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Pet Article
A NEW PET
Having made the decision to have a new pet whether it is a cat, dog, rabbit, guinea pig, etc.,
you must make sure that your house is safe. Your garden, cage or run is escape proof. No
dangling electrical wiresthat can be chewed or heavy objects that can be knocked off a table or
shelf. All toxic products are well out of reach - its just the same as baby proofing your home.
Whether it is a baby animal or a full grown pet from a rescue centre, your pet needs time to get
used to you and its new surroundings. This should be done gently and with as little fuss as
possible. Don't have a crowd of people waiting at home to welcome the new addition and you do
not want loads of visitors in the first few days.
Allow the pet time to explore its new surroundings so that it feels safe and secure. if using a
cage after a short time leave the door open and encourage the pet to venture out, offering tit bits
will usually do the trick. Never drag your pet out off its cage as this will cause it to be
frightened and nervous and it may then become reluctant to every leave this safe environment.
Start off as you mean to go on and get your pet into a routine. Regular exercise, play times and
feeding times will help towards a happy and confident pet. Train your pets from the beginning.
A pet from a shelter may need a little more training and understanding. Whilst it might be nice
to have a cuddle in bed with a new puppy or kitten because they are frightened on their own this
is a very bad habit that will be difficult to break.
If you already have pets then introduce the new pet carefully and supervise the play for the first
few days. The same with children and a new pet as children are not always as gentle as they should
be and can easily frighten or hurt a new pet by accident and if the pet retaliates by nipping the
child then this can jepardize the bond between them.
It is worth taking time to train your pet in the beginning as you will certainly reap the rewards
later on when you have a happy, loving, well balanced pet that is a pleasure to own.
Remember one of the most important things is to have your new pet checked over by your
Veterinarian to ensure it is fit and healthy and have it vaccinated against serious illness.
Mark Woodcock
1 Flea Control
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