Bringing Home a New Pet

Welcoming a new member into your family is an exciting experience. If you have decided to expand your family, a pet is a memorable first step. You are signing up to have a loyal, friendly, loving four-legged companion. With this great addition to your family, you want to assure yourself that you are taking the necessary steps to make sure this new transition is seamless.

Adjusting

When entering a new environment there is an adjustment period. Your pet may want space to sniff around and take in all the smells of their new home. Ensure your pet has its own personal area to get accustomed to. You should include a comfortable bed, toys, food, and water. This will create a safe space for your companion to retreat to if they feel a bit overwhelmed with their environmental changes.

Your pet needs time to adjust, don’t become overwhelmed if you see that your companion is anxious or not eating food for the first few days. This is all normal behavior. It could also be that your four-legged friend could be over-stimulated and excited to be with their new family! Your pet could be so happy they have found their forever home that they may have a few accidents around the home.

Training

Accidents do occur when bringing in a new pet. With all the excitement they can start to pee in random places around the house. Don’t let them get too content with these accidents occurring. Once they are settled in and become comfortable with the environment, your next step should be to properly train your pet and show them the rights and wrongs of the house. You will want to look into crate training, house training, and potty training for dogs. For your cat, you will want to train them in litter, carrier, and general behavioral training. Training is an important part when bringing your new pet home.

In addition, training will allow your pet to be able to socialize with others. When bringing your new pet home it's hard to not want to show them off. You will want to invite all your friends and family over so they can meet this incredible addition to your life. Training will help your pet become comfortable with meeting new people. They will see you as a safe person to retreat back to if they are feeling overwhelmed.  Not only will training your pet be rewarding to them but to you as well.

Protecting

Protecting your pet includes making sure they stay up to date on their vaccinations, taking preventative medications, and making routine trips to the veterinarian. If you are a first-time pet parent, it is hard to not heavily monitor small changes in your pets. As a new pet parent, it can be a game changer to take some time to research “is pet insurance worth it” and consider your circumstances. Pet insurance will make you feel more secure in your decision to bring home a new pet if you are worried about your finances or want to generally protect yourself from the unexpected. With the cost of vaccinations, medications, and making the decision if you are going to want to spay or neuter your pet, insurance is a great option.

Travel

Traveling with your dog can be a wonderful adventure! 48.2% of current owners and 69.7% of potential owners considered having a dog to facilitate their exercise. 

Care

Upkeeping a pet is also an important part of protecting them. You should consistently brush their teeth and bathe them. In the same way, we protect our bodies from infections. we should be protecting our pets from them. Lastly, you will want to prepare a first-aid kit for your companion. This could include hydrogen peroxide, dish soap, a bottle of water, and cat or dog food. These preventative steps can leave you feeling confident in creating a seamless transition for your pet. Bringing a new pet home is an exciting time. It makes you feel amazing to have someone by your side and enjoy life with.