Are you thinking about welcoming a new puppy to your homestead? Dogs are fantastic companions. It is easy to see why they continue to be the most popular pet in the United States year after year. Statistics show there are approximately 50 million households in the U.S. with at least one dog!
Pet dogs are an ideal addition to life on the homestead. They are the perfect company for those days where you are pottering around at home.
If you plan to make a puppy the latest addition to your homestead, it is essential to be prepared for their arrival. Welcoming a new puppy to a homestead is quite different from bringing them into a regular home.
To ensure your puppy adjusts well to life on the homestead, you will need to make extra preparations to ensure they settle into your home well and fit into life around the homestead.
Here is what to consider when introducing a new puppy to your homestead:
Tips for Welcoming a New Puppy
Plan a Veterinarian Visit
When welcoming a new puppy to the homestead, your new puppy will be surrounded by other animals. This means that the puppy will be exposed to a whole new environment. This could make them susceptible to picking up diseases from the other animals at the homestead. To protect against the risk of infection it is essential to ensure your puppy has all their shots and everything they need to stay healthy. It will minimize the risk of illness.
Life at the homestead is busy and you have other animals to look after. It may be tricky trying to find the time to schedule a consultation with the pup to get their shots. To overcome this problem and make life easier for yourself, you may want to look for mobile veterinarians near you. They come to you and you don’t need to leave the homestead.
Secure Your Space
Puppies are inquisitive and can be super fast. This means they can be tempted to run off and explore places they shouldn’t. To keep your puppy safe from harm and ensure they don’t get lost, it is a wise idea to get secure fencing. It will prevent them from escaping. Searching for your puppy through acres of land on your homestead is no fun for anyone. It is a situation you will want to avoid.
It is also helpful to get a sign made for your gate warning visitors to keep it closed. This should prevent your pup from accidentally escaping and keep them safely inside the boundaries of your fence. Do these tasks prior to welcoming a puppy to your homestead.
Be Aware of the Other Animals
Getting your pup used to the other animals on the homestead can be challenging. Be aware of the risks they could both pose to each other. This is vital to protecting all of your animals from harm. If your puppy startles your livestock, this could put everyone at risk of injury. You should keep your puppy on a leash when around livestock. This allows them to get used to being around the other animals and adjust to each other.
Final Thoughts on Welcoming a New Puppy
Doing the above suggestions will ensure a happy and safe introduction when welcoming a new puppy to your homestead. Remember a dose of prevention is worth it!