Photo from Unsplash

Originally Posted On: https://hosbeg.com/8-common-pet-owner-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/

 

Sixty-seven percent of homes in the United States have household pets. This alarming statistic is due to the joy that owning a pet can bring. By adding a pet to the mix a family can practice responsibility.

Although many new pet owners are eager to show their animal love and affection, they oftentimes overlook the logistical aspects of caring for another living thing. Keep reading to learn how to overcome common pet owner mistakes.

1. Prioritize Home Training

Pets like dogs may be man’s best friend, but at the end of the day, they are still animals and need to be well trained. New pet owners often like their emotional attachment to their pet to deter them from disciplining their animal. Discipline is one of the most important elements of training your pet.

Socializing your animals with other people and pets early on is very important. You should begin exposing your animal to new environments and people in the first few months of adoption. By encouraging socialization early on you can deter your pet from developing a fear or aggression towards new environments or people.

2. Purchase Quality Pet Essentials

Depending on the types of pets you are looking to get you will need different essentials. Before you purchase a pet you will want to do some research to determine what essentials it may need.

As a prospective new pet owner, you should shop around for a pet that fits your lifestyle. Whether that is a puppy, turtle, or another animal each species and breed will require different essentials.

Shop around for your pet. If you are less particular about what breed and species of pet you want you can look around at shelters. Some shelters offer free or inexpensive adoptions and some shops offer rare breeds and even offer an amazing selection of Ambystoma mexicanum.

3. Stock Up on the Right Food

Puppies need nutrient-rich food to grow and have energy. When you are buying dog food it’s important to find food that meets all of the health requirements outlined by your doctor.

Although animals may eat any table scraps you offer them, puppies have very delicate digestive systems. If you are switching to a new brand or type of food, it is recommended to create a mix of the old and new food to slowly transition your animal to a new diet.

4. Put Away Chewable Valuables

When you first get a pet you need to be hyperaware of chewable valuables. Pillows, shoes, and even jewelry can quickly become destroyed if they are chewed on by a pet. You should exercise a similar level of caution when preparing your home as you would when baby-proofing if your pet is approaching teething age.

5. Finance All Medical Expenses

If you are preparing to adopt an animal you need to consider all of the underlying medical expenses. To cut costs some pet owners only take their pet to the vet when it is sick. This can cost your animal their life and is not worth the few added savings.

Veterinarians recommend annual preventative exams. These vet visits help you catch diseases early on and can help you keep your animal healthy.

6. Dogs Need Dental Care

Outside of routine vet visits, a dog’s oral hygiene usually falls short. Pet owners often overlook the care needed for dogs to have healthy teeth and gums. Either owner assumes that dental sticks are enough or entirely neglect the dog’s dental care.

Dogs’ teeth and gums should be brushed routinely to maintain strong teeth and healthy gums. Pet stores offer doggie toothbrushes and toothpaste that can help you keep your dog’s mouth healthy.

7. Set Clear Rules on Day One

When you first get a pet it is easy to make excuses for their bad behavior. Before you welcome a new animal into your home you should set some clear household rules.

For example, if you don’t want any animals on the couch that should be established early on. Allowing your pet to snuggle up with you for the first few months then implementing that rule will make it much harder to set boundaries.

Avoid using the excuse “well they are only a puppy”. By letting bad behavior slide you are conditioning them to think it’s okay to poop in the house, tear up your couch, or growl at newcomers. Setting clear expectations and rules on the day once can keep you from having to reteach your animal.

To property train animals you need to address bad behaviors in real-time. Animals’ level of consciousness is much lesser than that of humans so they won’t know what they did wrong if you issue out punishment hours later. Your animal’s negative behaviors are likely to progress if they aren’t addressed.

8. Don’t Impulsively Adopt

During the pandemic, there was a sudden spike in pet ownership. This is mostly because people were lonely and got a “pandemic puppy”. However, as employers have shifted away from remote work, many pet owners no longer have the time to give their animals the attention they deserve.

People can’t resist two big puppy dog eyes looking up at them at an adoption shelter. Becoming a pet owner is a big responsibility. Be sure that you are willing to make the necessary commitment to take on pet ownership.

Before adopting a pet be sure to do some research on the particular type and breed of pet you want. Different animals will acclimate better into your lifestyle, for example, and indoor vs. outdoor pets will directly correlate to how much time you need to spend taking care of it each day.

Overcome Common Pet Owner Mistakes

Pets are a great way to enhance your life and bring happiness into your day-to-day routine. Even if you already have a rambunctious animal at home, it’s never too late to adopt positive pet ownership habits.

With the correct preparation and research, you can avoid making common pet owner mistakes and happily welcome a new animal into your family. Liked this article? Connect with us to read more like it.