Hooray! You’ve adopted a new pet. Congratulations on taking this step to make your home the happiest home on the block. Well-intentioned as you might be, it’s easy to make some rookie mistakes when you bring a new pet home.
Making Your House a Home
Most people with pets in their life will agree that having a furry (or scaly) friend makes the house a home, but there are some things you should know before you make your new pet a permanent fixture in your home. These tips can help you make the right choice for your family.
Socialization
One of the biggest mistakes people make with pets is assuming their dog or cat will automatically adjust to their new home.
Just because your pet has come from a shelter, it doesn’t mean they won’t have any sort of problem adjusting to human company.
If you have owned a pet before, you’ll know that local veterinary services like easyvet often offer socialization classes for new pets to help them get accustomed to being around people, other pets, and vets too.
Do Some Playtime
When you first bring your new pet home, be sure to spend some time playing with them.
Take the time to show them things around the house that are interesting or new, like their food bowls or the doggie door leading into the backyard.
Always take your newly adopted pet for a walk once they settle in, but it’s best if you do not bring your new pup anywhere by yourself or with another animal until they are fully adjusted to life in your home.
What’s Inside The House
The smell, the sights, the sounds…everything about your house should be new to your pet.
As soon as they are out of their carrier, take them on a tour of your house to get acquainted with the sights and smells. This will help them to get used to his surroundings.
Dogs are naturally packed animals; it’s important that they get to know every member of your family, so they don’t become territorial. It will also help them recognize certain sounds in each room too.
Take It Easy With Crate Training
If you use a crate to confine your pet at night, let them get comfortable with it by regularly taking them into the crate and making it a fun experience.
Once they are familiar with your home, let them out around the house whenever you’re not home.
Manners and Training
You can’t expect your dog to be well-behaved if you haven’t taught them some manners. There are many good dogs out there who were abused as puppies and, as a result, have been fearful of humans, but even fearful dogs can learn good manners if taught with patience and love.
For the first week after adoption, you should work on some basic obedience commands. After that, if you adopt a puppy, be sure to do obedience training classes.
Get To Know Your New Dog
Once you’ve settled your new dog into their new home, make it a priority to get to know them.