10 TIPS FOR WELCOMING YOUR NEW COMPANION HOME

There are certain days in life that we always remember: the arrival of a baby at home, the day we introduce our future partner to our parents... OR the day we come home with a little ball of fur that will now share our daily life. It's no exaggeration to say that the arrival of a pet in a family remains a significant moment; for us, as for them!

If this moment is approaching for you, you may be feeling a little nervous. You want everything to be perfect. You want your new companion to feel at home, welcomed, and safe.

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We know exactly how you feel! When we were getting ready to welcome Westin, our Goldendoodle, we did a lot of research on how to make sure he felt as comfortable as possible in our home. It was around this time that we started writing our series of articles for our Perfect Pet Adoption Guide , and we interviewed many shelters about how to prepare their home for the arrival of a new companion.

We've gathered some valuable information that really helped us make the best possible Westin experience, and today we want to share it with you.

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HERE ARE 10 GOOD TIPS TO FOLLOW WHEN WELCOMING YOUR NEW PET INTO YOUR HOME!

ALLOW TIME AND ENERGY

Let's face it, welcoming a pet brings about a number of changes in a home. And the effort required varies depending on the needs of the animal in question. Even a simple goldfish requires a certain amount of planning: choosing a location with the right temperature, not too sunny, and safe (away from the cat, among others!) so that your new aquatic friend thrives happily and in good health. Every animal, whether it's a chinchilla, a rabbit, a puppy, or a miniature pig, has specific needs that will require some reorganization of your home.

But, if you've read our article on the benefits of adopting a pet, you know that the effort is worth it and that you'll receive more in love and happiness than the effort it cost you!

• ON THE SAME SUBJECT: 👉 The long-awaited arrival home
  
  

CREATE A PET-PROOF INTERIOR

This point goes hand in hand with the previous one, but the arrangements always depend on the type of animal you're bringing in. However, even gerbils or hamsters that have a designated living space have a nasty tendency to escape from their cages to get a taste of freedom and could cause a mess or, worse, end their lives sadly behind a refrigerator or oven. We've all heard these kinds of stories.

Creating a pet-proof home might mean protecting electrical cords if you have rodents, taping decorative vases to shelves if you're adopting a cat that climbs everywhere, installing baby gates if your new companion isn't allowed upstairs, and so on.

Once everything is set up, try to put yourself in your cat's shoes and think like them. For a cat, a simple pom-pom can become a fantastic toy to tug on. So try to avoid tempting objects or place them out of reach.

Welcoming a pet is a bit like bringing a toddler into the home. The only difference is that this new baby is already very independent quickly, unlike a human baby who won't immediately move around everywhere on his own.

Also, remember that animals can eat anything: makeup, soap, cleaning products, vitamins, or anything else you can think of!

It is therefore better to prevent than to cure by avoiding this type of situation (which could be very damaging to your animal's health) from occurring.

READ THE ARTICLE ABOUT THE FIRST DATING

We recently published an article called The First Encounter . If you haven't read it yet, now's the time!

Planning your home will begin when you first meet your pet. Why? Because each animal, big or small, has its own personality, and that's when you'll discover it and be able to prepare!

For example, some animals gnaw or chew... and not just rodents! This means, for example, protecting electrical wires. We've met people whose cat was electrocuted while chewing electrical cables. They had been warned by shelter volunteers that this cat had a tendency to chew anything, but they didn't take the advice seriously, thinking that a cat couldn't do that kind of thing. Unfortunately, the story ended badly for the animal.

When you adopt a new companion, you hope (and we hope) that they live as long and healthy a life as possible. You've worked hard to find the perfect pet for you, after all! When you meet your pet at the shelter, ask the staff about their habits and quirks (both good and bad) to avoid disappointment.

MAKE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION

The most important thing is that your pet feels safe and secure when they arrive at your home. If you adopted them from a shelter, try to see if one of the volunteers or members of their temporary foster family can accompany them to help with the transition. They may also be able to give you some of their belongings, such as their blanket, toys, or a pillow. This will reassure them, as they will also be able to smell familiar scents. You can even use these items to spread their scent in areas of the house where you want them to feel comfortable. Rub their blanket on the walls, in their new bed, etc. Even their old tennis ball has a familiar scent. Use it to reassure them by moving it around the house. It may seem insignificant to a human, but an animal will feel comforted by smelling familiar objects in their new home.

SPEAKING OF SMELLS...

Yes, animals are very sensitive to scent and, just as they love their own smell, they are also very attracted to all sources of scent in the home.

If you're welcoming a new furry friend, secure your trash can, clothes, and bedding. Cats love things straight from the dryer, and dogs can go crazy over socks—dirty or clean!

And speaking of socks, let's talk about shoes. Be careful with all your shoes, even new ones. A puppy can't tell the difference, and while he can chew your old sneakers, he'll do the same with new ones if they're not out of his reach. Cats are particularly fond of leather shoes and bags (they're just like that!), and they might even use them to sharpen their claws.

SEEK ADVICE FROM THE ANIMAL'S SHELTER OR FOSTER FAMILY

Those who have cared for your dog before you are the best people to advise you when it comes time to prepare your home for the arrival of a new pet. Pay attention to their advice and take notes! Ask them how the dog or cat adjusted when they first arrived with them. This will give you insight into what you can do to make the adjustment easier.

CREATE A SPACE FOR HIM

You need to determine and prepare the area of ​​your home where your pet will spend the most time. Remember our goldfish at the beginning of the article. Depending on the pet you adopt, you need to provide a corner of its own. If it's a dog, think ahead about the areas it will have access to in the house. Will it be allowed in the bedrooms, for example? If its access is limited to certain rooms, it might be a good idea to prepare a little corner of its own, under the stairs, or a small kennel or cage that will serve as a refuge. Some dogs will prefer a small corner enclosed by a barrier but from which they can see what's going on around them. In any case, it will reassure them to have their own little space when they need it.

BUY THE NECESSARY SUPPLIES BEFORE ITS ARRIVAL

It's time to go shopping! Go beforehand because the day of his arrival will be full of emotion and action, and because it's not the time to go when he's in the car a little lost. You'll avoid stress and incidents. If you're expecting a cat, have the litter box ready to show him as soon as he arrives, otherwise he might be offended! Remember: you have to make a good first impression!

When you're staying with friends, you appreciate feeling welcome and pampered. How would you react if your friends served you steaks throughout your stay, knowing full well you were a vegetarian? You might feel like you were intruding. Well, animals have feelings too. Not the same as us, but real emotions. Seeing that you've planned everything for their arrival will make them feel welcome and therefore safe.

PLAN THE FIRST DAYS

Some pets have routines, and it's very important to plan how these routines will fit into your daily life before your pet comes home with you. If your cat is used to being fed at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., and you get up at noon, you'll have to adjust. Plan as a family who will take care of the pet and when. Help them adjust to a new routine, but by planning everything carefully and taking the time to do it right.

PREPARE THE WHOLE FAMILY

We're not just talking about humans here! Some of you have other pets at home, and you need to make sure they'll welcome a new companion. Often, when a new pet arrives and things don't go well with the others, they're blamed or judged as territorial and troublemaking. Try to be as objective as possible when assessing the real cause of the problem. It could be a territorial issue (with cats) or a jealousy problem (with dogs). This will help you find a solution.

Seek help, educate yourself, keep an open mind, and things should get better over time.

Rehabilitation and socialization will help, but if the problem is hormonal or behavioral, for example if you have an aggressive or dominant male, there are solutions in homeopathy . Some homeopathic products, especially our customized formulas that are able to address multiple symptoms at the same time, can save you from spending astronomical sums on veterinary fees or training.

We are so grateful that Westin has adapted well to our home. But we wouldn't have succeeded without the help of the shelters who referred us. A big thank you to Basset Rescue Across Texas, Healthy Pets of NYC, Hoofs and Woofs Animal Rescue, Midwest Animal Rescue Service, and many others.

What about you? Do you have any tips to share about preparing your home for a pet? We'd love to hear them! Write to us or post on our Facebook page.

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