Getting a new dog is exciting especially to people who are doing it for the very first time. There are things that first-time homeowners deserve to know to make the transition easier and ensure the success of the experience. Veterinarian Sarah Evans, DVM, shares these tips below:

Mix 75% of the dog’s old diet with 25% of the new diet for a few days.

To prevent gastrointestinal problems, a dog owner should not suddenly introduce a new diet. Mixing previous food with the new food helps the dog adjust. Dr. Evans says that within 2 weeks, the dog should be fully adjusted. She also recommends buying high-quality dog food for sensitive stomachs.

Enroll your pup in a puppy class to receive behavioral training.

Training puppies to behave can be frustrating. Basic training programs allow pets to socialize with other dogs. To increase your pup’s motivation, reward him with a treat after a good behavior. Along with the healthy treat, provide praise.

Walk your dog at least once a day for 30 minutes.

Stay-at-home pets require more movement, so walking them for half an hour each day lets them complete their exercise needs. But take note that this can vary depending on the breed. Supervision, while the dog is at play, is a must to prevent mishaps.

Be well-prepared when traveling.

If you are to go on a road trip with your dog, feed him 2 hours before the trip to avoid nausea. You wouldn’t want motion sickness to prevent your dog from enjoying the experience. When it comes to air travel, you need to know airline rules and rules that govern assistance animals, if you happen to own one.

Article source: Refinery 29

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet. 

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

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