10 things to know before welcoming a puppy into your home

Before welcoming a puppy into the house there are some things to know and to keep in mind: let's see what they are together

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

Adopting a puppy dog ​​or cat is a wonderful experience that you can't really regret. However, there are at least ten things to know before welcoming a puppy into the house: let's see what they are.





Index

Space management

Before adopting a puppy it is good to take into account the space you have available, especially if you also have other pets.

A cat, for example, needs at least 80 square meters to live happily and not show signs of stress. So beware of overcrowding if the cat does not have a safe outdoor space to explore. Adopting more animals and letting them live in a confined space could stress them, they could show aggressive attitudes or signs of different types. Going to the house or pulling the hair could be symptoms of an animal's discomfort forced to live with others in a small space. Even an incorrect diet could have a negative impact: as for us human beings, even for animals, nutrition requires care and attention.

Coexistence with other animals

If other pets already live in the house, you need to be patient and insert the new puppy appropriately. A puppy cat or a puppy dog ​​could in fact be targeted by animals already present in the house that could attack and injure him in a serious way.

Generally the best solution is to keep the new puppy separate from other animals for at least a week, placing his kennel and bowls (and any litter box in the case of the cat) in a closed room that is not accessible to other guests. of the House. In this way the animals will begin to get used to the smell and, as the days go by, it will be possible to make the puppy meet the other furry guests, always under human supervision.

Generally within two weeks the animals will begin to tolerate each other and there will be no more danger that they can harm each other: the advice is to manage the new arrival in a period in which it is possible to be present in the house.



Coexistence with children

10 things to know before welcoming a puppy into your home

Adopting a puppy when having children can be a very beautiful and educational experience for the child. However, you will need to have a little patience to educate both the puppy and the child to live together respecting each other's spaces.

When you have small or very young children, a less demanding solution is to adopt an adult animal that has already been tested for coexistence with children.

The importance of play and exploration

Play is very important for the growth and development of a puppy dog ​​or cat. Play also prevents boredom, which could lead to misbehavior in the pet, and allows the puppy and adult pet to exercise and prevent overweight.

If you have adopted a kitten and do not have a lot of space available, play will be essential to offer him those stimuli that may be insufficient in an apartment.

To give your cat some extra stimulation, place a high scratching post in front of a window so that it can observe the outside world.

So get some toys in a pet shop and plan to spend a few moments of the day letting your puppy play.

Educate the puppy to go to the toilet outside the home or in the litter box

It is not difficult to get a cat used to doing its needs in the litter box: it is in fact sufficient to keep an eye on the puppy, especially after eating, and be ready to put it in the litter box as soon as it is about to do its needs. After a few attempts, the puppy will tend to search for the litter on its own. If you keep the newcomer in a small room, such as the bathroom, educating the cat about the litter box will be even easier. It is very important to choose a litter that your cat likes, to have a litter box available for each cat and to clean the litter box at least once a day.



As for the puppy dog, initially expect some nasty surprises. Arm yourself with patience and do not scold the puppy when he goes to the house: take him out at least five times a day for the first months, at regular intervals, and reward him every time he goes to the needs outside the home. When you reward the dog, give him a very greedy treat and exaggerate with the compliments: after two / four weeks you will have educated the puppy and you will be able to sleep peacefully.

Paying attention to the feeding of the animal and avoiding sudden changes in the puppy's diet is also useful to promote the regularity of needs.

How to manage puppy separation anxiety

Animals suffer from loneliness when their owners leave the house. The cat can manifest its discomfort by doing the needs out of the litter box or with a series of teasing ranging from opening the drawers to overturning everything that is on any surface. Remember to always leave some toys available to the cat and, if possible, adopt two kittens at the same time.

The dog can instead suffer from a real separation anxiety that can be manifested with yelping, barking or with the actual destruction of objects and furniture. To prevent these behaviors, it is possible to close the dog in a menagerie during our absence, leaving a bone or a piece of clothing available to him to smell.

Nutrition for cats and dogs

10 things to know before welcoming a puppy into your home

Pets shouldn't eat what we eat, because they have very different nutritional needs than ours.

If we have time we can cook for our animals, obviously taking into account the foods they cannot eat and carefully avoiding salt.

For convenience, but also to ensure the animal has a correct, adequate and balanced diet, we can buy dry food and wet food in a specialized shop. On the market there are various formulations to accompany all stages of the animal's life, so you will find feed designed for puppies, adult animals and older ones.

Pay close attention to animal food labels and choose feeds that contain quality and possibly cruelty free ingredients that do not carry out invasive tests on dogs and cats to prove the efficacy and safety of the foods they produce. In this sense, an excellent choice is that of Monge, a Piedmontese company particularly attentive to the protection of animal welfare, the quality of the products and also the environment. All at a more than competitive price.

Remember that the cat should always have food available, while the dog should eat twice a day at regular times. Do not forget to always leave a bowl with fresh water, to be replaced every day.

Sterilization

A cat or dog puppy will inevitably become an adult and around six / eight months will begin to feel the need to mate.

unsterilized male cats tend to mark territory, become more aggressive and tend to run away. If the animal is prevented from mating and not neutered, the risk of cancer increases, especially of the uterus and breast in females.

Consult your veterinarian to find out the most suitable times and ways and to get information about the health risks your pet would face if you decide not to sterilize.

Remember to choose adequate nutrition for your pet following neutering.

The exits of the puppy

Animals need stimulation and life in the open air. If you have a garden available and you want to let your cat out, remember to secure the external environment to prevent the cat from reaching roads or other dangerous places. If you live in an attic, be aware that cats love roofs but you will have to pay attention to any attics where the cat could remain closed and the possibility that the cat will be able to get off the roofs and reach the street. In any case, if your cat has access to the external environment, notify the veterinarian to carry out all the necessary vaccinations.

As for the dog, remember that a garden is not enough for his well-being and even if you have an outdoor space you will still have to accompany him out at least three times a day to allow him to explore and socialize with people and animals.

How to get the puppy used to the car

10 things to know before welcoming a puppy into your home

If you have adopted a puppy dog ​​or cat, we advise you to accustom him to travel by car as soon as possible. Getting your puppy used to the car will be very useful when you have to take him to the vet but also for the holidays you will take together.

To get your puppy used to the car, start with very short journeys and gradually increase the duration of the journey. Always make your puppy travel safely inside the carrier.

Tatiana Maselli

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