Buying a Dog - Step Three: Get Ready

Start training your pup as soon as possible! 
Dogs love to learn new tricks and training your new best friend will give you a reliable platform of communication. Consider signing up for training sessions, so a dog trainer can help guide you through the steps of making your pup an obedience PRO. 


 Create a safe home for your dog 
"Dog-proof" your home. Be sure to keep anything that may be toxic to your pet out of the reach. Key things to look out for are poisonous plants, plastic bags and chemical cleaners. If you're unsure call the Pet Poison Helpline. 


 Be prepared for house training 
Puppies require house training as they will not automatically know that the yard-not the house-is the appropriate place to... Do their business. It's the responsibility of the owner to house train the dog. This requires time, lots of patience and a consistent and dedicated regimen. 

Make sure to factor time into your day for your dog to get enough exercise! 

Exercise needs vary from each individual dog, but it is recommended that "healthy adult dogs need at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise twice a day". 

If you're beginning a new exercise program with your pup, start slowly. 

His paws may be sensitive initially and could become chafed or cracked, especially when running or hiking. 


 Maintaining Discipline 
You'll need to learn how to discipline your dog and set boundaries, and you'll need to be honest with yourself about your ability to enforce them. Even if they're arbitrary, boundaries are important to help keep your dog comfortable with you being in charge. With larger dogs, if you fail to create boundaries and maintain disciplined behaviour, they could become a very serious problem.

 SOURCES
  
 [1] "Buzz Feed Animals" 

 [2] "American Kennel Club" 

 [3] "Bustle" 

 [4] "Pet Md" 
 
 [5] "Dog Conspiracy"