How to care for new sod?

Good Morning,

I am in NJ and had new sod put down in a very small area (12x25) for my dog. Within a month, the sod is very soggy and slimy. The dog will not even put a paw on it. They are ripping it up and replacing the sod today but I want to be sure I take care of it properly (I followed their instructions to the letter).

I know I need to water it every day so it will take root but at what point do I mow it? At what point do I use pesticide and fertilizer and what type of pesticide and fertilizer is best for new sod and must be pet friendly. (She eats everything!). The old sod had mushrooms growing and a lot of bugs (mostly spiders). I am hoping to avoid this problem again.

Thanks so much for your advice.