Adopting a dog is a big decision. Before you buy a puppy or take an orphan from a shelter, find out what needs to be done to ensure good conditions for your pet and how to care for it in the first weeks of your life together. Learn the most important issues related to adopting a dog and welcoming him home.

Adoption of a dogis a happy moment for the whole family - it should also be for the cause of this happiness. Therefore, during the first days of your dog's stay in your home, make this time as easy as possible for him. Learn the 5 rules of conduct afteradopting a dog .

1. Exceptional puppy care

Before youadopt a dog , find out the age of the pet you want to make a member of your family. Puppies should be weaned from their mother around 8 weeks of age. If for some reason our pupil is younger (an animal abandoned by its mother, found, taken from a pseudo-kennel, the owners of which do not follow this rule), it will require special treatment. Such dogs can be malnourished, weaker and have lower immunity. It is possible that it will be necessary to supplement with milk replacers, reheat, perhaps administer preparations increasing immunity. It is best to contact your veterinarian who will advise you what to do.

2. Do not change the current karma immediately

You should find out what the dog was fed before it came to our house. For the first two weeks, we should give the same food in smaller amounts, but add the one we plan to use - otherwise an animal that is not used to this type of food may have digestive problems. The system of 4-day introduction of new food works well: on the first day, the toddler gets 75% of the food. old pet food and 25 percent. a new one, the next day, half and a half, on the third only 25 percent. the old one and the fourth only the new one.

3. Make the necessary vaccinations

The date of the dog's first vaccination against infectious diseases is 6 weeks of age. Before that, however, we need to make up for the dog. Puppies can become infected with dog ascariasis Toxocara canis already in the mother's womb or while suckling her milk, so it is necessary to give them an anthelmintic preparation beforeperforming a preventive vaccination. Not only for the puppy's he alth, but also for his own. Toxocarosis is a dangerous zoonotic disease that poses a serious threat to our he alth and that of our children. The date of the next vaccination is the 9th week of life, the next - 12. Only after the last vaccination is done, our dog is fully protected against infectious diseases. Until then, we should avoid contact with other animals and their whereabouts. For the next two years of a dog's life, booster doses should be given annually, and the dog may be vaccinated again every 3 years. Additionally, according to Polish law, dogs must be vaccinated against rabies every year.

You won't have a doggy life with a dog!

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Own place for the dog

Before you bring your dog home, make a place for him. Think about where the new household member will sleep. Choose the angle from which he will be able to observe the surroundings. Don't buy an expensive mattress, because puppies, as well as some adult dogs, love to chew and gnaw their bedding. An ideal solution would be an old armchair covered with a blanket, only for the four-legged friend. That's why dogs love our beds, armchairs and sofas, because they have a better view than from the floor. When your pet has its own high bed, it will be easier to accept the ban on entering human seats. There should be two bowls near his sleeping place: one for water (constantly refilled!), The other for food.

4. Protection against ticks and other parasites

It is also important to protect the animal from ticks and other external parasites (fleas, scabies). Remember that you cannot set specific dates from when and until when we should administer such preparations (collar, spot-on, sprays, tablets). The activity of ticks that they transmit to animals, incl. dangerous babesiosis depends on the temperature outside. When we enjoy the first sunny days in March or the lack of snow in February - ticks come to life and attack. Since the puppy's first "serious" walk is after the last vaccination (i.e. when the dog is 12 weeks old), anti-tick protection must be provided beforehand. Most of the products available on the market are intended for dogs that are 8 weeks old and weigh more than 2 kg, but it is worth consulting a veterinarian to ensure that the preparation is safe for a puppy.

5. Good dog education

We must remember that after adopting a dog, we replace his parents and siblings with whom he has just split up. From now on, we become his herd and he will learn the rules of life from usin the new environment. That is why it is important to raise the dog well - establish a hierarchy in the herd - the animal must be aware of who it belongs to. We teach him to obey, rewarding him for good behavior without being aggressive or punishing. If we are consistent and attentive, the dog will quickly learn the art of taking care of himself outside. Every time when the pooch suddenly stops playing or eating and everything indicates that it will end up in a puddle, we take him in our hands, go out quickly, and then, when it is over, we praise and reward him loudly. When we fail to orientate ourselves and the dog takes care of himself at home, we do not yell at him. It's not his fault we stared. You can use special disposable liners or a thick layer of newspapers. We always put them in the same place, preferably near the front door, and place the puppy on them whenever we see that he wants to settle down. We do it at home first, praising it every time he manages to do it on the mat. Once he has mastered this art and he will take care of it himself in the designated place, take the mat outside, and then give it up completely.

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Pets