Helping Your Adopted Dog Make the Homecoming Transition in Visual Studio .NET

Drawing Code 128A in Visual Studio .NET Helping Your Adopted Dog Make the Homecoming Transition

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Puppy-proofing your home first Buying the supplies you need and a few just for fun Introducing your adopted dog to his new life Spotting transitional problems that may require professional help Stressing routine for a better-adjusted dog

ongratulations, you ve found the dog for you! But wait don t bring him home just yet You have some preparation work to do

Fortunately, you can make a big difference in how well your new dog adjusts to his new surroundings by making use of a few targeted strategies On his first day home, your new best friend may not believe that he s finally in his forever home and with his own cozy bed and shiny new food bowl and everything But your new dog may be a bit nervous, even scared, when he first comes home with you, despite the fancy new collar and deluxe chew toys Lucky for you, this chapter tells you exactly what to do to ensure that your new four-legged friend s homecoming is a happy one

If you don t already have a dog, you need to do some pooch-proofing before you bring your new friend home to keep your new dog and your old possessions safe Pooch-proofing is important for exploring, chewing, mischievous puppies and for adult dogs who haven t quite learned what goes and what is unacceptable in your home These precautions are particularly important for dogs who never spent much time indoors until now Although an adult dog may not even consider gnawing on the legs of the kitchen chair, eating your shoes, or rooting through the garbage, you won t know for sure until you bring her home Better to pooch-proof, just in case

You also need some stuff to keep your dog healthy, well exercised, and amused For people who like shopping, this part of bringing your new dog home is fun

Puppy-proofing first (even for adult dogs)

Before bringing a dog into your home, you need to come to terms with the many things that a short four-legged animal can get into Any dog in a new environment is bound to explore, and some dogs explore more shall we say enthusiastically than others Puppies, in particular, explore the world with their noses and mouths, and that may mean chomping on choking hazards, chewing through electrical cords, and munching on your favorite nonmunchable possessions Energetic puppies and older dogs unaccustomed to being inside also are at risk of falling, having things fall on them, and getting stuck in the strangest places Some of these situations can be dangerous for the puppy, such as getting stuck inside a recliner or underneath a car in the garage Your home doesn t have to be a house of hazards for your new dog You just need to take some precautions first On the other hand, just because you have a new dog doesn t mean you have to resort to vinyl flooring and covering all your furniture with sheets You do, however, need to look around and eliminate potential hazards Here s what to look for when pooch-proofing: Choking hazards: Look across all of your floors; do you find any paperclips, bits of paper or string, rubber bands, or other objects a young puppy may find tempting enough to sample Pick them up right away; they re choking hazards Unsteady objects: What if you knocked the base of that side table with your wagging rear end Would that lamp fall on your head Can big puppy paws reach the edge of that coffee table and knock off all those breakable knickknacks Either make those unsteady objects steady enough to withstand the onslaught of your new dog or move them out of your pooch s sphere of influence Strangulation hazards: Does the dangling curtain fringe beckon, begging your pup to grab it with his teeth and give it a good shake Are the miniblind cords hanging within reach of dog necks Find a way to remove these potential strangulation hazards from your dog s reach by taping them down, tying them out of reach, or removing them altogether Electrocution hazards: Can you imagine what those sharp little puppy teeth can do to an electrical cord Yep, you re right A puppy can bite through a cord in seconds, causing severe burns and electrocution Make sure you tape cords down or put them behind furniture so puppy isn t tempted by an electrocution hazard Tempting trash: Is the garbage can, with its luscious aromas, standing open for your dog to topple, spilling its feast of cast-off goodies The tempting trash from some garbage can really harm a dog that may be