Moving to a New Home? Keep Yourself Out of the Dog House with These Tips

Your neighbors may love dogs just as much as you do, but what they won’t love is being kept awake and all hours of night by a bored barker. Keep reading for easy ways to make nice with the neighborhood when you have a canine companion in your caravan.

• Set boundaries. One of the most important things you can do as a pet owner is to ensure that your dog stays in your yard. Thankfully, installing a wooden fence is not a cost-prohibitive project. According to Home Advisor, the project has a starting cost of approximately $1,525. Pricing varies and can go up to $3,740 depending on the size of the yard, your contractor and fencing materials.

• Make introductions. Once you get settled into your new home, you can make a great impression by taking the initiative to introduce your family – including those with claws – to your neighbors. Before you head over for hellos, give your dog a few minutes to sniff and smell along the route. As frustrating as it can be stopping every 5 feet, this is how he “reads” the area. Keep Spot on a leash and bring a handful of treats in case the neighbors have children who want to get up close and personal with your pup.

• Start training early. Continual barking is one of the biggest problems faced by dog owners as they move from one location to the next. Dogs bark for a number of reasons, but regardless of the cause, their vocalization will annoy everyone within earshot. Don’t let your dog start with this behavior and begin training the moment you arrive at your new home. The Online Dog Trainer explains that danger barking, which is likely the cause of the noise in the early days in your new home, is managed by simply checking things out and letting your dog know the new people that are near aren’t a problem.

• Clean up after your pet. Typically, what happens in your home and on your property is your business. But when you have a dog, his “business” can be a real issue for people even several houses down the road. If your dog uses the lawn as a lavatory, make a point to clean up after him as soon as you see evidence of his bathroom break. Not only will this keep your yard looking great, but will prevent the unpleasant smells that can carry on a summer breeze. The Gardening Channel has several innovative ideas for eliminating excrement.

• Stay up to date on vaccinations. Your local ordinances will require core vaccinations. These protect against common canine diseases such as rabies. Your vaccinations will also include protection against many highly contagious viral diseases that your dog can spread to any other dogs they come in contact with. Stay on top of your pup’s vaccination schedule to ensure both his health and that of animals throughout the neighborhood.

• Banish boredom. Like children, dogs of all ages need to be engaged, well-fed and given lots of opportunities for exercise. Modern Dog Magazine explains that boredom can lead to general mischief and destructive chewing. Even more concerning is that an under-stimulated dog is more likely to tap his inner Houdini and make a great escape straight to the neighbor’s yard. Make sure your dog has plenty of interactive toys to hold his attention, especially if you will be away and he will be outside for more than a few hours.

Your dog does not have to be a source of contention between you and your fellow subdivision dwellers. Make sure he has physical boundaries, understands the rules and has no reason to tunnel under the fence to make his own introductions.

Article provided by Medina at DogEtiquette.info.