11 Things You Should Never Do When Bringing a New Pet Home

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It is no doubt exciting to bring a new pet home. Whether it’s a wiggly puppy, a curious kitten or a cool little reptile, the second they come into your home, everything changes. All of this excitement and joy does come with a steep learning curve and it catches a lot of pet owners off guard. In the early days, it’s easy to make a mistake, and some mistakes can become permanent problems for you and your new companion.

With just a little preparation and a little bit of awareness you can make this transition smooth and joyful. If you’re ready to turn your house into a real home for your furry (or scaly) friend, here are some of the things you’ll want to avoid like the plague.

Skipping A Quiet Adjustment Period

Pets need time to decompress . If they just came from a shelter situation, or a stressful environment, skipping this adjustment period can overwhelm them. Let them explore at their own pace in a quiet space before they’re exposed to the hustle and bustle of your home.

Feeding Them the Wrong Diet

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Your new pet may look hungry and ready to eat, but feeding them the wrong food can upset their stomach or even worse. Just because your animal is a dog doesn’t mean that he can eat cat or other animal food. Ask your vet what’s right to feed them.

Skipping the Vet Visit

It can be tempting to wait before you schedule a vet appointment but it is crucial that you get a professional health check right away. A visit to the vet on this occasion ensures your new pet is up to date on vaccines, parasite free, and in general healthy enough to settle into your home.

Neglecting Pet-Proofing

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It’s more common than you’d think to find your new pup chewing on electrical cords or your kitten tangled in curtain strings. New pets are naturally curious and therefore need to be kept away from toxic plants, unsecured wires or small objects that they would swallow. PetMD says that pet proofing is one of the first things every new pet owner should do.

Forcing Too Much Attention

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While you’re impatient to cuddle your new friend, some of them need time before they’re ready to cuddle. If they are crowded or forced into affection they can become anxious and wary. Come to them on their terms — it’s all about building trust.

Introductions to Other Pets in a Hurry

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Your existing pets may not exactly roll out the welcome mat. Putting a new animal in too quickly can upset and even make the animal aggressive. The Humane Society says introductions should be slow, taking place over a few days, or even a few weeks. Slow is good as it allows everyone to adjust without unnecessary drama.

Ignoring Training Basics

One thing that many pet owners do is wait too long to begin basic training which allows bad habits to form early. From litter box training a cat to not having a puppy jump on you, a head start can save you some headaches down the road.

Assuming They’ll Sleep Anywhere

All pets should have a special, comfy place to lay their head. It’s not fair that you assume they will curl up wherever; it can also make them insecure. Get a cozy bed or crate and place it in a quiet area where they will know they’ll have a safe place to lay.

Skipping Socialization

It’s easy to avoid exposing your new pet to new experiences if he or she is shy or timid. Socialization is key though — for dogs and young animals in particular. Bringing them to different environments, people and other pets in a controlled way builds their confidence and wards off behavioral problems later.

Yelling at Them for Accidents

Those first few weeks are bound to have accidents. Using force to yell or punish your pet just pushes the pet into further fear of you and less likely to know they can rely on you. Instead, reinforce the good and reward them when they do something right. It really is the name of the game here — patience.

Overwhelming Them with Toys

You’re tempted to shower your new buddy with every toy under the sun but having too many options can get confusing for them. Add one or two and then over time slowly rotate in new ones. It makes things fresh and exciting, but without chaos.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.