Six Ways To Ease Your Dog Into A New Home

Bringing a new dog into your home is an exciting time. Here are six tips to make the transition easier for both you and your pooch:

Food

If you’re adopting a dog, their stomach may require some adjusting. Sarah Evans DVM, via a Refinery29, recommends mixing 75% of their old diet with 25% of their new diet for a few days, then altering the ratio to 50:50 and 25:75. Within two weeks, your pup should be 100% acclimated to their new food. With US-sourced and high-quality ingredients, Portland Pet Food is the perfect option for your dog!

Routine

Pets should have some structure throughout the day so all of their needs are met. But, stick to a more realistic schedule, instead of a strict one. 

According to vetstreet.com, mixing up their routine such as small meals and walks throughout the day establishes your leadership and lets your dog understand that it is important to pay attention and respond to your command.

Small meals are an important reward, and feeding human-grade food is critical for your dog to experience big health benefits. Portland Pet Food meals are an excellent option for your dog, made with high quality, human-grade ingredients and are available in  several flavors. Our Turkey & Yams meal is perfect for the fall/winter season!

Cold Weather

Here are some helpful tips from the ASPCA on keeping your pup protected during the winter months.

• Always towel dry your dog after they come inside, and pay special attention to their feet and in-between the toes. If your dog is walking in salt-heavy areas, soak their paws in warm water and dry thoroughly as soon as they come inside. Investing in booties or paw protection wax may also be beneficial.

• Keeping their coat longer provides warmth. For long-haired dogs, trimming the coat avoids salt-crystals and de-icing chemicals to stick to them and dry out the skin. For short-haired dogs, consider getting them a coat or sweater that covers from the neck to the base of their tail.

• Feeding your pet a little bit more during the colder months helps maintain needed calories. Fortunately, feeding your dog human-grade food like Portland Pet Food provides the nutrients they need in a delicious, ready-to-serve pouch."

Socializing

According to preventivevet.com, it’s important to start socializing your pup as soon as you bring it home.

While in their new surroundings, help your dog become comfortable with the normal sounds, sights, and smells they’ll be experiencing on a day-to-day basis, such as the doorbell, vacuum, people wearing hats, and many others.

It is crucial that your puppy does not socialize at a dog park until they have received all of their vaccinations in their initial puppy series (around 16 weeks.) The risk of other dogs transmitting a disease is too high-risk.

But after a week of their first deworming dose, they are able to join a puppy socialization class. The experts of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) state that it “should be the standard of care for puppies to receive [such] socialization before they are fully vaccinated.”

Exercise

If your dog spends hours sitting at home it is essential for them to get all of the exercise they need. While it varies per breed, your dog should be outside walking at least once a day for 30 minutes. It should be enough time that they’ve slowed down by the time you stop.

Travel

Before traveling, make sure that you take the appropriate steps so you and your dog can be more at ease, wherever you’re heading to. Have your dog’s microchip up to date and carry their medical records (physical copy or electronically) in case you need to see a vet.

Have a travel bag designated for your dog ready to go. The bag should be equipped with food, toys, medication, and any last-minute supplies you think your dog might need.

Dogs who are picky eaters love Portland Pet Food Company! We offer a variety of flavors of natural, healthy dog treats and natural, healthy dog food toppings, including gluten-free options. We also have a dog food toppers subscription service available, which makes ordering easy!

Delicious Cat Food, Too
We also have fresh, healthy cat food! Check out our chicken and pumpkin cat food and salmon and pumpkin cat food.