{"id":1771,"date":"2018-04-07T07:48:55","date_gmt":"2018-04-07T12:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/safepettreats.com\/blog\/?p=1771"},"modified":"2018-04-07T07:52:32","modified_gmt":"2018-04-07T12:52:32","slug":"a-guide-to-owning-your-first-pet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/safepettreats.com\/blog\/a-guide-to-owning-your-first-pet\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Owning Your First Pet"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Congratulations! You\u2019ve decided to take in your first pet. However, you might be confused about what you need to do next and where to start. First, you need to choose the right animal.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1775\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1775\" style=\"width: 675px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1775\" src=\"https:\/\/safepettreats.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Choosing_a_pet.jpg\" alt=\"Choosing a pet\" width=\"675\" height=\"425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/safepettreats.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Choosing_a_pet.jpg 675w, https:\/\/safepettreats.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Choosing_a_pet-300x189.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 675px) 100vw, 675px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1775\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/person-in-brown-cable-knife-sweater-holding-white-and-black-puppy-129634\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pexels<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Choosing a Pet<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s more to bringing home a pet than just a quick trip to the pet store. You need to first and foremost decide on the best pet for your home and your family. Ask yourself these questions first:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Is my home big enough for the kind of pet I want?<\/li>\n<li>Does anyone I live with or who regularly visits have pet allergies?<\/li>\n<li>How much time do I have to care for my pet? For example, if you travel a lot, a dog might not be a good fit.<\/li>\n<li>How much am I willing to spend on my pet annually? Keep in mind things like annual vet visits, hospital emergencies, spaying\/neutering your pet, food and pet supplies, grooming, and boarding. Read AVMA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.avma.org\/KB\/Resources\/Reference\/Pages\/Money-tips-for-caring-pet-owners.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">article<\/a> on money tips for pet owners.<\/li>\n<li>What kind of activities would I like to do with my pet? Do you want an animal that keeps you active, such as a dog, or one that you can sit back and observe, like fish?<\/li>\n<li>What is the lifespan of my pet?<\/li>\n<li>Who will care for my pet when I\u2019m not available? You may want to hire a regular <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rover.com\/dog-walking\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dog walker<\/a> to take your dog out while you\u2019re at work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you\u2019re getting a pet for your child, there are more things to keep in mind, such as educating your child on how to safely handle a pet. You may want to consider a service pet for the family if your child has a disability. Read more about different <a href=\"http:\/\/www.chicoer.com\/article\/NA\/20180327\/NEWS\/180329704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pet options<\/a> for children at ChicoER Lifestyle.<\/p>\n<p>Once you select a pet, you may also need to choose a breed, particularly for fish, reptiles, and dogs. Understand the characteristics and common temperament of each breed. Which fits best with your lifestyle and home?<\/p>\n<p>Finally, you\u2019ll have options on where to get your pet. You can visit a pet shop or go to an adoption or rescue agency. With dogs, you can also go to a breeder. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.akc.org\/expert-advice\/lifestyle\/9-tips-finding-working-responsible-breeder\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read<\/a> how to find a responsible breeder at American Kennel Club.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bringing Your Pet Home<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve selected a pet, you\u2019ll need to prepare your home. This could be as simple as setting up a space for your pet and stocking up on food and supplies.<\/p>\n<p>For cats and dogs, you\u2019ll need a vet visit and vaccinations, as well as other equipment. It\u2019s best to spay or neuter cats or dogs to prevent overpopulation. Fixing your animal can also help calm your pet\u2019s behaviors.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, some states require that dogs have a license, so check the laws in your state. Your pet provider should be able to help you. Additionally, you may want to consider training your dog to make life more manageable. Check out the Humane Society\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.humanesociety.org\/animals\/dogs\/tips\/dog_training_positive_reinforcement.html?credit=web_id97316706\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tip sheet<\/a> on positive-reinforcement training for dogs.<\/p>\n<p>Before bringing home a dog, you\u2019ll have to do a few more tasks, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Establishing rules for your pet and your family to keep everyone safe.<\/li>\n<li>Preparing to housetrain him.<\/li>\n<li>Setting up an area of his own.<\/li>\n<li>Preparing your friends, family, and neighbors for your new pet.<\/li>\n<li>Making sure your home is free of puppy or dog hazards, and making sure your dog can\u2019t escape anywhere.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you are bringing home a rescue dog, you may need to take extra care. These dogs may be anxious and skittish. As Kim Hormby of <a href=\"https:\/\/thebark.com\/content\/bringing-home-your-rescue-dog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Bark<\/a> explains, \u201cTheir lives have been turned upside-down, they are scared and are often coming out of a situation that was intimidating and uncomfortable.\u201d This will be a time of adjustment, so be patient. Try crate training to give him a safe place and buy him toys and treats to make him feel welcome.<\/p>\n<p>Getting a pet is a big responsibility and one not to take lightly. But if you plan ahead and use some of the tips in this article, you\u2019ll be able to manage it and enjoy a new member of your family.<\/p>\n<p>Article written by\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.OurBestFriends.pet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">OurBestFriends.pet<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Congratulations! You\u2019ve decided to take in your first pet. However, you might be confused about what you need to do next and where to start. First, you need to choose the right animal. Choosing a Pet There\u2019s more to bringing home a pet than just a quick trip to the pet store. You need to&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":1777,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"video","meta":{"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[101],"tags":[247,244,246,245,248],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A Guide to Owning Your First Pet<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Congratulations! You\u2019ve decided to take in your first pet. 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