Introducing A New Pet To The Family
Pets are members of the family, and adding a new one is a lifelong commitment. Needless to say, this is a huge decision that should not be made lightly or on a whim. Neither should you choose a new pet out of sympathy for the animal. If you want to help an animal in need, there are lots of ways to help besides taking the animal into your home. Consider how well your new family member will meet your needs, and how well you will meet your new pet’s needs. Do your research. If possible, meet some potential pets before introducing a new pet to your family
What Type of Animal Should I Choose?
Perhaps you always dreamed of throwing a ball with your Labrador, but you and your partner both work long hours. Maybe you would love a cat to curl up with on the couch, but your two-year-old has a hair grabbing habit and you already have a large, hyper dog. Sit down with your family and write down what everyone wants to do with the new pet, and how much time they want to spend with it. Urge everyone to be realistic. Maybe your kids think they will spend an hour every day after school playing fetch, but when you remind them about school sports coming up, maybe they will rethink this commitment.
Consider allergies, clean up, and training realities. If you can’t tolerate the thought of a cat on your kitchen counters, then make sure you have a designated room to put her in while you’re gone. While you may train your cat to behave while you are home, it is unrealistic to expect a curious cat not to explore while you’re away all day. Perhaps you think of a bird as a more contained and lower maintenance pet than a cat or a dog. While this may be so, depending on the species and individual bird you choose, your neighbors may be very unhappy with your new family member when squawking and screaming bother them all day while your parrot is bored home alone.
It is a good idea for your family to sit down together and make a list of everything they want and don’t want in a pet. Then, make a list for each animal and breed your family considers, and list how many of the traits that animal has or doesn’t have.
Introducing A New Pet to Your Home
Introducing a new pet to your home is bound to be filled with excitement. After all the planning, decision making, and preparation, the moment when you finally bring home your new family member is one everyone in your family will remember. To make sure those memories are happy, there are a few ground rules to follow when introducing your new pet to your family.
1. Give Your Pet a Safe Place
Your pet should start her time with your family in her own special home base. This is a safe place which everyone should respect. Nobody should ever pursue your pet into her place or prevent her from going to it. For a dog or cat this should be a designated room with a crate or bed. For a bird or small animal like a rabbit or ferret this would be their cage. Fill this place with good toys and yummy treats, as well as warm comfy blankets as appropriate to the species. This should be a place where it is safe to leave your pet alone. Give your new pet time to explore and settle into their new home.
2. One by One Introductions
Bring your family members in one by one to meet their new pet. Nothing is more intimidating to a nervous animal than a bunch of staring humans. Each person should be instructed to let the animal come to them. Offer yummy treats and toys, and speak softly and get low on the animal’s level to be as inviting as possible when introducing a new pet.
3. Gradual Exploration
Slowly introduce your new pet to the rest of your home, following the rules you expect to be laid down in your life together. Rules like stay off the couch or counters and don’t drink out of the toilet should be established now. It is much easier to set boundaries initially then try to change them later. Make sure all family members keep your new pet in line. It’s not a bad idea to post a “Rules for ____” somewhere visible to remind everyone of how to behave with your new pet.
4. Stick to a Schedule
Maintain a schedule for feeding, cleanup, etc. for your new pet, and assign chores fitting the responsibility level of each member of your household. Make sure you monitor children to make sure chores are being handled appropriately and consistently.
5. Get Ready to Fail
When it comes to animals, even the best laid plans are bound to fail sometimes. Know your local emergency vet for your pet’s species, and make sure everyone knows the plan in case your new pet escapes, eats something toxic, or goes missing. Always look at your house from your pet’s perspective. You may not have thought your recliner was a hazard, but then you might not have thought like your kitten, ferret, or rabbit might: that the inner workings of a recliner are a great place to explore. Know your pet’s favorite things and have them on hand. Teach your pet to come to her name as early as possible, rewarding enthusiastically with favorite foods, toys, and affection.
6. Love Through It All
Just like with everyone else in your family, sometimes you will be so mad at your pet you will want to shake them. Just take a deep breath, send your pet to her safe place, and remember how much you love her, despite your shredded leather shoes or mangled hardwood furniture. Remember that your family member is not a human, and that living in a human world requires a good deal of learning. With time and practice, your new pet will be a wonderful addition to your family and introducing a new pet properly will be totally worth it.
