Throughout all the excitement of buying a new dog, it’s important to keep a checklist of the five essential items to get before you bring your furry friend home. To make the adjustment period smoother, be sure to grab these five things before you buy a new dog in Georgia.
It’s important to have a few things ready before you bring your new dog back to your Georgia home. Pick up a water bowl and bottle for those long walks in the Georgia heat. Have a leash a collar at the ready, too. Try to have a name tag prepared and set up an appointment to get your dog chipped. Consult with a vet, so you have the best food available for your furry friend, and be sure to purchase a bed so that you can start setting boundaries early. While there are other items you can pick up in the coming weeks, these five are important to have on day one.
Leaving your dog at home can be anxiety-inducing, especially if you just adopted it. Our dedicated team is here to care for your dog when you can’t. To learn more about our services, visit our website or call the Georgia dog walkers and sitters at Critter Sitters today at (404) 793-6178.
What Are the Top 5 Essential Items to Get Before Buying a New Dog in Georgia?
Being prepared will only help your dog get comfortable in its new environment faster. The Georgia dog walkers and sitters at Critter Sitters can offer insight into essential items you need on day one. To make your dog feel at home, be sure to pick up some essential items first.
1) Water Bowl and Bottle
The Georgia heat is unmatched. On long walks, your dog can get overheated quickly. Especially for larger dogs with heavy coats, Georgia summers can be rough. To prevent your dog from getting dehydrated, have a water bowl at the ready when it gets home. Better yet, buy a special doggy water bottle for your canine to lap from on hotter days. Having these items from the get-go is important.
2) Leash and Collar
While Georgia doesn’t have a statewide leash law, your specific county might. After you bring your new dog home, it’s important to take it on a walk to become acquainted with its surroundings. Some new owners prefer to lead their dog through their house while leashed, to control the situation. Entering a new home can be confusing for dogs, especially puppies. Having a leash and collar at the ready when you pick up your canine pal is important, especially if your Georgia county has a leash law.
3) Name Tag and ID Chip
As soon as you get your new dog, affix its name tag to its collar. When dogs are in a new environment, they don’t always understand that it’s safe. If your furry friend gets out of the house, there’s no way to identify that it’s yours. Some Georgia counties even require that dogs be chipped. An identification chip is put in your dog so that local shelters can ID it if it does get lost. While you can’t chip your dog before you buy it, you can set up an appointment and do it on the way home from a shelter or breeder. Don’t worry – the Georgia dog walkers and sitters at Critter Sitters wouldn’t recommend chipping your dog if it was painful. The process only takes a moment, and your precious pup won’t feel a thing. It’s a smart idea for new owners to get their dog chipped and have a name tag at the ready before they bring it back to their Georgia home.
4) Food
Georgia shelters and breeders normally require a prospective family to meet with a dog several times before officially adopting. So, you’ll probably know the size and breed of your new dog before you bring it home. Having the right food at the ready is important. Not all dog foods are the same. Depending on your dog’s breed and age, you’ll probably need a specific type of food. Having tasty food at the ready can help build trust between owner and pet. After all, pets are animals. They respond to food in a primal way and associate a food source with safety.
If you don’t have a vet to consult with about food options, the Georgia dog walkers and sitters at Critter Sitters can recommend local veterinarians that can give you some advice.
5) Bed
While you might have dreams of you and your furry friend cuddling up every night, it’s best if it has its own space. Before you buy a dog in Georgia, be sure to pick up a bed. Some owners prefer their dog to sleep in a crate, and others don’t. Whatever you decide, the Georgia dog walkers and sitters at Critter Sitters can heed your wishes while you’re away. Regardless, your dog should have a bed. It’s helpful if dogs know that they have a comfy space that’s only theirs. Otherwise, your dog might start hoping up on your couch for its daily naps. Setting that boundary early on can help determine the power hierarchy between you and your new dog. As much as you love your pup, it needs to know that you’re in charge. Giving it a bed from day one can help with that.
There are some things you don’t need on day one. After buying a dog in Georgia, let it adapt. Then you can buy all the toys and treats you want. In the first few weeks, it’s best to keep your dog relaxed, especially if it’s a puppy. Overwhelming it with too many items can cause behavioral problems. Once your dog has settled in, then you can buy it some fun toys. While many pet owners use treats to train their new dogs, there’s no need to start on the first day. Right after your dog arrives at its new home, it might be too stressed to start learning new things. Wait a bit, and then you can start teaching your dog fun tricks.
Call Our Georgia Dog Walks and Sitters for Attentive Care
After bringing your new dog to your Georgia home, you won’t always be there to take care of it. When work or life gets in the way, our team can help. To learn more about the Georgia dog walkers and sitters at Critter Sitters, call us today at (404) 793-6178.
