The Joys And Challenges of a New Pet
Adding a new family member can be a wonderful idea. Pets bring love, laughter, and happiness to any home. However, getting a new pet should not be an impulse decision. They can be a lot of work, add complications to your life, and can be expensive to care for. It is so important to do your homework. Look at your lifestyle, research breeds and species, and decide which type of pet fits best.
Fast forward: You did your research, made your decision, and have brought home your new best friend. The hard part is over, right? Not quite. Introducing a pet can be tricky and it can take time. It is likely to be stressful for everyone in the house including humans and pets you already have. It is also stressful for the new pet. Whether you adopt or buy, coming into your home is a big change for the animal and they will need time to adjust.
Here are a few tips for bringing a pet home:
- Keep introductions slow and calm. If there is a big family, introduce one person at a time. Help children stay calm around their new friend, especially at first. Limit the number of people you invite over, especially for the first few days.
- Give your new pet a safe space, such as a guest room or bathroom, where they have access to food, water, toys, litter boxes, kennels, or anything else they might need.
- For dogs, consider crate training. Some people assume it is cruel to lock a dog in a crate, but there are many reasons to use a crate. It can become a safe, welcome space for them if properly introduced. It can also help if they are injured and need to go to the veterinary clinic.
- Click here to see more tricks for introducing a new pet to your house
Bringing a new pet home when you have existing pets can be even more stressful. Each introduction should be made slowly and is largely dependent on the individual animals and how they react.
When bringing home a dog to a house with a cat, look for dogs that are known to do well with cats if possible. Often shelters and rescues try to establish this ahead of time, so dogs go to homes that are a good fit.
Dog to dog introductions should be made slowly, taking into consideration ages and energy levels. A puppy may stress out an older dog and a big dog may be too much for a smaller one. Dogs, especially new friends, should be given their own spaces, toys, and food. Some dogs get cranky when they need to share. Keep a close eye on them for signs of this.
Introducing a new cat to your present cat should also be done slowly. Putting the new cat in a closed room and allowing the two to meet through the door can often be a good way to start. Then progress to supervised time together. Make sure there are plenty of litter boxes for the number of cats in the house, a good rule is 1 box for each cat plus 1 extra (example: 3 cats should have 4 litter boxes).
Make all introductions a happy time. Use a lot of treats, praise good behavior, and separate the pets often to give them time to decompress. It can take days to weeks for pets to get used to each other. Give it time and let the animals go at their own pace, never try to force a relationship since it can cause even more stress.
The most important part of bringing home your new friend is patience. Pets, especially older ones, can take a long time to relax and find their place with you. Go slow, reward them for good behavior, set boundaries, and get help from a professional if needed. In the end, it will be worth it for you and them.