Prepping Your Home for the Arrival of a New Puppy

For as long as you can remember, your children have been pining for a puppy. Time and time again, you’ve explained to them that a pet is a tremendous responsibility, but your little ones remain adamant. Whereas other kids dream of receiving the latest videogames, smart phones and other high-tech toys, your children have consistently put "a puppy" at the top of their Christmas and birthday lists. You initially thought their desire to own a pet was a passing fancy, but after three solid years of begging, it’s safe to assume that the requests aren’t going to stop.

Now that your children are a little older and more responsible, you’re confident that they’re ready to tackle the challenges of dog ownership. While there’s no doubt that you and your partner will be providing them with a little bit of help, your kids are prepared to take on the bulk of the pet-related responsibilities. However, before bringing your family’s new puppy home, you’ll need to make some minor adjustments to your residence. The following preparations will ensure that your puppy makes a seamless transition into its new home.

Shades, Drapes and Curtains

In the interest of your puppy’s safety, make a point of replacing all the blinds in your home with shades, drapes or curtains. Dogs have a tendency to become tangled in blinds, which can result in injury and strangulation. Since their necklines are weak and not yet fully developed, puppies are highly susceptible to blind-related strangulation. As any longtime pet owner can confirm, window dressings are notorious for attracting dog hair. With this in mind, look for shades, drapes and curtains that are machine- washable. Being able to toss dirty window dressings into the washer will come as a welcome change of pace to anyone tired of the time-consuming blind-cleaning process.

Plentiful Pet Beds

If you don’t want your furniture to incur scratch marks or become coated in dog hair, place numerous pet beds throughout your home. Providing your puppy with cozy alternatives to chairs and sofas will significantly reduce the chances of the pooch damaging your furniture. Furthermore, multiple pet beds will help your puppy differentiate between its space and your space. When puppies aren’t given beds, they have no point of reference for distinguishing human furniture from dog furniture.

Stone Tile Floors

If there’s a specific area of your home in which your new puppy will spend the bulk of its time, consider equipping that space with stone tile flooring. Since hardwood flooring is prone to scratching, it’s not a good fit for dogs with long, sharp toenails. Additionally, carpeting’s propensity for staining and dirt retention makes it a poor flooring choice for homes with pets. On the flip side, stone tile flooring is virtually impossible to scratch and incredibly easy to clean. Even if your puppy has an occasional accident, you’ll be able to clean it up with ease and won’t have to worry about staining.

Despite being a lot of fun, taking care of a puppy entails a substantial amount of hard work. In many respects, caring for a puppy is comparable to raising a human child. When preparing to have children, many couples make a number of childproof adjustments to their homes – and puppy ownership should be approached in the same manner.

About the Author: Dianne Williams is a daycare administrator and mother of three who resides in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. When her family was preparing to welcome a new puppy, she had the friendly professionals from Flooring America install resilient stone tile flooring in her home’s kitchen. Happy with her durable new kitchen floors, Dianne recommends Flooring America to anyone trying to find a flooring store.

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