7 Tips to Consider Before You Bring Home Your New Pet

When you bring a pet home for the first time, it can be a life-changing experience for not just you and your family but for your pet too. Along with these changes, there will also be some challenges. However, if you integrate our ten tips before bringing your new pet home, it will make the entire experience a better one.

1. Develop a Schedule for Potty Breaks

Usually, your pet needs to be taken out for potty breaks shortly after waking up, exercising, and eating or drinking. As a puppy, they can hold their bodily functions at an hourly equivalent of their age. For example, if they are a French bulldog puppy that is three months old, they need to be taken out eight times a day of a French bulldog lifespan. However, it is good to know that many puppies can last the night as long as their sleep is undisturbed. Ensure that you stick to one specific command for every potty break and remember to provide treats to ensure that your puppy knows that they are doing things correctly.

2. Expect a Lot of Chewing and Scratching and Be Ready for It

Chewing from puppies will be inevitable, whether they are teething or not. You can expect chewing to happen also when they are bored. But if you keep chewing toys nearby, then the problem should subside. Getting your kids involved will also lessen the chewing by having them keep your puppy occupied by playing with it and taking them for a walk.

This also goes for other pets, such as a kitten. So if you don't want them to develop the habit of shredding furniture, then investing in scratch poles will be beneficial.

3. Make Your Home Pet Proof

Pet-proofing your home will alleviate a lot of unnecessary stress before it can occur. This means investing in "baby gates" so that access can be limited. Ensure there are no hanging wires from computers or lamps. Also, make sure that your tablecloths don't hang too low. Another thing is to secure your trash cans in your kitchen and bathroom because what we know to be the trash can quickly becomes a treasure for your pet.

4. Instill a Feeling of Comfort

Being a part of the family means they need to feel comforted and loved. You can easily designate an area for your puppy that has a bed and blanket. Make sure to keep it near the central entry doorway because dogs like to interact with those who come inside. For your feline friend, make sure that its spot is near a window.

5. Take a Trip to Your Vet

Before you get your pet home, make sure to take a trip to your veterinarian first. This way, they can provide deworming medications and any age-appropriate vaccinations, if not already obtained. Besides the medicines and vaccines, your vet will also assist with ways to handle any issues that may arise with behavior and any concerns regarding their health. Make sure to take your pet in for exams regularly because a dog is 5-7 years old for each year, and your cat ages three years for each year of their life.

6. Have Pet Tasks Split Up

Due to the harmonious coming together that a pet can create for a family, each family member must be assigned a task that the pet can benefit from. So you can have your kids provide food and water, empty the kitty box, and then join together to offer many loves by playing out in the yard or going to a dog park together.

7. No Need for Gourmet Food

Your pet's food is an integral part of keeping them happy and healthy. But this does not mean you need to buy the most expensive gourmet type of food on the market. By asking your vet for suggestions, they will recommend the best brands that won't cost the most. Your veterinarian knows which food will provide the most nutrition.

Related Article:

• How to Prepare Your Home and Family for a New Pet: A Guide
• 8 Tips for Designing the Perfect Pet-Friendly Home