Pets can be curious, excited, anxious, or all three when you bring them into a new home. If you have an energetic puppy or kitten on your hands, safety should be your first priority. You need to be sure your home is a safe place for your pet by keeping hazards off the floor and out of reach. Electrical cords can get chewed or tugged on, houseplants can be a temptation, and anything small enough to chew or swallow should be stored away. Ensure enticing but potentially dangerous items are inaccessible, like human food, batteries, cleaning supplies, and medications. Setting up baby gates or acclimating your pet to a crate is a great solution for ensuring he stays out of danger when you’re not there to supervise.
Stock your home with all the pet essentials before your new friend comes home. High-quality food and training treats, a cozy bed and crate if desired, plenty of toys and chewables to keep your pet busy, and a leash (with waste bags) for healthy walks are a few of the basics. And because pets do things like shed, scatter litter around, and track dirt into the house, you’ll want the right cleaning supplies on hand - like the
BLACK+DECKER POWERSERIES™ PRO Cordless 2in1 Pet Vacuum.
Tip 3: Ask fellow pet parents for advice (and playdates)
Bringing home a new pet can be daunting, especially if you’re not an experienced pet owner. Reach out to your veterinarian, pet-loving friends, and local animal welfare organizations for advice and support. If you bring home a young dog, it’s vital to provide plenty of opportunities for safe socializing with friendly dogs and people of all ages. This will help set you up for a lifetime of good manners vs. having a dog that is fearful or reactive.
Tip 4: Take time to train
Consistent and
positive reward-based training is one of the most important investments you can make in your pet. It will strengthen your relationship, keep your pet stimulated, and help you correct unwanted behaviors like jumping up on visitors, begging at the table, leash pulling, and more.
Once your dog has learned to respond to your directions, you can head outdoors. Using a collar like the GPS-enabled
BLACK+DECKER Smart Dog Collar will help you monitor your pet’s location and even communicate at a distance.
Tip 5: Spend quality time together
New pets need lots of love and attention from their owners, especially as they adjust to their new surroundings. Be sure to spend time playing with, exercising, and training your pet every day. Even grooming provides a positive and reassuring interaction. Remember, loneliness and boredom lead to unsociable behavior in both pets and people!
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