Tips For New Pet Owners

One of the first things you need to consider is your pet’s diet, because this has a huge impact on their overall health and lifespan. We recommend a high-quality, well-balanced food for your pet. Read the ingredients in the food. The ingredients are listed in weight order, so the first ingredients listed will be what’s more prevalent in the food. Research the brand ahead of time, or talk to our team about the best food options for your pet’s age, breed and lifestyle.

You want your four-legged friend to get house trained as soon as possible, but you will need to exhibit patience and consistency when you’re training. Whatever method of training you choose: crate, newspapers or litter box, praise your pet when they succeed and demonstrate the proper behavior. The Animal Humane Society says that punishing your pet for the wrong behavior teaches them that they should poop or pee when you’re away. The best way is to teach them where they can go and prevent them from going where they shouldn’t.

Puppies and kittens have a natural biting behavior that seems playful when they are young. However, as they grow up, this cute and innocent behavior can become a real problem. You should discourage biting when you notice it in your animal. Say no in a stern voice or yelp. Make sure your pet has chew toys to keep them from reaching for your shoes, keys, phone, hands and feet. Reward good behavior with a small treat.

Scratching is also a natural instinct, much like biting. Again, the idea is to prevent bad behavior. To prevent your kitten from scratching your upholstery, you may need to use a deterring spray or double-sided tape. Provide scratch posts, cat trees and perches for your cat in places where they try to scratch. You may also want to trim the cat’s nails periodically to protect your furniture. Reward good behavior.

Choosing the best toys for your animal is difficult, and you may have to do some trial and error to see what toys your pet prefers. Rubber and rope toys are great for dogs that chew and enjoy playing tug of war. Soft toys are good to play fetch. Cats enjoy dangling toys and things they can chase. Some dogs even enjoy chasing laser light toys. Your cat will enjoy tunnels and cubes to hide in. Manufacturers are now making puzzle toys for dogs, to keep them engaged for a longer time and to use mental and physical muscles. Our technicians are happy to make suggestions about toys for your new companion.