will likely cry, whine or bark the first few nights. “Consider providing a heartbeat plush toy to emulate the heartbeat, or an article of clothing that smells like their sibling or mother for familiarity,” Manucy advises. “Since you will need to be a source of safety and comfort for them, keep them close enough where they can be heard overnight.” Again, a crate works just fine for this.

If they do stir, check on them and “don’t let them cry it out,” she adds. “Often, they will need to go outside or have already soiled their bedding and need to be cleaned up. To avoid this, take them outside right before bed and every time they wake up, but avoid playing with them at this time.”

They’ll eventually adapt and won’t wake you up as often, and you’ll be able to move the crate further away from you overnight, if you’d like. Additionally, make sure your dog is physically and mentally active throughout the day so that they’re tired at night. And if you want your dog to sleep in your bed with you, Manucy recommends waiting until they’re completely potty-trained or at least one year old.

Tips for potty training

As a good rule of thumb, Manucy says, take your puppy’s age in months, then add one to calculate about how many hours it’s able to “hold it” before having to go outside to potty. For instance, a 3-month-old pup should be able to go up to four hours without needing to relieve itself. And, per PetMD, once a pup is 4-6 months old, it should have full control of its bladder. Dogs of all ages, the site adds, “should still go out several times a day (three to five total) for bathroom breaks.”

All that said, keep in mind that each dog is different, accidents will happen, and with puppies, they’ll probably happen a lot. Manucy stresses that it’s important to “avoid punishment after accidents, but reward successful potty trips with treats and praise.”

Also, if your new dog is potty trained and has been sleeping well, but suddenly has accidents or will no longer sleep through the night, talk to your vet. They could have a medical condition like a bladder infection.

New-dog shopping checklist:

Want to feel fully prepared for your pup? Take a look at this list of items to prepare your home for a new furry family member.

Need pet insurance for your beloved furry friend? Check out the offers below:

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