Did you wake up to find a new four-legged friend under the Christmas tree? Adding a new pet to the pack is a paw-some way to bring extra joy to the holiday season, but it’s important to know that this gift requires year-round care and lifestyle changes. To best help your pet adapt to their new home and fit right into the family as the newest four-legged member, we’ve put together our top tips on how to help ensure the transition is as smooth as paw-sible.

Creating a Safe Environment

Pets are naturally curious of their surroundings — especially puppies and kittens. Before they start sniffing around their new home, pet-proof the area by:

• Securing potentially hazardous items such as electrical cords, toxic cleaning supplies, and small items that pose a risk for choking if swallowed.
• Ensure all plants within reach are pet-safe. Many plants can be toxic for four-legged friends, so move potentially harmful plants to areas inaccessible by your pet.
• Secure doors and fences, and make sure windows are closed off and locked. This helps to prevent any escapes!
• Set up a safe zone for your new pet that includes bedding, food and water, toys, and other comfort items. You can also use baby gates or crates to establish boundaries while providing them a space they can return to when overstimulated.

Make Caring for the Pet Fun for the Whole Family

Ensuring the health and well-being of a new pet is easier and more effective when it’s a team effort. It can also be a great way to teach younger members of the family responsibility! You can involve everyone in the household in your pet’s care by:

• Assigning roles to each family member. For example, someone can be in charge of walking the dog, while another makes sure to feed them daily. Ensure roles given are age and ability-appropriate so everyone is able to contribute!
• Create a schedule to help keep track of feedings, walks, potty times, etc. A calendar or schedule in a shared area of the home is a great way to make it visible and keep everyone on track—especially your new dog! Getting into a routine is an extremely important part of house-training.
• Learn together by watching instructional videos or attending training sessions. This ensures consistency in behavior expectations and commands, which reinforces good behavior in your pet.
• Bring your pet along to pet-appropriate activities such as hikes, picnics, beach days, etc. This gives everyone the opportunity to bond with their new four-legged family member!

Socialize Pets as Soon as Paw-sible

The earlier you start working with your pet to build their social skills, the better chance they have to develop into well-adjusted adults later in life. Socialization can benefit your new pet in various ways, such as:

• Building their confidence. This helps them feel a sense of security, even in new environments or with new pet and human friends.
• Decreasing the chance of your pet building fear-based habits. When properly socialized, pets are less likely to exhibit fear or aggression in unfamiliar situations.
• Helping to avoid boredom. Pets need both mental and physical stimulation to prevent boredom, which can cause them to display destructive behaviors. Socializing with other pets at the dog park or with human friends in the backyard will help keep them properly stimulated!

Preventative Health Care Starts Early

Puppies and kittens are more likely to live a longer life when their pet parents take a proactive, preventative approach to their veterinary care. To start your pet off on the right paw in their health care journey, make sure to prioritize:

• Parasite prevention to keep your pet (and home!) flea, tick, and parasite-free.
• Regular checkups with a veterinarian to monitor your pet’s growth and address any concerns as soon as possible.
• Vaccinations! Be sure to follow your veterinarian’s recommended vaccination schedule, as most critical vaccinations can only be administered once your pet reaches a certain age.
• Starting a dental care routine as early as possible to prevent oral health issues.
• Spaying or neutering at the appropriate age, which can contribute to better behavior and prevent health issues.
• Finding the right pet insurance AND wellness plan. Wellness plans are available through most veterinarians and cover preventative services such as vaccines and routine testing. But you also need to have pet insurance in case of emergencies and illness/injuries. Make sure you fully understand what is covered by both!

A new pet is the holiday gift that keeps on giving. Making lifestyle and home changes to best welcome your new four-legged friend, as well as establishing routines and planning for health care needs, will ensure adding a new pet is a smooth transition — for both the four and two legged members of the family!