{"id":1686,"date":"2023-12-21T05:42:34","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T05:42:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/?page_id=1686"},"modified":"2024-01-05T11:42:04","modified_gmt":"2024-01-05T11:42:04","slug":"10-things-to-do-before-getting-a-dog","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/choosing-your-pet\/becoming-a-pet-owner\/10-things-to-do-before-getting-a-dog\/","title":{"rendered":"10 things to do before getting a dog"},"content":{"rendered":"
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1. Borrow a dog<\/strong> \u2013 this may sound like a strange first request but it will provide invaluable information on what to expect for first-time dog owners. We recommend that you borrow a friend or family member\u2019s dog for a week to establish a routine and begin training yourself to become a positive dog owner.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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2. A dog-proof house<\/strong> \u2013 before bringing a dog home it\u2019s important to cast your eyes around and make sure that your home is prepared for a new furry resident. This could mean adding fences, checking your garden for poisonous plants, removing dangerous objects, or being mindful of openings or holes which a dog could fall through or escape.<\/p>\n

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3. Food<\/strong> \u2013 if possible, it\u2019s great to use the same brand that\u2019s used by the pet shelter or breeder to avoid any sudden changes in diet that could result in an unfortunate case of diarrhea.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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4. Bowls<\/strong> \u2013 you\u2019ve got to have something to put the food in! Your dog will also need a water bowl.<\/p>\n

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5. Collar and lead<\/strong> \u2013 this will be vital in helping you transport your dog from the pet shelter to your home. Even if you\u2019re hoping to have an identification tag engraved with your pet\u2019s name at a later date, it is important to at least have a collar ready for your dog. This way they will be recognised as having a loving family rather than being a stray.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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6. Stair gates<\/strong> \u2013 an inquisitive puppy or curious dog can run rampant in your house, so it\u2019s important to set up boundaries early and establish which areas are off limits.<\/p>\n

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7. Something to chew on<\/strong> \u2013 if you are getting a puppy this is especially important to help avoid shoes ending up as victims of a teething puppy. Having something to chew on will also help older dogs feel less nervous in their new environment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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8. Grooming brush<\/strong> \u2013 the best brush to use will differ depending on the length of your dog\u2019s coat. This is a fantastic way to ensure you are prepared for your daily grooming session.<\/p>\n

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9. Toys and treats<\/strong> \u2013 these will help your dog feel more at home in their new environment and also provide stimulation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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10. Bed<\/strong> \u2013 it\u2019s important to set up a bed or kennel that will be a safe place for your dog to call it\u2019s own. Cushions, blankets or soft towels are great to use.<\/p>\n

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In order to make your home the best place for a dog and ensure a happy start together, all ten of these points should be completed. It is not only fantastic for the dog\u2019s wellbeing, but will make the transition to dog-owner a lot easier.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\nGot a tip on becoming a dog owner? We\u2019d love you to share (use the comments box below).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1. Borrow a dog \u2013 this may sound like a strange first request but it will provide invaluable information on what to expect for first-time dog owners. We recommend that you borrow a friend or family member\u2019s dog for a week to establish a routine and begin training yourself to become a positive dog owner. … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “10 things to do before getting a dog”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1689,"parent":1547,"menu_order":13,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"sub-sub-details-page.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1686"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1686"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1686\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4427,"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1686\/revisions\/4427"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1547"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1686"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}