| Tips For Selecting A Pet Before you pick a pet there are a few things you should consider. Things like do you really have the time to care for a new pet? Are you financially able to provide for the pet? If you rent your home or apartment are you allowed to keep pets? What kind of pet is best for where you live? Where is the best place to find a pet? Do you know where to get help with training? We'll provide some food for thought on each question below. |
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| Do You Have Time To Be A Pet Owner? Remember this very important fact before you do anything else! A pet is a LIVING BREATHING creature that can be very demanding. If you work from 8AM until 8PM and will have to leave the new pet at home alone, be prepared for a shock when you get home! The new pet can't scoop it's own poop or mop up pee! Surprise! It doesn't know yet where it is supposed to drop these nasty little gifts. It only knows when it is time it is time!! You will need to spend several hours per day with a new pet to get it acclimated to the whens and wheres of potty time. (More on this when we cover training.) Also, the pet WILL become bored if no one is there to give it attention. That means those $100 shoes you bought last week just became a $100 chew toy! You will have to devote time for exercise, feeding, training and most of all just being a good companion. If your job prevents this important time devotion you may want to consider a pet rock! |
| Can You Afford A Pet? Consider your finances for a moment. Remember the $100 chew toy in that last article? Add to that a carpet cleaning bill, the new lamp you had to buy because Pretty Kitty knocked over the one you had imported from Paris, the vet bill to remove your crescent wrench from Chester the collie's stomach (we've actually been through this one). And the list goes on. Do you need a special pet food? What about vitamins and other nutrients? Yes, a new pet can be as expensive as a new child! How's that pet rock sounding now? |
| Is Your Home Pet Friendly? Two questions come readily to mind about where you live. First, if you rent, will your lease or landlord allow you to have pets? Second, regardless of whether you rent or own, does your home have enough space for your new furry room mate to grow? It's never a good idea to lock a new pet into a spare room while you are away all day at work. The pet's boredom will inevitably cause it to chew up pillows,dvd's,or a brand new pair of expensive shoes. And, even if you think everything is hidden away, a new puppy will scratch and dig at a closet door searching for something to keep it occupied! There really is no substitute for human companionship. If you must keep a new pet at home alone for over a few hours you had better be prepared for disasters. For short stays alone the pet should be kept in a large enough crate to allow some stretching, or limited exercise. A nice sized, fenced in back yard will provide space for training and more extensive exercise. The size of your home and the yard space you have available will go a long way in determining the type of pet you can comfortably live with. It should be obvious that a Saint Bernard would not be a good fit in a small one bedroom house or apartment. A little imagination will help you decide between a cat, a dog, a parakeet or maybe a couple of goldfish! And don't forget the pet rock! |
| Where To Find A New Pet There are several great places to find a new pet, as well as some not so great places. We think the best place to start is at a local animal shelter. Pet adoption is a terrific way to begin your pet family. If you have a specific breed in mind check out the breeders in your area. They can answer your questions about most anything pertaining to your new pet. Be sure to thoroughly investigate the breeder's kennel and business practices. Don't do business with anything that resembles a puppy mill. Most pet stores are just a glorified puppy mill. They get the cutest little creatures that should sell quickly and simply send the ones back to "the mill" that don't get customer interest.. Avoid pet stores for purchasing your pet. You will simply encourage the "puppy mill" trade! |
| Fixing And Training A New Pet Fixing? What if it ain't broke? Okay, by fixing we mean to have your new pet spayed or neutered. If you are going to be a pet owner, be a responsible pet owner. Training can be a tricky proposition for an unexperienced pet owner. You can train your new puppy or dog yourself, but you really should get at least one good professional guide to help. One of the most popular books is SitStayFetch by Daniel Stevens. It is an actual step by step course to help solve many behavioral problems. To learn more or to order SitStayFetch, click here. Dove Cresswell has put together a fantastic teaching tool for puppies and older dogs alike. It is an online video training course. Cresswell is a Hollywood North dog trainer. She has trained animals for many movies, tv shows and commercials. Her methods are both fast and effective and they are put together in easy to follow video format. We really like this training method and would recommend it to every new pet owner. Learn more about Dove Cresswell's Puppy Training and Dog Training Online method here. By following the steps in either one of the aforementioned methods, you and your new pet will become life long buds. Guaranteed! Unless you have successfully trained a dog or puppy yourself, be advised...you may do more harm than good!! That is the main reason we strongly recommend professional guidance. If you can afford to hire a professional, great! Most of us can't. The small cost of these books or videos wouldn't cover one session with a live professional trainer. And they will be more effective, in our mind, because it is YOU doing the training. Good luck! When you are the proud owner of a beautifully behaved pet you will be glad you passed up the pet rock! |
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