Bringing a brand new pet home for the first time is such a special occasion, but it can also be pretty scary too. You want your dog or cat to settle in well, but you’re unsure how to make sure they’re fine.
Luckily, it’s not too difficult to get your home ready for your new arrival. Here are some valuable tips that will help you get it right…
Choose a Safe Room
You may be happy for your new dog or cat to have the run of your home, but for the first few days, it might be a good idea to choose one safe room where you can keep them for a while.
If you’re bringing a kitten home, you should remove any full-length curtains that they could climb up, and if it’s a puppy, getting rid of any wires they could chew would be wise.
You’ll also want to block any gaps they can crawl into, put a fireguard in place, ensure all windows are closed and remove any potential toxins like cleaning fluid from areas they could reach.
After a day or two, when they’ve settled in and settled down, you can start letting them into more parts of the home.
Don’t Overwhelm Them
For the first 24 hours, try not to overwhelm your new pet with too many people, noises or new experiences. Sure, you’re going to want to show off your new dog or cat, but you need to remember that they’re in a new and overwhelming environment and they’ll need a little time and space to adjust.
Keep Their Food the Same
It’s a good idea for the first week or so at least, to keep your dog or cat’s food the same as they’ve been eating before they came to you. If you want to make a change, say from dry to wet dog food, do it gradually by swapping a small amount of their usual food for the new one. This will help to avoid stomach issues and ensure that your pet is stressed out by new things as little as possible.
Watch Them Carefully
Letting your new pet explore is important so they can get familiar with their new home and feel as calm as possible. However, don’t just let them run free. Watch them very carefully as they sniff around, so you can prevent any incidents, and don’t try to force them into any room – let them go at their own pace.
Buy Toys
Toys are a great tool for encouraging bonding with your pets, especially dogs. So have lots of toys ready and play with them often to make your new pet feel right at home.
Get Them Used to Collars and Leads
It’s a good idea to get your puppy used to wearing collars and leads by practising in the garden. Then, when they’re ready to go for a walk, they won’t be spooked or put off by the new equipment.
Make the Garden Safe
Last but not least, take the time to remove toxic plants and flowers from the garden, and if you have a dog, ensure the outdoor area is secure.
Enjoy life with your new pet!
