So you finally gave in; you’re getting a pet! Congratulations! You’ve now secured the latest member of your family, now what? How do you make this little bundle of fluffy joy feel safe and secure in their big, scary new home? It can be intimidating for them; think about it. Everything is so big and new, they don’t speak English and they’re alone. Luckily, there are very easy ways to make sure your fur baby feels like a member of the family straight away!
Family Rules
As any respected member of the family, you must follow some rules. The same goes for your fur child. Tanya Selby, the owner of Koly’s Dog Treats, a healthy doggo treat specialist, ensures that rules are essential for any puppy being introduced into a new home. “Be clear, as a family, on the house rules for your new dog. For example, is your dog allowed on the couch? Are you allowed to feed your dog from the dinner table? Where will your dog sleep?” She says, “ Being clear on these types of rules will help ensure consistency in your home for each family member & for your new dog & will also reduce the amount of mixed signals that your new dog receives, which will aid in better & easier training.” You can find out more about Koly’s Dog Treats by following them on Instagram and Facebook.
Spend Some Quality Time Together
After a long day at work, you just want to talk to someone about it. What’s better than talking to someone about your issues? Talking to someone who doesn’t judge you, or better yet, doesn’t even understand you. Your pet loves attention, so you should spend as much time as you can with them. Sit with them, chat to them, and give them tummy rubs and scratches behind the ears. Even if you can’t spend hours with them, just make sure they feel loved. Not only will they start to trust you, they’ll start to feel like members of the family. They are your little fur babies, after all!
Patience Is A Virtue
It’s expected that introducing your fur baby into your home may cause some issues. It takes time for your pet to settle in and learn the basics; where to go to the toilet, where to sleep etc. so it’s important to stay patient. They’re just babies after all! Dr Jo Righetti from Pet Problems Solved assures that good things happens to those who wait. "Be prepared and be patient. Go at the pet's pace and don't expect love at first sight, although it could very well happen!” She says, ‘A good relationship, however, often take times to build. Work your way into your pet's heart by taking care of their needs and offering what they love most. Pets have a way of working their way from your backyard, into your home, onto your sofa, your lap, your bed and into your heart!" You can learn all about solving any pet issues you may have by following Dr Jo’s Facebook
Keep Them Safe At Night
When it comes to beddy byes, it’s important that your pet has somewhere comfortable to sleep. The floor isn’t enough, you need to get a bed. If you’re getting a cat, you’ve got it easy. They can pretty much sleep anywhere. Literally, anywhere. However, dogs need a bed to sleep in. If your home is too small for your pet to sleep inside, it’s imperative that they have somewhere safe and warm to sleep during the night. When your pet is new to the family, they can feel alone and scared. If you make sure they feel warm and secure, they will begin to trust you and feel loved. Kennels are a great place to keep your pet at night. You can pick and choose the perfect kennel for them, but if you’re feeling extra special, you can take out some tools and equipment and make one yourself! Your pet will feel even more loved if their kennel is specially made for them!
Run, Run, Run!
Keeping your pet fit and active is a very important part of making them part of the family. Get them involved in your weekend activities by taking them outside (once they’ve had their injections and waited until they’re 12 weeks old, of course). If you’re a busy bee (aren’t we all), you can always make sure they have plenty of space to be active outside. Keep your garden clean tidy so that there are no obstacles that may injure your new pet. Take your lawn mower out and keep your grass nice and tidy. Run around with them, teach them how to catch, sit, roll over; whatever you like! Spending time with your new pet outside will also increase their lifespan; keep them active!
Having a pet in the house is a blessing. You are surrounded by a ball of fur that loves you and just wants to make sure you’re happy and safe. Introducing them into your home can be difficult at the start, but once you settle them in m, they’ll feel like a member of the family!
