It can be a wonderful thing when you bring your first pet home to meet the family. No doubt the children are so excited to meet them, and there have been many reasons you've wanted to bring a pet into the household. The overall positivity this can bring to a family, the responsibility it can instill in our children, and the exercise that comes with making sure a dog goes for walks and runs are just a few great benefits for everyone. But, there are many reasons families get a pet but aren't always knowledgeable on the overall responsibilities, and in fact, many families can find themselves in over their heads, either in relation to the overall cost, or the various duties. So, if you are seriously considering bringing a pet home for the benefit of everybody in the family, what do you need to know?
Choosing the right pet
Depending on your living circumstances, this will impact the type of pet to get. The overall well-being of your pet is of the utmost importance. For example, in getting a dog, they need adequate exercise and time outdoors. So, if you have a lifestyle where you are unable to give them the attention they need, will this be a detrimental effect on the pet? In many ways, a dog is like a baby, and they need that constant reassurance, especially in the early days, that is key to their development. You also need to consider your children's temperament. If your children have lots of energy, you need to pick a pet that compliments this. If you were to purchase an older dog who doesn't have as much energy, will this benefit everyone in the household, but will it be for the benefit of the pet too? If you are choosing an older pet, it's important to get first-hand knowledge of their history. For example, they may have been mistreated by previous owners, and so they could very well be aggressive or guarded.
Making your home pet ready
It's important to remember that as welcoming as you make your home for the pets, it can take some time for them to settle in and to consider your place like home. The first few weeks are a considerable challenge for you and for them, and so it's about making your home environment as disaster free as possible. The first thing for you to do is to take the perspective of this pet and look at potential hazards. Items like electrical wires, uprooted carpets, or anything that could spell danger, have a proper recce and make sure your home is up to code. Once this is done, you should make sure that you've got your home as pest free as possible. While you may feel that you run a clean ship, fleas and ticks could very well be the bane of your existence quite soon. There is some information on the Advecta website on fleas and ticks as well as their prevention in your pets, but you can make your home as clean as possible by making sure the carpets and shrubs are as clean and short as possible. After this, then you can make sure you have all of the relevant supplies and equipment. Such as the bed, as well as the water bowl and toys.
The important early days
While it could be an overwhelming experience for you and the family, it's going to be doubly so for your pet. If it's possible, try to take the day off from work so you can spend time with them and so they can settle into their new surroundings. Getting to know your pets in the first few days will be vital because you are trying to set the environment up. And it's vital that they feel as relaxed as possible in this strange new place. This means preparing your children for the first few days. And while your children might get very excited, you need to discuss with them how it may take some time for the pets to become used to everybody in the home. They could be scared, so you need to make sure that your kids are very gentle with the pets, to begin with. What might help everybody, prior to the pet's arrival, is to give everybody a set list of duties, so everybody's working to make the home as welcoming as possible for the pets. It can also help your family to bond with the pet quicker, as your children will be taking ownership of their responsibilities.
Looking after them emotionally
While you might think that regular walks and the typical physical stimulation are important for your pet, what isn't discussed as much is the emotional wellbeing of a pet. Mental stimulation is just as important as physical stimulation, and it's vital that you work at looking after both aspects equally. What is important to consider when looking after your pet is their emotional state. Much like us, many pets can get depressed or low in mood. And much like a welcome distraction is needed to help stave off boredom and keep us focused, the same can be said of dogs. Dogs require a mental workout, and if they don't have enough regular brain exercise, they are more likely to succumb to cognitive dysfunctions as they age. So, much as you would do a crossword puzzle to help fight off cognitive decline, the canine equivalent would be a simple toy. In addition to this, making sure their brains are stimulated helps to decrease destructive behavior and aggression, as well as improve the bond between owner and pet.
Bringing a pet home for the first time can be a big shock to the system for them and for you. This is why you need to make sure your home is set up beforehand, but you also need to know exactly what you are getting yourself into. When done right, a relationship between a pet and the family can be one of the more rewarding ones. But if you do it wrong, it could mean a lot of emotional struggles, and it can be detrimental to the pet themselves. But for all of the benefits a pet can give you, it's very important for you to make sure you know what you are doing.
