Owning a pet is something that can have a hugely impressive impact on your life as a family, and this is something that you need to try to get right as much as possible. It is important to focus on the best ways of being an attentive and loving pet owner, and there are a lot of things that you can do to help you make the most of this right now. It is vital to make sure you come up with some of the key techniques that will allow you to improve your position as a pet owner.
When it comes to owning a pet, there are loads of ways this can benefit your family, and this is why you should be looking to acquire a pet for the long-term. We’ve even written before on the site about why giving in to your kids about owning a pet isn’t all bad!
This is a collaborative post.
However, it isn’t just an experience you should do lightly, and there are a lot of considerations you have to make when you are trying to make the best of this. How about considering some of these ideas that will help you take the right steps as a family pet owner right now?
1. Set your home up to be pet-friendly
Trying to set your home up more effectively in order to ensure that you have the perfect environment for your pet is so important. You need to be able to create a great environment for your pet to live and thrive, and this means making sure the home is spacious enough for your pet, as well as having the right kind of layout that they can use to grow. You might need to make some tweaks and changes that are going to help you make the most of this. For example – questions you might ask include:
- Is there enough outdoor space if you are getting a dog, for them to run about?
- Are you near a main road if you are looking to get a cat, and can you “encourage them” to use the back door rather than the front to keep them away from busy roads?
- What changes do you need to make to layout to keep them safe, or out of rooms you would rather they didn’t go into, e.g. buying stair gates?
- Do you need a cat flap installed, or even a dog flap?
- Will your pets be allowed upstairs, or not?
- How will you train your dog, and are the kids old enough to understand the training process?
Lots to think about – which is why it isn’t a decision to become a family pet owner taken quickly!
2. Make sure your pet is healthy
Making sure your pet is healthy and well looked after is hugely important, and there are a lot of excellent ways of being able to achieve this. You need to make sure you understand some of the key things that are going to allow you to get this right, and to make sure your animal is as healthy and happy as possible. There is plenty to keep on top of as a family if you want a healthy dog, and this is something you need to keep in mind. Try to understand the best ways of being able to get this part of the process right as much as possible, and look at what you can do to make your pet healthier and happier.
First and foremost, get the pet from either a reputable shelter, that does plenty of health checks beforehand, or a registered breeder. This way you can be sure of the stock your pets come from, and you also have someone to come back to if there is ever a problem with them.
Secondly, insure that you are registered with a local vet, and keep up to date with checks, fleas and worm treatments. There is nothing better than having someone you know locally to support and help you when things go wrong; like when your dog eats a whole raisin loaf for example *cough* 😂
3. Treat them well and with respect
Treating your pet with respect is such an important step to take in the process of being a good pet owner, and there is plenty to think about here. You have to understand that there are so many ideas you can use that will help you make the most of this, and even things as simple as choosing the best dog shampoo or selecting the right pet food can make a huge difference, and will also show how much you care.
Though keeping them clean, and and giving them good food is important, treating them with respect is more so. For example, if you have a dog, remember that they have feelings too. Don’t shout at your dog unless you have to, and try and use training that is based on positive reinforcement and not punishment. Conditioning is a great way of training animals, not just dogs. The principle of Pavlov’s Dog applies well in training animals.
These are just some of the things that you need to get right when looking to improve your family life, and make things better for you as a pet. So, you need to understand some of the best ways of being able to make the most of this. Considering these excellent choices, there is plenty that you can do that will help you when you are looking to get this part of the process right as much as possible.
If you would like other pet related article from KiddyCharts, do check these out:
Articles on KiddyCharts relating to pets
Here are some more articles on the site that relate to pets; why not check them out now?
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We really hope to see you again soon,
Helen
Helen
Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine! Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time. KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10. It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania. Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on. Get in touch TODAY!