21 May Preparing for Your New Hound Checklist

Ok, so you’ve done all the research, decided on the perfect hound that fits your family and lifestyle, and you’re ready to bring your fur baby home. What next? Well, one of the best things you can do is ease your dog into her new surroundings by having the right supplies on hand and making sure you put everything in place to satisfy her needs…which includes emergency and pet care contact numbers. This checklist can help!

If you take time to prepare in advance, you’ll avoid rushed trips to the store, and you’ll spend more relaxed time with your new huggable hound.
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For your home

Cleaning: Make sure your floors are free of anything hazardous you wouldn’t want your new hound to get into, especially if they are a puppy. Pay special attention to keep dangerous things like electrical cords or chemicals out of reach. And don’t forget some houseplants are poisonous to dogs too! Remember that scent hounds are keen on following their nose, even if it leads them into trouble, so keep trash in a bin that they won’t be able to break into.

Placing: If there are areas in your home you want to keep as doggie-free zones, a gate can be helpful. Whether you choose to use a tension-style baby gate or a foldable stand-up cage, keeping your pup safe and where it should be will save not only your home, but your sanity.

Planning: Take the time to make a schedule. Decide what times you will take your hound outside to potty, what times you will feed it, what times you will take it on a walk, etc. Make a schedule and…here’s the hard part…stick to it! Keeping up with a routine will get easier with time. Before you know it, these habits are second nature and your dog is more apt to keep from having accidents, or better yet, from being bored and finding ways to entertain herself (RIP dear couch, you served us well).

For your hound

Food: Hounds are athletic working dogs and need a premium dog food. Each hound breed has their own ideal weight, and so the amount and type of food you provide will depend on the current age, weight and condition of your dog. To help you select the best food for your pup, it’s best to ask your veterinarian, however, many hound breeders say a high quality lamb and rice formula without corn or soy is generally a good choice.

Bowls: Pay attention to the underside of the bowl and keep your living space in mind. If you have slick floors, you may want a bowl with a skid-resistant lining or a skid-resistant mat. If you are adopting an older or taller hound, you’ll want elevated bowls to make eating and drinking easier and to help avoid a serious condition called bloat.

Bed: Did you know that different breeds do better with different beds? There is a nifty tool at Mammoth Outlet where you can find the right bed for your dog based on their breed. Even if you plan on making your final purchase elsewhere, or if you are a DIYer, you can get an idea on what size and shape will be best.

Toys: Along with a nice selection of quality chew toys, frisbees and fetch balls, consider getting your hound a smart toy. There are a wide variety of puzzles ranging from simple to complicated that will get their minds working, which is perfect for intelligent hounds. Not to mention that a lot of the puzzles have places to hide treats, which for the food-motivated hound dog is a match made in heaven!

Grooming: Dog shampoo, hair brush, toothbrush and paste, flea comb and nail clippers are essential whether you plan on grooming yourself or taking your hound to a professional. Remember that when you clip their nails to only cut a small bit at a time to avoid the quick!

Identification: One of the most important things you can get your hound is an ID tag, which can be bought at a pet store, vet clinic, or purchased online. Microchipping is another way to have peace of mind if they happen to wander off. This can be done at most vet clinics.

Fenced-in yard: This certainly isn’t a requirement for adoption, but if you have a yard, by all means, it is best to ensure you have an escape-proof fence installed before bringing your beloved pup home. Hounds are well-known escape artists and, if given the opportunity, will leave your yard intent on tracking down an interesting odor or pursuing the neighborhood cat running by. These single-minded instincts to track and pursue are so focused and strong that they may easily lose track of their surroundings and not be able to find their way home.

Training: Grab your pup, a leash and some training treats…and go attend some training classes! They’re the quickest and easiest way to help your pup learn good manners, improve socialization, and boost mental and physical agility. More importantly, dog training actually allows you to improve your communication skills with your hound, strengthen your bond together, and manage challenging situations. You can find training courses online, or if you prefer a group setting, enroll you and your hound into obedience courses.

When house training, it’s often best to start with puppy pads. If you use things like newspapers for house training, then any paper lying on the floor becomes fair game.

For your phone

Because so many of us carry our phones with us wherever we go, it makes perfect sense to take advantage of today’s technology to help us make sure our new hound doggie will get the best care we can give. Whether it’s setting daily reminders for walks, keeping track of pet medications and vet appointments, or locating dog sitters and groomers, there’s so much more phones can do for pet parents than simply taking dog selfies (Say CHEESE!).

Below is a list of emergency and pet care contact numbers you should consider writing down or entering into your phone. Then, perform a quick internet search and you’ll find all kinds of smartphone applications (or apps) you can download and install to make life easier for you and your new pup.

• Veterinarian: ______________________________
• Emergency Vet Clinic: ________________________
• Poison Control:  ____________________________
• Breeder (if applicable):  _______________________
• Groomer (if applicable):  ______________________
• Dog Sitter:  _______________________________
• Dog Walker: ______________________________

Interested in more?

Check out this article A Hound Lover’s Guide to Adopting for information to consider before bringing you hound home.