New pet owners: Tips on how to introduce your new pet to others. Including other pets and family members.

how to introduce a new pet to another pet / new pet owners / My Sweet Zepol / home and garden blog

Change is a big part of life, especially when it comes to being a new pet parent. If you’ve experienced this, then you know it can also be difficult for new pet owners when introducing a new pet to other pets, and that an adjustment period is often necessary. The same holds true when introducing new pets to other family members, like children.

New Pet Owners / How to Introduce a New Pet to the Family / My Sweet Zepol / blogIntroducing pets to your family

  • Make this a slow and gradual experience, starting with a few short periods of time.
  • Teach your kids how to pet animals appropriately, explaining how to pick up and hold a young or small pet correctly, and that grabbing him by his tail or ears is dangerous.
  • Before introducing your pet to a baby, let the animal smell something of the baby’s things to get familiar with the scent. When you do introduce them, do so at home (a familiar environment) while holding the baby, and let your pet smell the baby from a distance. You can gradually get closer as they get acquainted.

Introducing dogs to dogs

  • Start in a neutral area to prevent the original from being territorial, and supervise closely.
  • Watch for signs of aggression, and separate them if they don’t seem to like each other.
  • Offer plenty of praise and treats when they get along well together.

Introducing cats to cats

  • Keep them in separate rooms to get used to each other’s sounds and scents.
  • Once they do, put them in the same room, but watch for aggressiveness.
  • Continue to let them interact more if their first meeting goes well.

Introducing dogs to cats

  • Take your dog out on a long walk before their first meeting.
  • Keep your dog on a leash when you introduce him to the cat.
  • Let your cat set the pace, and don’t force them to interact if they don’t want to.

 

How to Introduce New Pets to People / New Pet Owners / My Sweet Zepol blog

Whether you are giving a new pet a home, merging households with someone else, or giving your current pet a playmate, introducing pets to each other (or children) can be stressful and should be taken slowly.

Owning a pet is no small task. It’s a commitment of your time, energy, and patience. Here’s what you need to do to make sure you’re ready for your new pet and that they are ready for you, too.

Being the parent of a pet is a lot like being the parent of a human: there sure are a lot of things you need to buy. Bowls, beds, leashes, poop bags, and litter boxes are just the necessities but, as with kids, the real shopping fun comes with buying all the extras. 

How to Introduce a New Pet / New Pet Owners / My Sweet Zepol / blog

Here are 25 essential gifts for new pet owners, especially those who don’t know about that latest toy all dog or cat owners swear by, can be a huge help to new “parents” trying to occupy their energetic new pup or kitten. Like this cute easy-to-make, and pretty felt-braided rope dog toy. It’s also a great DIY project to do with kids.  

Share with us any tips you have for introducing new pets to other pets and family members.