Preparing

Once you have selected a dog that will fit in your lifestyle, budget and home (for advice, see the breed selector), there are some basic considerations that you will need to address. Many of these are merely questions of preference that you will want to have answered before bringing your dog home, but others are important safety issues that you will want to resolve in anticipation of your dog's arrival.

Setting Up Your Home
Once you know that there is a dog coming into your family, you will have some decisions to make. Where will the dog sleep? Where will it eat? What areas will the dog be allowed to enter? These decisions will affect the purchases you have to make as you ready your home for its newest member. For example, you may want to consider making the following purchases:

• Fence - either physical or invisible (a buried wire that gives your dog a mild shock when it attempts to leave the yard)
• Outside kennel
• Dog house
• Doggie door
• Gates - to block off certain rooms or staircases indoors, similar to those used for children

You will also need to purchase certain supplies for your dog. The following is a possible list for consideration:

• Collar
• Leash - either one of adjustable length or two of different lengths, long and short.
• Food and water bowls - plastic is OK, but stainless steel or ceramic is better
• Grooming supplies - including brush, nail clippers, shampoo
• Dog bed or blanket

As an alternative to a dog bed or open sleeping area, Purina® recommends the purchase of a crate. Crates are enclosed kennels with a latching door. It should be just large enough for the dog to stand and turn around, so if your dog is a puppy and is going to grow, you might want to either buy crates of different size or buy a large crate and block part of it off with cardboard.

Crates are a good place to keep your dog when you can't be around. Some people worry that a dog will be uncomfortable in a crate, but in fact dogs like enclosed spaces. They are den animals and feel secure under a low roof. As long as you let your dog out to get plenty of exercise during the day, it is perfectly alright to have your dog sleep or spend parts of the day in a crate.

Finally, you will want to prepare your family and house. Move breakable things out of reach. Lay out some chew toys so you will always be ready to distract your dog from inappropriate behavior. Spray some "anti-chew" liquids on wires and other vulnerable items; these taste awful but cause no harm.

If you have small children, teach them the basics of living with a dog beforehand. They must know that acting aggressively towards the dog will prompt an aggressive response. And if the dog acts aggressively, crying or running away will only encourage the dog to give chase. The best way to get children and dogs to live together well is to involve the child in the care of the dog.

Poison Control
One of the most important things you can do for your dog is make sure that there aren't dangerous substances about. Some of these are obvious - detergent or cleanser, for example - while others are less obvious, including a wide variety of plants.

Chocolate: It is true that chocolate can do serious harm to a dog, although in most cases a little won't hurt. However, like people, dogs will tend to want more and more. Too much acts as a stimulant and can cause seizures.

Soaps, detergents and cleansers: Needless to say, these can be harmful or deadly. Make sure you have all of these products safely stowed away. That means laundry detergent goes in a closet, not on the dryer. Walk through the house and make sure all such materials are out of the way.

Medications: Hopefully medications are kept out of reach already in your home. But it must also be recognized that human medications were not developed with animals in mind. Don't attempt to medicate your dog; even the most benign pain medication can hurt a dog. If you think your dog needs medication, talk to your vet.

Plants: Many plants, including many common household plants, can be poisonous to your pets. Do a walkthrough of your house and remove any dangerous flora.