5 Tips for First-Time Pet Parents

One of the greatest joys in this world is being able to have a furry friend by your side. It’s no surprise that young people and families alike are adopting pets now more than ever in the age of COVID-19. Their unconditional love and personality make life so much more interesting, and they keep you company, to boot. But whether you want a dog, cat, or even a bird or reptile, there are a few important steps you need to take if you’re about to be a first-time pet parent.

Prepare Your Budget

Adding a furry friend to your family comes with a price. As tedious as it sounds, you will need to run some numbers before you bring them home to make sure you can comfortably afford all their needs (as well as any emergencies should they occur). Some items to include in your budget are high-quality pet food, at-home pet care, cages, grooming services, collars, and mandatory vaccinations. This will all depend on the type of animal you’re getting and what their specific dietary and lifestyle needs are. However, it’s important you prepare for these things ahead of time so that when your friend does come home, you’re good to go financially.

Prepare Your Living Space

In addition to preparing a budget, it’s important you make sure your home is well-suited for your new pet. Make sure their toys and bowls are laid out, and you have a couple dedicated spaces for them to roam around in. It’s important that your newest addition becomes acclimated to your home. Some animals like cats may take more time to warm up to new spaces. If you’re adopting an older pet, it may take even longer for them to get used to you and your home. Making your space as comfortable as possible for them upfront will help ease the stress of bringing them home for the first time.

Find a Vet

Make sure you have a good veterinarian lined up. You’re going to need to take in your new pet soon after you bring them home for routine checkups, health evaluations, and vaccinations. Do some research online for local vets near you, or ask family and friends for recommendations.

Get to Training

Not all animals need training, but if you’re getting a dog, you’ll more than likely need to implement it to some degree. Puppies take more work and will need to learn potty training or possibly crate training. Older dogs may revert to bad behaviors in unfamiliar environments, and you may need to retrain them through positive reinforcement and treat-giving.

If you’re unsure about training your pet all on your own as a first-time pet owner, you could always look into training services. These will cost money, and you may need to take your pet to them, but it’s usually worth it. Professional pet trainers will teach both you and your dog proper tactics. Your pet will learn basic commands, and you will learn how to train and keep them grounded through various positive reinforcement techniques. Not all trainers train the same though, so make sure you do some research to see what each one has to offer and make sure they’re a good fit for you and your pet.

Be Prepared for Setbacks

Training pets, and having them get used to you, takes a lot of time and patience. Your pet won’t always get commands right away, and it may take them longer than you’d like to grasp them. Even if they do grasp it, there still might be hiccups along the way. Don’t feel discouraged if this happens. You’re both learning each other day-by-day, and it’s just as difficult for your pet as it is for you at times.

It’s okay to be frustrated — just remember that your pet is doing the best they can. You will learn their personality as you get to know them better and can adjust routines or training as you see fit.

Enjoy Their Company!

The last unofficial step is to simply enjoy having your new furry friend around. Pets can bring immense joy to people, and if you’ve been waiting to get your new friend for some time, have fun with being a new pet parent! Young or old, pets can have their quirks, too. The silly things they do will remind you of them when they’re long gone, and you’ll be thankful that you were their parent. So relax, take a deep breath, and get ready to enjoy the next chapter of your life with a pet by your side.