How to Set Up Your Home For a Lhasa Apso

Setting a home up to house a new Lhasa Apso puppy includes a long list of tasks.

How to Set Up Your Home For a Lhasa Apso? In this easy to follow How-To-Guide, we’ll be taking each task step by step from beginning to end, from common sense to lesser-known facts. By the end of the guide, you will have a home, and a life, well prepared for a new Lhasa Apso.

Puppy proofing is a process that needs to be taken seriously in order to keep your new friend safe. Even if things seem obvious, they can be easily forgotten, so double check your list before bringing home a new dog.

Remember to set up the required materials early. Get yourself familiar with where things are so that your pup can learn to find them easily as well.

Set boundaries and rules for the household to follow. If there is any confusion on certain rules to follow, be sure to clear it up beforehand. Confusion in the household leads to confusion for the Lhasa Apso.

Begin your search for a quality veterinarian before adopting your new friend. Leaving your dog’s care in the hands of a business that doesn’t care much for their well-being is not a good idea.

Find someone that you can trust to take care of your pup when you are unable to. Whether this is a boarder or a dog walker, be vigilant in your search for a good caretaker.

By following these steps, your Lhasa Apso is guaranteed to live a safer, better life. Give them extra love and care and their lives will be rich.

Ensuring that the pup has a safe and loving home and quality care is the most important aspect in their lives.

8 Ways to Puppy Proof Your Home

Household chemicals,
Trash,
Food,
Medicine,
Plants,
Electrical cords,
Sharp objects
Other harmful materials.

In addition to the purchase of several products to be discussed in the coming paragraphs, it is a good idea to completely puppy proof your house from top to bottom. The following 8 proofing tips should begin to get your home ready for your new pup.

First, be sure all chemicals are out of reach or locked away. Some dogs learn the skill of opening cabinet doors, so be prepared to lock the cabinets or store the chemicals in a high location or in a locking container. Chemicals in your home might include cleaning supplies, laundry soap, pest control sprays, antifreeze, fertilizer, and more.

Also, if you spray chemicals on your yard to promote grass growth, killing weeds and bugs, or for any other reason, be sure to verify the best procedure for taking your pet out. Many require a few hours after application before it is safe to let your Lhasa Apso on the treated area.

The second thing to check off your puppy proofing list is ensuring that the trash cannot be gotten in to. Ingesting trash can cause a list of health issues. A can with a secured lid or keeping trash out of reach is best.

Third on our list is food. There are many foods that can be considered poison to a Lhasa Apso. Storing chocolate, onions, raisins, and other foods in sealed containers and far out of the dog’s reachis ideal. Dogs don’t know what is safe to eat and what is not, so you must be proactive in keeping the food away from them.

Keeping any medicine away from pupsis the fourth item on the list. Even when the medicines are enclosed with the cap on securely, a dog can chew the lid off fairly easily. Keep medicine high in a cabinet or on a shelf where your Lhasa Apso will be unable to get to it. This will save you hundreds of dollars in emergency vet bills and may even save your dog’s life.

Surprisingly, the fifth on the list is to check up on your plants and find out if they are toxic to dogs. Some plants that are often kept inside are indeed toxic to our K9 friends and should be disposed of or rehomed prior to the pup’s arrival. Plastic plants should also be moved to an area where the dog will not go, as the dog may chew on or swallow the plastic leaves and cause intestinal issues.

The sixth item involves moving any and all electrical cords far from your puppy’s reach. While not all dogs chew, chewing on an electrical cord can cause electrocution and even death. Preventing such a tragedy is imperative. Cords can be attached to walls or bundled behind furniture in order to keep them from your Lhasa Apso.

Number seven involves securing knives, nails, tacks, and other small or sharp objects awayfrom your pet. Stepping on, licking, chewing, or swallowing these objects can cause serious harm to a dog. Keeping your Lhasa Apso in a safe environment is the best option at keeping them healthy.

Lastly, the eighth item on the list is preventing the ingestion of or contact with any other materials that might cause harm. This can include glue, power tools, insulation, cement, and an unending list. If there is something in your home that you wouldn’t leave with a toddler, do not allow your dog access to it either.

13 Required Dog Supplies

Dog Crate
Bowls- Food and water
Collar with ID Tag
Leash and harness
Baby gates
Treats
Toys
Grooming products
Carpet cleaner with pet odor neutralizer
Pee Pads
Baggies
Enclosed play pen (indoor and outdoor)
Food

There are a number of purchases that will be needed to be made prior to bringing your Lhasa Apso home. These items will make life as a puppy other much simpler and less stressful.

The first item is one that many dog owners consider mandatory – a crate. A quality dog crate can be purchased at your local pet store for less than $50. You can also find a good one on Amazon for a bit cheaper.

A crate can be used for training purposes as well as providing a safe place for your new Lhasa Apso to sleep at night. It is also good for keeping your puppy contained when you are unable to be home. Even with the best puppy proofing, a home often has items that can harm a Lhasa Apso if they were to get into something while you are sleeping or at work. Providing them a crate offers a place where they are guaranteed to be kept from those dangers.

Your Lhasa Apso will probably want to be able to lounge comfortably without being in their crate. A dog bed is a great purchase that can provide them a space to rest. It also may help to keep them from the couch, if that is something you desire.

Bowls for food and water should be provided as well. It is usually a good idea to place them on a rug to keep the floor clean from messy eaters. It is also important to get quality food for your new pup if you don’t plan on making their meals each day. Be wary of corn and wheat ingredients, as those are common Lhasa Apso allergens.

Another necessary item for a new Lhasa Apso is a collar with an ID tag attached. If your Lhasa Apso were to ever get loose, a collar would let anyone who found them know that he or she belongs to someone. The ID tag would let them know how to get in contact with you to inform you that the dog had been found.

A leash and harness can also be purchased at the same time. Even if you have a fenced in yard, you will need a leash for walks or trips to the park. A harness is generally a personal preference, depending on how you plan to train your Lhasa Apso. Some find harness training easier, but most people prefer attaching a leash to the collar.

A new Lhasa Apso will also benefit from a few baby gates so that they can easily be monitored during the house-training process. In order to make the training easier on you, it is best to place the gates where the puppy can be seen at all times. This way any accidents can be corrected as soon as they happen.

Treats will also be needed to help with training. A Lhasa Apso is a small dog, so small treats are necessary. There are small, bite-sized treats that are even more appropriate for training, as it will not over-feed the puppy as they learn.

Toys are a great way to make your Lhasa Apso feel welcomed! They also provide a way to bond with your new puppy or give them something to so when you’re not available. It can also help avoid any chewing on furniture or shoes. Investing in quality toys is recommended to keep pieces from being swallowed or choked on.

Grooming products are an additional necessity for a Lhasa Apso. These products include puppy shampoo and conditioner, a brush, a comb, and a hairdryer. It is also suggested that your Lhasa Apso has his or her own toothbrush and dog toothpaste. Your new pup will also need their nails trimmed, so nail clippers are a good investment. The last item to have on hand is cotton balls, as your Lhasa Apso will need their ears cleaned often.

Sometimes puppies have accidents, so you might want to purchase a quality carpet cleaner with a pet odor neutralizer. The neutralizer will help to deodorize the spot, so the Lhasa Apso puppy doesn’t think that is the right place to relieve himself. If you do not have carpet, there are specific cleaners for hard surfaces that also deodorize.

You may also want to purchase baggies to carry on walks so that you can clean up after your Lhasa Apso. It is law in most areas to do so, plus it is a nice thing to do.

Another optional purchase is a package of puppy pads. Even if you plan on crate training, puppy pads can be placed under a blanket in the puppy’s crate to make clean up easier.

While it is not totally necessary to enclose your yard with a trustworthy fence, it can be a big help to you. A good fence should be flush with the ground so that there is no wiggle room beneath it. The fence should also not have any gaps at the ends, as it can allow your dog to escape. With a Lhasa Apso, the height of your fence is not generally a concern, but a four-footer is typically the minimum height. Lastly, be sure that no items are stacked near the fence that could allow the pup to climb over.

If you spend a lot of time outdoors and do not wish to put up a fence, it might be necessary to provide your Lhasa Apso with a long lead so that they can be with you. These leads are generally plastic wrapped wire varying in length with metal clasps at either end. One end will attach to your dog’s collar and the other will usually attach to a spike driven deep into the ground. It is not intended to leave your Lhasa Apso on the lead for several hours, but rather to provide a secure place to roam for a short time or while in your presence.

Once these items have been purchased, you are almost ready to bring your Lhasa Apso home. First, you must learn how to put them to use.

Setting Up Your New Items

You’ve bought everything needed for your new puppy, but what happens next? To start with, you must determine the best spot to set up the new Lhasa Apso’s crate. This can be a challenge because of the bulkiness of the crate. It can also be difficult because many puppies will whine if they are able to see you while they are in the crate.

For example, if you put your Lhasa Apso to bed at 10 pm, but don’t make it to bed yourself until 10:30, the puppy may cry to be let out. This can be difficult if you are unable to watch the puppy closely during that time. If you are able to choose a room that doesn’t get a lot of visits, that is the ideal placement.

When choosing where to place the dog bed, remember that it can be moved much more easily than the crate. You may want to place it in front of the window so that your Lhasa Apso can look outside. You could also place it by the fireplace where they could stay warm. After you have had your Lhasa Apso for a couple of weeks, you may notice where they like to spend their time. Moving the dog bed to their most preferred spot may help to provide comfort.

Placing the bowls for food and water typically depend on how you plan to feed the dog. If you plan to make meals from real ingredients, it may be easiest to set up the bowls in the kitchen. If you plan to use store-bought dog food, it is generally kept near the dog food storage. Be sure that your puppy has easy access to the bowls. The Lhasa Apso should be able to get to their water at any time of the day.

Having a leash and/ or harness hanging by the door is a great training tool. Many dogs, Lhasa Apso included, love going for walks. They may paw at the leash to inform you when they want to go out, or they will recognize that they need to come to you to get the leash put on when you grab it from the hook. Either way, it is easiest to keep it in a logical location.

Keeping treats near the door is also a good idea so that they can be easily grabbed when you take the pup out. When he or she relieve themselves outside, they can be praised quickly with the available treat.

Toys for your Lhasa Apso should be placed in their crate so as to provide them with an activity when they are in there for a couple of hours. It will help with any boredom or whining. Toys can also be kept in common areas or rooms where you would like your Lhasa Apso to spend most of their time. Some owners keep toys in a basket and train their pup to put them away when done.

Grooming products should be kept out of the dog’s reach, as they can chew on them or ingest something they shouldn’t. This would often be kept in a bathroom cabinet or near where the grooming will be taking place.

Also see: 5 SIMPLE WAYS TO GROOM YOUR LHASA APSO

Baggies are also a product that you will want to keep away from your new puppy. Although uncommon, dogs have suffocated by playing with plastic bags. Despite the low probability, it is better to be safe when it comes to your Lhasa Apso.

Keeping your new puppy safe is an important aspect of giving them a home. That is why completely puppy proofing your home should be done prior to the Lhasa Apso puppy’s arrival. Although your home is physically ready for a puppy at this point, the biggest part of your puppy feeling at home is how they are treated.

Learning to Be a Quality Lhasa Apso Owner

Prior to adopting a Lhasa Apso, it is important to decide on house rules. In order to prevent confusion for your new little friend, make rules known and clear to the entire household.

Will you allow your Lhasa Apso on the furniture? If one member of the family allows the pup to sit on the couch, but someone else tries training them to avoid the furniture, the puppy will be understandably confused on what is expected of him or her.

Are any rooms off limits to the puppy? Again, confusion can ensue if different messages are being sent.

How will the Lhasa Apso be trained? Go over the details of crate training so that everyone is on the same page. Discuss with the household that the dog is not to be struck at any time, as it will destroy trust and the home environment.

Will the puppy always sleep in his or her crate? If the Lhasa Apso will be allowed to sleep in the bed of a household member after training is complete, that needs to be established. Dogs generally appreciate a routine and will probably not want to go from room to room every other night.

Set boundaries for play time. Nipping and biting can be encouraged in some styles of play. In order to avoid this, set the rules for what kind of play is acceptable. Roughhousing should be discouraged especially if there are small children in the home.

Setting these boundaries ahead of time can help the puppy understand what is expected and also helps the family to know how they should act with the new family friend.

Finding the Right Veterinary Care

Sometimes the best veterinary care for your Lhasa Apso is not the one closest to your house. This is one of those times that the digital age has saved us some trouble because reviews for veterinary hospitals, clinics, and even the doctors themselves are almost always posted online.

Your dog’s health is never something that you want to gamble with, so it is a good idea to do a little research prior to seeing a vet for any real concerns. Online reviews are a good place to start, but also ask friends and family that own pets. Ask about their opinion of the facility, the staff, and the care. Is there anything they don’t like? Have they been to other vet offices and had a different experience?

Getting all of the available information from both online and by word of mouth should give enough feedback to start calling these offices. When you call, be sure to have a few questions ready. If the staff is unable to answer your questions, it may be a good idea to try elsewhere.

When you find a veterinarian’s office that you seem to like, make sure your first appointment isn’t for anything major. For example, don’t schedule surgery to get your Lhasa Apso spayed or neutered prior to having a less invasive appointment first.

If your dog hasn’t had all of the necessary vaccines yet, use this time to judge your interactions, as well as your Lhasa Apso’s treatment. Since the vaccines must be done prior to the spay or neuter surgery, you can move on to this next if you are happy with the service you and your dog have received.

Never hesitate to ask questions in regard to your Lhasa Apso’s veterinary care. If you have found vet that does well with your pup, plus answers every single question happily, they’re a keeper!

Finding the Perfect Dog Boarder

If you ever plan to travel without your Lhasa Apso, it can be a hassle finding someone to care for him or her while you’re away. Even if you do travel with your dog, if you work long days and need a little assistance, it is important to find a dog walker or doggy daycare that meets your needs. If you do not have a friend or family member available to help out, it may be necessary to hire someone. In many cases, the best option is to find the perfect home away from home for your Lhasa Apso.

The first investigating I do in regard to a stranger caring for my dog is online. Do they have a strong social media presence? If so, are there reviews available to read and get a feel for the person or company? What, if any, do the negative reviews say? Are these reviews recent? Are they on the Rover app? Is the description or about me section more than just a marketing gimmick?

I take into consideration the best reviews down to the worst reviews. If there is an overwhelming number of positive reviews, but still a handful of negative reviews, take them seriously. However, do not let the negatives completely deter you. Use your sense to determine the overall trust level for someone to care for your Lhasa Apso.

If they pass the first round you will want to call the company or person to have a conversation with them. A brief phone conversation will indicate the boarder’s demeanor and give you a chance to ask questions. You may want to ask about the facility, rates, and how often your Lhasa Apso will be allowed to roam or go outside. You should also ask about required vaccines. If the company does not require certain vaccines but boards multiple dogs from multiple homes at once, it might be risky to allow your Lhasa Apso to stay there.

If the phone conversation goes well, you can then schedule a time for the boarder to meet with your pup. You should visit the place where the dog will be staying. Ensure that it is to your satisfaction and that the steps you had taken to puppy proof your own home have been completed in this space as well. Observe how your dog and the boarder interact. If the meeting goes well, the boarder and dog should do well together during your time away.