Tips on adopting a new dog or cat. Plus, how to ease the transition for an animal into a new home.
Bringing Home a New Pet
Animals at your local shelter are just waiting for someone like you to give them a new home. When you first visit the shelter, there are many mix breeds and purebreds. Purebreds account for 25 to 30 percent of a shelter’s population. In order to make a good match between you and your new pet evaluate your lifestyle. Speak with an adoption counselor or a professional trainer to evaluate the dog and his/her personality. Another advantage to shelter adoptions is that the fees are usually much less than adoption from a pet store or breeder. When researching animal shelters online, you can view the adoptive dogs and cats. National websites are www.petfinder.com, www.pets911.com, and www.adoptapet.com.
More info on how you can help make a difference in the lives of homeless animals can be found in our post on ways to help save homeless pets.
Moving Into New Home
Dogs
Our new best friends require special care when making a new transition. This is especially true when you’re moving into a new home or transitioning from a home into an apartment. When taking the steps to help your pet adjust keep him/her leashed while outside and allow them to explore supervised inside the home. Transition their bed and toys (scent) into the new home before arriving with them, this will help them recognize they have been here and adjust to their new surroundings quicker. Your dog should be introduced to new walks in the neighborhood and introduced to new dogs and people gradually in a neutral setting outside of your home and then gradually inside your home.
If possible, allow yourself and your new pet some time before you go back to work or start a new job. During the period of adjustment, start spending small amounts time away from your home, do not leave them full run of the house; allow only a limited area such as their crate or kitchen with baby gates.
If you cannot make these adjustments after adopting your new pet please consider hiring a pet sitter to come into your home to exercise your dog and/or contact a local doggy daycare center. Although, it may add up in fees, you can ask your pet sitter to spend more time with your dog initially, then slowly wean him/her back until he/she used to being alone.
Cats
Introduce your cat to their new home gradually, restricting to one room at first. Place the litter box, food and water in the same room. This gives the cat the chance to adjust to new smells and new pet friends in the house. After a few days of the pets adjusting to each other’s smells and show interest with each other, let them meet and greet with supervision.
If you need help transitioning with your new pet, please call a pet professional.
This tip was prodived by Mae Charron or K9 Attitudes.
Mae is an IACP (International Association of Canine Professionals) certified trainer and CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Evaluator. K9 Attitudes is a wonderful positive reinforcement based dog training company which provides in home one-on-one training with pets and their families around Fairfield County.
Mae Charron
K9 Attitudes, LLC
203-283-4878
www.k9attitudes.com
Got adoption tips?
I’d love to hear some of your thoughts or tips on adopting. Please leave a comment if you like this post or have a story about adopting your pup or kitty!
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