A lot of thought should go into the decision to bring home a new pet. Some of the things to consider are the ages of your children, your family's lifestyle and your experience with raising a dog or cat. If you have been influenced by your children, you need to determine their ability to assume some of the responsibility for the care of the pet.
A cute puppy or kitten may not be the right choice for a very young child. Puppies are fragile and not ready for rowdy play. A visit to your local animal shelter may yield the perfect older dog that is ready to play and will appreciate you for the rest of its life. A dog or cat with a little age has probably gotten over the puppy habits of chewing and may even be housebroken.
Dog proof your home. When your new arrival gets there, you will have to teach them what is okay to chew and what is not. As soon as you get them home, you must establish yourself as the leader of the pack. If you don't, they will assume that responsibility and you will have a lot of trouble on your hands.
A visit to the veterinarian is necessity. You can be sure that your new family member is healthy and up to date on vaccinations. It will also be the perfect opportunity to have them spayed or neutered. Puppies should be at least six months old before being neutered or spayed. This will give your pet the benefit of long life without the unwanted pregnancy, no risk of uterine or testicular cancer and a happy pet all of the time.
Obedience training is next. If you are experienced in teaching a dog the right way to behave, good for you. If not, find a local basic obedience class and enroll. It will give you the opportunity to bond with your pet and to truly establish yourself as the leader of the pack. It will give the dog the opportunity to become socialized with other dogs and people. Simple commands such as stay, sit and come are vital to a good relationship with your dog.
Choosing the right food is also important. If you adopt an older pet, you should know if there are any food sensitivities or allergies. Then you will know what to look for on the ingredient labels at the pet store. If you are new to pet ownership, you can find a lot of available information on the Internet. Your veterinarian is also a prime source of proper nutrition for your pet.
Cats are not very excited about baths. Fortunately, they also do a fairly good job at grooming themselves. Dogs on the other hand, need baths. Choose a hypoallergenic shampoo at your bet store or discount store and plan to bathe your dog on a regular basis.
Bedding is a fun item to choose for your dog. Providing the perfect bed for your new friend to use will keep it happy and provide a sense of security. The best way to introduce your dog to its own place is to place a soft, comfortable pillow in their crate.
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Whether you choose to bring a dog or cat into your life, you should also pick up grooming tools or other pet grooming products .
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