Life With Coco: Our Best Tips for a New Family Dog

Our little Coco has definitely become an irreplaceable fixture in our family! Having grown up on a farm, I had never had an indoor dog before; all of the dogs that we had growing up lived outdoors. So I was really hesitant to get a family dog, especially with two toddlers. But now I can’t remember life without Coco and she’s teaching us things every day. We’ve learned a lot about having a family dog, and have developed an arsenal of tips and tools that we swear by. Read on to hear them all!

Wait For the Right Dog We had been going to the local weekend dog rescue events for months, looking for the right pup. We had a few things that we were looking for (female, short hair, kid-friendly, and so on), and we wanted to be sure that whatever dog we rescued felt right. So when Coco’s mom showed up at one rescue event with a litter of pups, we zeroed right in on her and knew she was ours. It pays to wait for the dog that feels like a good match.

Have the Right Tools Coco is little. Her mom looked like a small dachshund, and we suspect she also has some chihuahua in her. Initially we bought her some supplies that didn’t fit her properly, and they just weren’t working. The clippers for her nails were too large, she didn’t walk well on a leash, her toys were oversized. So after a few days we realized our mistake and got a few things that are working better. Now she walks with a harness, chews on tiny toys, and everything is much more comfortable for her.

Keep it Fresh I have to hand it to her, Coco did a pretty decent job at becoming house trained. But that’s not to say there weren’t accidents. And even when she’s accident free, I just want to be sure our house smells clean and fresh. We stocked up on Febreze ONE fabric & air mist. Truly, we’ve been using and loving these daily. I particularly love that they’re a good option for babes and dogs, because they have no dyes or heavy perfumes. It’s also not an aerosol can but it sprays an ultrafine mist. You can get refills for the bottles, too, instead of tossing and buying a new can every time. I’m a fan of the Bamboo scent — it cleans away any odors that come along with a dog (or kids!) and makes the house smell like I just cleaned it. 😉

Stay Patient There are some days when it will be hard, especially if you have kiddos. For some reason, the time of day that Coco has the most energy is as soon as we put the kids to sleep. Some days, playing with the dog after the kids are down is the last thing I want to do. But we’re all developing a routine together, and she’s getting to know us as much as we’re getting to know her. She came to us pretty shy and a little scared, so we’re just patiently trying to show her that she can trust us. And all of the time that you invest in a dog will come back to you tenfold in the love that they return.

Do you have a family dog? I’d love to hear your tips too! And if you’re looking for a way to keep your home fresh whether or not you’ve got a pup, give Febreze ONE a try — you can grab a coupon here. Xoxo

This post is sponsored by Febreze ONE. All ideas and opinions are my very own. Thank you for being supportive of the partners who help keep Lovely Indeed rocking!