Your children have probably been begging "When can we get a puppy?” Owning a dog is a major responsibility which can be an excellent learning experience for children. Before you adopt a new dog, there are a number of things to be considered. You and your family will have to come up with a game plan in advance and agree to what your new furry family member can and cannot do in your home.

One of the first things you want to consider is dog or puppy-proofing your home.  A great way to do this is to bend down and look for perils like dangling electrical cords that would be perfect for chewing; find toys and other small objects off the floor that could be harmful if swallowed; remove chemicals, paper sacks, plastic items and even plants away from the prying jaws of a dog. Also, until your new puppy is house trained, you should temporarily remove rugs. He shouldn't feel that this is the perfect spot to eliminate!

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You should buy a baby gate to restrict your dog's access to those areas of your home where you don't want him to go. This might also be used to separate off an area just for him. This is particularly helpful when it comes to housetraining. As well, puppies are particularly curious and like to explore. To prevent your dog from chewing your shoes and clothes, make sure that he can't access them. Your closet or bedroom doors should be closed.

Getting some rawhide bones and chew toys will help to distract your dog from gnawing your possessions. While your puppy is teething, make sure he has safe toys to chew on so he won't be tempted to chew on objects around your home. In addition, make sure he has several toys to keep him busy. A bored dog can be a destructive dog! Rubber balls, tug ropes, push dog toys, and even squeaker toys are favorites of many canines. As with human children, you should give your dog toys that are appropriate for his age. In addition, you buy plenty of toys so they can be rotated to prevent boredom in your dog.

Lay some ground rules in advance of bringing your puppy home. Can he jump onto the furniture? Will he be allowed in your bedroom? Have you decided where he will sleep? You should know that earlier so his dog bed can be set up there. Are you flexible enough to change your plans as needed? Sometimes, dogs will pick a favorite spot in the home and if it is your bedroom, you will either have to train him to sleep elsewhere, or permit him to sleep on his dog bed in there. Just like people, dogs have their own individual personalities. You will need to be adaptable.

You will also need to have a strategy for dog obedience training. An obedient dog is a great family member.  In addition, you will get so much more out of the doggie-human relationship if you invest in dog obedience training. Do your research and decide if you can tackle the job yourself or if you want to find a training school to help.

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You also need to plan for the times when you are away from the home? What about a vet? Would you employ a dog sitter or have him boarded in a kennel if you needed to travel? Do you have a decent yard for him to roam in? How about exercise? Do you intend to walk your dog so he can socialize with other dogs? These are all essential considerations that must be thought about before you adopt a dog.

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