You've just brought your new best friend home. He's feisty, frolicsome, and -- unfortunately -- prone to run away if given the chance. Eventually he'll come to prefer his new home, but what do you do in the meantime? Here are a few tips to keep your new pooch from dashing off into the wild.
Make Sure Your Home and Yard are Secure
This should be step one when bringing home a new dog. If you have a yard, make sure it is fenced securely and has a gate for you to get through easily. A physical fence is preferable, but an electronic fence will also do. A home security system that lets you know when doors are ajar is also handy, as a pup could smell something interesting through an open door and slip out unnoticed. Companies like ADT security systems and pets go well together as they can help install pet-specific security measures as well.
Keep Your Puppy from Being Bored
We tend to wander around when we get bored, so it's not surprising that puppies do the same. And considering puppies are a seemingly tireless font of energy, it takes some extra work to keep them occupied. Make sure they have plenty of toys and interesting things available to them at all times, and rotate out the toys on occasion so they're not always faced with the same familiar things. Not that this should be any great hardship on your part. Just take plenty of time to play with them.
Take Them for Walks
For an inquisitive puppy, the outside world is nothing short of fascinating. Don't deprive them! Take them for regular walks so they get their fill of the wondrous out-of-doors. It's also helpful for making sure they get used to being on a leash early on.
Keep Them Indoors or with a Pet-Sitter if You Can't be Home
If you're going to be gone for several hours, it's safest to keep new pets inside. It may be tempting to leave them in a fenced-in yard to minimize house training accidents, but it's far better to clean up an accident than to come home to an empty yard. If you're going to be gone for an extended amount of time, leave them with a family member or doggy day care type center.
The last thing you and your family want after bringing home a new friend is to lose them right away. The world is a big, dangerous place for a puppy and keeping them from running off not only gives your family peace of mind, it could save their life.
