In the back of my book, Shea's Lounge, I included some tips on                                                             how to prepare your home for your new dog.  I would like to give those tips to you again:

Things to think about when preparing your home for a new dog.

1. Give your dog a place of his own. It can be a dog bed or a selected piece of your furniture to designate for your new best friend. Cover with a washable fabric.

2. Determine where your dog will sleep. Will it be in your own bed, or in a crate or in a dog bed next to your own bed? Is your dog going to be living indoors only, or outdoors only or both? You must clearly establish this area, then prepare accordingly. You must spend time showing your dog where the bathroom area is, then making sure they can get to it when they need to go. If outdoors, which door will it be, and if a dog door is installed, how to get through that door. If indoors, then you must prepare all necessary pads etc. and then give your dog all access to that area and encourage them to use it at any time. These areas need to be constantly kept clean and sanitary.

3. Beware of curtains and blinds that have cords that can get entangled around your curious dog.

4. Think carefully about electric wires and multiple outlets behind TV’s etc. where dogs may explore, or worse, bite or chew on.

5. Household chemicals, cleaners, poisons etc. need to be above dogs reach or locked in closets or sheds etc.

6. Long Toenails may tear up Leather or fabric couches unless you maintain their length with walks or grooming.

7. Be careful giving your dog things to chew on that are similar to the things you do not wish them to chew on…like an old sock or shoe or anything that has your scent on it . They won’t know the difference when they’re ready to find something else of your’s to chew on.

8. When using rugs in dog areas, make sure they are washable and non slip.

9. Think about the height your dog may be able to reach items of their interest on coffee tables etc. and rearrange your entire home accordingly. Breakables and Food Items need extra scrutiny. Think “Baby Proofing” your home and you’ll be close.

10. Any items on the floor will be deemed fair access by your dog unless you can either: a. Change or preempt their behavior yourself or with a professional dog trainer; b. You remove any and all things you do not wish to be chewed or urinated on; c. You actively redirect your dog’s interest in those certain items to those things they can have that you approve of for them.

11. Nice wood floors and the like may be subjected to scratches. You may need to be able to keep certain areas of your home off limits to your dog, and do it without barricading or fencing it off if possible.

12. Your dog bedding, water and food areas need to be kept clean and in areas where water and dirt may rapidly accumulate, but will not be a problem cleaning.

13. Only specialized enzymatic urine removing cleaners should be used to clean up messes, as most rugs and carpets will retain fluids and smells, and will not stop dogs from reusing those areas.

14. When your dog is continually well groomed with brushing and baths, your home will have less pet hair and dander floating about.

15. Plan on purchasing a dog poop scooper and commit to a weekly pick up of your dog’s waste in the yard. Flies flourish in and around the excrement so your backyard experience will be enhanced without the fly bother and mess’s to smell and step around.

16. Plan on purchasing or designating the: Dog Food, Food and Water Bowls, Chew Toys, Treats, Grooming Supplies, Bedding, Collar and Leash, Carrier, Distemper Shots, ID tags, Veterinarian, Emergency Vet, Location of Dog parks, and local Dog Trainers.

17. Decide whether or not your dog will be allowed on your furniture, in only certain rooms, where he is allowed and not allowed, who feeds, waters, House trains, takes for walks, trains, picks up after them etc.?

18. Do you have other pets your dog will be interacting with? Are they either a predator or maybe other prey to a dog? Are you willing to take the time to help them properly interact or will you ignore them and let them make decisions on what to do with each other?

19. Find time in your schedule to pay quality attention to your new family member. Build a strong trust bond between you and your dog(s). Play catch or chase or any game the dog may like to play outdoors. Be engaged in your dogs welfare and happiness as you would your own child…just don’t raise them as if they are your child. They are animals and must be viewed as such.

*Please note: Some professional advise may be required for implementation of any and or all of the above suggestions . Do not expect to attempt dog ownership without taking professional advise on some or many of these suggestions. All dogs and home living situations are different, so don’t be overwhelmed or embarrassed to ask for help. Online resources are plentiful and most shelter’s have volunteers or staff that can be very helpful.

www.sheashome.com

An up close and personal with Joe Ozier the author of "Shea's Lounge"

What can I say about Shea, the runaway? 

I was lucky enough to have Shea for 10 years, and she absolutely lived a good life.  I took her and Shep on my sit on top kayak, through some of Florida's most pristine waterways and some rivers with water so clean you could drink right out of it…seriously.  Shea got to live the theater life alongside Shep, the wonder dog.  At first, Shea and Shep ignored each other, and occasionally growled at each other, but Shea just kept escaping and giving me a clear sign she wanted to be somewhere else.  

I had the option of returning her within a month, and I was only three days away from that possibility.  In the months after I decided to keep her, Shea’s attention to all of the details on the wind became less and less, and into more of howling ghosts she had rather forget.  I saw her face change from happy to terrified to curious and nerve racking…I even watched her begin shivering and I was facing a dilemma because I wanted to give her comfort but I also had the curious scientist side who wanted to observe nature in the raw.  

Her thoughts were so interesting to watch as her ears and face and head tilted as if she was taking dictation from the wind, and there were many times I stared at her without her noticing, and watched her eyes dash and her ears twitch to even the farthest off sounds.  She was a master listener, unlike Shep, she could understand a calm assertive voice and she learned quickly.  She wouldn't get distracted to the point of annoyance during lessons and rehearsals I had arranged for her and Shep prior to their live audience shows.  Shea learned to be a performer and to listen and respond on cue, but Shep was keen at his commands and rarely diverted his routine within the 16- 22 performances any play or musical might run over a 3-4 week span.  I could actually see Shea pumping herself up for the audience, whining to get out and begin her shows.  Shep never really swayed much, but when he did… it was big.

Shea was always fairly present and responded to my commands. I tested her everywhere I took my dogs, Shep had gone through the drill years earlier.  I always had them off leash and yet firmly on my voice leash or what I call my extended leash, that can go as far as the dog can either see or hear me.  I had that opportunity to test in Florida because after rowing across the inter-coastal waterway from my home, I would take my dogs to a barrier island named Midnight Pass that had miles of beaches in both directions, and very few people in a mile in each direction.  I found out that Shep is quite the beach comber and having called out to him for many times to come back, Shep just kept smelling the dead fish and sometimes eating them too and continuing his lumbering adventure across the sand and the surf.  Shea in turn, would be following along with Shep and when she heard me, she would stop and sit and listen, then she saw my wave and ran back to me, trotting along in her majestic manner, never breaking out into a full on run that I saw, but Shep just kept going farther away and walking over to any of the  people’s blanket and hunted around in the bags for something to eat, and basically stomping on everything.