BeforePet From new pet to lifelong friend, building a bond that lasts a lifetime Welcoming Your New Pet
Get off to a great start with your new pet.
Building a Strong Relationship
Tips for building a lasting relationship with your furry friend.
Pet Supplies Checklist
Make sure you have everything you need to care for your pet.
Issue No.3
People and animals have enjoyed companionship from time immemorial, a friendship that marked a life together, with such an exclusive character that our cat or dog has actually become part of the family.
Table of contents
> 01
Welcome New Dog Owner’s Guide Ultimate Guide for New Cat Owners
03 09
> 02 Build Relationship Building a Better Relationship With Your Dog 9 Ways To Create a Perfect Relationship With Your Cat
17 21
> 03 Checklist Checklist of Dog Supplies Checklist of Cat Supplies
27 29
Welcoming Your New Pet Get off to a great start with your new pet by creating a welcoming environment and establishing a routine that will help them feel comfortable and secure.
Before Pet / Issue 03
New Dog Owner’s Guide By: Rachel Crocetti
That first day is crucial. Your new dog will most likely be both nervous and excitable, and you’ll want to make sure he’s as comfortable as can be.
▶ Prepare everyone in the house for their new responsibilities It’s important to discuss who is responsible for the new dog or puppy before he comes. The dog will not only need someone to take him outside on walks, feed him, and play with him, but he will also need love and acceptance from all members of the household. Make sure everyone is onboard before you make this huge transition!
▶ Buy all of the things This is the fun part in the preparation. Head over to your local pet store and get all of the things that your pup might need: food, bowls, leash and collar, treats, toys, a bed, and anything else that suits your dog’s needs. Check in with the shelter or breeder to find out which food the dog has been eating, so the transition isn’t hard on his tummy. Remember, you can always switch over the dog’s diet later on, in a more graceful way when he is well-adjusted to his new whereabouts.
▶ Get a new veterinarian for your pup Find a vet that lives close by that you will start bringing your pup to for annual check-ups, vaccines, etc. It’s also a good idea to locate the closest 24 hour emergency animal hospital and write that number down on the fridge or somewhere else that everyone in the house can find if they need it!
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Before Your Dog’s Homecoming
Before Pet / Issue 03
▶ Try to gather as many of your dog’s papers as possible If you’re adopting your dog from a shelter, this can be tricky but try to get as many vet records as possible for your pup. Find out exactly which shots he’s already gotten and which ones he still may need. Try to figure out the last time he got flea or heartworm treatment, if possible.
▶ Puppy-proof your house Every dog will react differently to their new surroundings, but there are a few things you should make sure you do to prepare your house and make it safest for the fuzzbutt’s arrival. For me, it was making sure none of my roach traps were at all accessible to my dog (I live in NYC – it’s only precautionary!) Move other chemicals onto high shelves, tape electrical chords to baseboards, and make sure anything that your dog can choke on is stored high enough that they can’t reach it, even on their hind legs.
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Before Pet / Issue 03
Bringing Your New Dog Home ▶ Make sure your dog is comfortable and has time to acclimate It’s really great to plan on bringing your dog home at the beginning of a weekend, or on a day when you can devote the whole day, if not a few days to helping ’em get used to his new home. When you drive your pup home, make sure he is safely secured in a doggy seatbelt or crate. For puppies this is especially important, since they may have never really rode in a car before. When you get home, let your pup sniff all the corners of his new surroundings.
▶ Show your pooch where their potty place is Almost immediately when you get home, take your pup out to wherever he will be typically going to the bathroom. If you have a yard, let him sniff around and get comfortable going out there. If you are a city type and don’t have a yard, allow him to sniff around the nearby trees and give him time to go to the bathroom for the first time. This will put the idea in his head right away that is his potty place. And remember, positive reinforcement is key! When he goes to the bathroom outside for the first time, make sure to praise him!
▶ Balance lots of love with some space The worst thing you can do to a new pup is overwhelm them. Don’t ignore, but balance lots of cuddles and pats with space. If there are small children in the house, remind them to be gentle and slow with the dog at first. Don’t worry – playtime will come soon after!
▶ Keep an eye on your pup’s habits and tendencies I found out within the first two days of having my pup that she absolutely loved pulling tissues out of small waste baskets and rip them apart. I learned this fast so I could reprimand her when appropriate, and also consider a new location for these temptations. Keep an eye on ’em and see if he is particularly interested in causing trouble in any one part of the house. This will help you to create a plan for when you aren’t home as to where to keep the dog so he is both safe and comfortable.
▶ Get all the paperwork squared away The first week is the time to get all the logistical stuff signed, sealed, and filed away. Take your pup to meet his vet and get an initial checkup. If he isn’t microchipped yet, get that done early on so you have extra safety measures if he was to ever get away. If your pup is adopted and has a chip already, make sure it gets registered with your information. Also make sure you get your pup licensed. You can either discuss this with your vet or go to your state’s government website and check out their process.
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The First Week With the Pup
Before Pet / Issue 03
Ultimate Guide for New Cat Owners By Chewy
If you’re a first-time cat owner, be prepared for a few surprises. Cats can be prone to what new owners might describe as “weird behavior”.
Lots of Playtime
If you think cats are low maintenance, easy pets, think again. First-time cat owners have to be ready to play with their cats, “Kittens are very playful. They have a high need for interaction and stimulation and predatory play.” says Stephanie Borns-Weil, a veterinarian and a behaviorist at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. She recommends that new cat owners provide a stimulating environment for your cat by giving them access to puzzle toys and plenty of interaction with you.
The only thing she doesn’t advise? Hand play. She’s spotted glove toys with pom — poms attached on the fingers on store shelves and recommends avoiding them. Likewise, you’ll want to try to put a stop to any “inappropriate” behavior. “You want to entirely discourage any kind of inappropriate play early on,” says Borns-Weil. “If they leap out at you when you’re walking by you don’t want to interact. You want to avoid and prevent.”
Nighttime Activity
If you’re a first-time cat owner, expect your cat to go a little haywire in the middle of night. “Cats will start racing around the house for no apparent reason whatsoever,” says Jenn Corsun, manager of Cat World at Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah. Corsun is responsible for about 550 cats at the shelter and currently has eight cats at home. Corsun calls these nighttime antics the “zoomies.” Why do they do this? “The cat is naturally a nocturnal creature,” says Corsun. If you’re a new cat owner searching for a way to try to stop late — night cat parties, try to play with your cat during the day. It will help them burn off energy and hopefully keep them asleep throughout the night.
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“They’re at this stage in life where play is really important to them or their development. You want to provide tons of opportunity for that predatory play,” says Borns-Weil.
Before Pet / Issue 03
Visits From Above
A New Friend in Your Most cats are climbers. Some can even leap Sink high on your counters or on your book shelves.
“They love to be on top of things and up high surveying down, where they feel most safe and comfortable,” says Borns-Weil. “They’re not trying to be naughty. That’s just where they’re comfortable.” First-time cat owners can try buying a cat condo or tree so your cat can sit up high and watch the environment. Borns-Weil says she once laid a mat down on top of her fridge so her cat had a place to rest. Corsun also recommends new cat owners ensure their bookshelves are secured to the wall so a cat won’t injure themselves or knock over a shelf.
Be warned, first — time cat owners: You might want to close the door when you’re showering. Otherwise, you cat might try to sneak in with you.
“They love running water but don’t necessarily like to be in the water,” says Corsun “They’ll sit in the sink for no reason.” If you’d prefer your cat not do this, you can cover the sinks when you’re not at home or you can try training them using positive reinforcement. “Take them down from the sink, put them down on the floor, give them a treat or extra attention. But you need to do that every single time,” says Corsun.
-Stephanie Borns-Weil, a veterinarian and a behaviorist at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University
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“When you think about getting a cat, you’re kind of living with a wild animal The cat will be happiest if you can provide an environment with your cat where it gets to do what cats do.”
Before Pet / Issue 03
A Hidden Figure
Many cats love playing or hiding inside boxes. Some will climb into cabinets or squeeze in very tiny spaces. And, according to Borns-Weil, it’s due to their natural predatory behavior. “They like to explore,” says Borns-Weil. “They’ll hang out outside a hole or be ready to pounce. They’re intrigued by the idea of not being down on the floor and vulnerable.” She says it’s key that new cat owners don’t accidentally end up encouraging this behavior if it’s something they’d rather avoid. “If a cat does anything that you think is really cute, and you give them positive feedback, then you’ve actually trained them to go in the bag,” she says. “Provide natural places where they can hide. If you don’t want them to do something, just don’t make it available to them. But if it’s a biological or genetic need, then you want to provide them with opportunities.” She suggests first-time cat owners give their cat boxes or bags to hide in. It’s easy to rotate those items and you won’t have to pay for them.
Surprise Attacks
“No matter how many expensive toys that you buy them, cats would rather play with your shoe laces, the box that the toy came in,” says Corsun. “They will chase bugs and mice. They won’t necessarily play with the things that you want them to play with. They’re going to make their own fun.” Corsun recommends new cat owners buy their cat a scratching post to give them a toy. Consider buying a laser pointer, chasing toys, fishing toys or cat toys with feathers on the ends. Anything you and your cat will like to use to exercise their natural need to hunt, as long as it’s not encouraging bad behavior.
The Need to Knead
Kneading refers to when cats press their paws and claws into you in a somewhat affectionate way. It’s usually referred kneading, or “making muffins,” since it resembles this.
“That’s what they do when they nurse,” says Borns-Weil. “It’s not that they’re trying to nurse [you] when they do it. It’s just that they’re having that kind of happy, positive bonding experience.”
Marking is usually something only associated with dogs, but cats also do this. “Scent is very important to them,” says Corsun. “Cats will rub up on everything. Mostly with their face, sometimes with their sides and rear. Depositing scent, marking things that are there, including you.” Cats also urine mark just like dogs do. BornsWeil says intact males are more likely to engage in this behavior, but neutered cats do it, too. Although you might not think of if that way, scratching is also a marking behavior. And purchasing a scratching post might not be enough to deter your cat from clawing your sofa, either. “If you buy your cat a scratching post and they still mark the couch, it’s probably that the couch is more significant, in a more prominent place in the house,” says Borns-Weil. “For a scratching post to work, it should be one that shreds up.” Borns-Weil says the scratching post should be tall enough so the cat can reach it when they are standing on their back legs.
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Making a Mark
Building a Strong Relationship with Your Pet Develop a strong bond with your pet by providing the love, attention, and training they need to thrive. This chapter will provide tips for building a lasting relationship with your furry friend.
Before Pet / Issue 03
Building a Stronger Relationship with Your Dog By Pupford
They say dogs are man’s best friend, right? While this is often the case, it doesn’t hurt to want to strengthen your relationship with your dog.
It seems like the bond between dogs and humans is just a fact of life that’s always existing. While there’s no way of knowing just when dogs became our pals, we do know it was a long time ago. In fact, the first instance of dogs and humans being buried together was around 14,000 years ago. There’s a reason the bond has stood the test of time—a few actually. Here are some reasons why humans bond with dogs more than other animals: ▶ Dogs bond via eye contact, just like humans do. In fact, research suggests dogs have adopted human-like body language cues over time. ▶ Both dogs and humans have the ability to distinguish who is a friend and who is not. ▶ Both humans and dogs enjoy taking part in playing together. Scientists call this “unique interspecific interaction”, but it basically means we’re willing to play endless games of fetch if it makes our pups happy.
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Understanding the Dog and Human Relationship
Before Pet / Issue 03
With these scientific alignments, it’s no surprise that dogs went from being by our side during hunting to being by our side, well, every moment! Not only is bonding with your dog super cute (does it get any better than tail wags, belly rubs, and cuddling? I don’t think so), it’s actually mutually beneficial.
Benefits of Bonding With Your Pup Stress Relief
Petting or playing with a dog is proven to lower blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing rate, relaxing muscle tension. The result? Lower levels of stress hormones in the blood. Next time you have a stressful day, end it with a game of fetch or belly rubs. Stronger Hearts Those who have a dog in the family are far more likely to survive a heart attack, according to the American Journal of Cardiology. This likely ties back to stress reduction. Serotonin Boost A Japanese study found that just looking at your dog can raise oxytocin and serotonin levels and make you happier. Over the long term, this can alleviate and reduce the risk of depression.
Having a strong connection with your dog can translate to other relationships in your life, studies suggest. Also, let’s face it, dogs make great conversation starters when you’re out and about together. Boost Activity Levels Dog parents walk almost twice as much as those without dogs. All the walks, games, and adventures seriously boost activity levels and keep us healthy. There are also a ton of benefits for your dog, like having someone take care of their every need, but your dog likely can’t read this so we’ll stick with the human benefits.
Ways to Build a Better Relationship With Your Pup Understand Your Pup
It’s important to lay a strong foundation for communication between you and your pup. That way, you can understand their personality, their learning style, and the little nuances of your relationship. Trick Training Teaching your pup some new tricks is super fun (for you and your dog) — who doesn’t love to show off?! But it also helps increase verbal and non — verbal communication which is one of the best ways to strengthen your bond. “Treat” Your Furry Friend There’s nothing wrong with a little treat motivation to get your dog extra excited to spend time with you. Just be sure you’re picking treats that are healthy, low calorie, natural, and delicious! Fun Games & Exercise Playing games and exercising with your dog are extremely powerful ways to improve your relationship with your pup. Whether that's fun games like tug — of — war, snuffle mats, or fetch, or even going for a jog. Just spending time with your dog while they do enjoyable activities is sure to strengthen your bond!
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Socializing
Before Pet / Issue 03
9 Ways To Create a Perfect Relationship With Your Cat By Feliway
They say dogs are man’s best friend, right? While this is often the case, it doesn’t hurt to want to strengthen your relationship with your dog.
When you first bring your pawsome pal home, let them get accustomed to new sights, smells, and sounds — exploring their new surroundings on their terms. Keep them in a single room in the house that has all of their resources for the first few days, then introduce them to the rest of the house and any other pets. Gradually allow them to be stroked and handled by you and other family members without forcing them into any interactions; if you’re introducing kids to your new cat then make sure they’re aware not to grab for the kitty as this can damage the friendship and startle your lovely furry bundle of joy!
Make sure you have everything their little hearts desire, right from the beginning
Food and water bowls must be accessible (but away from other pets) and remember that you need one of each resource for every pet, plus one extra! The same goes for litter trays, scratching posts and high perches they can jump on to. Having everything they need makes your kitty feel safe and in control — and more likely to be relaxed which should bring out their social side!
Learn cat — talk
Get to know your kitty’s body language; the position of their tail, eyes and ears speaks a thousand words and it’s important to know when your cat is happy or when it is showing signs of stress and anxiety. Did you know that if you blink very slowly at a cat you are saying “I love you”, but don’t stare directly at them as they see this as threatening and they will run away. Half — closed eyes, forward facing ears, and relaxed whiskers are all signs that your kitty is relaxed and content!
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Start to socialise your cat when they are young
Before Pet / Issue 03
Don’t force it!
Let your cat make the first move and don’t grab them and try to force them to sit on your lap! Let them come to you on their terms (a little treat might entice them in the first place!) But also let them go free when they start to wriggle to get away. This will help build up their trust in you and make them more likely to want to snuggle up to you in future.
Learn their favourite soft spot
Does your cat sometimes turn into a little purring machine? Generally, cats like to be touched and stroked around the base of their ears, around their cheeks and under the chin — this is where their facial glands are. They’re not keen on having their tummy, tail or their back stroked. Sometimes they may be so relaxed that they’ll lie with their stomach exposed but don’t be fooled - this is not an invitation to stroke them there and may result in a short nip!
Set aside some kitty time!
Most cats have an active time at dawn and dusk; it may seem to you that they are being a bit crazy, scooting around the house at great speed, just when you are sleeping or want to relax. However, this is a natural instinct and when they would (in the wild) have done their hunting. So avoid trying to play with your cat at these times. The best time to play with your kitty a couple of times throughout the day — just 10-15 minutes playing with their favourite toy will help to tire them out, establish a routine and develop a bond.
Sit with your cat’s favourite cushion or blanket closeby and wait for your cat to come to you. As they will have left their smell on their blanket and have good associations with it, they will more likely feel positive about approaching you. You can tempt them closer with a little treat and once they’ve sniffed your hand they may be happier to come closer to explore more. Don’t move quickly or startle your cat as this will put them off, but take your time and create a relaxed environment.
Nurture Your Kitty Bond
The recipe for kitty friendship is actually easier than you might think: give them space when they need it, pamper them and ensure they have everything they need, and throw in some nice treats and playtime and you’ll soon have the purrfect bond with your kitty! In other words, they’ll have you wrapped around their little paw in no time at all!
Help them to groom
Cats are very clean creatures and spend a lot of time grooming themselves. When you have developed a close bond with your cat and they are happy to sit on your lap for a while, try a little grooming! This will not only make your bond stronger, but regular grooming will help to prevent their coat from matting, it will reduce shedding and help spread natural oils over your cat’s skin and coat.
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Be approachable
Pet Supplies Checklist
Make sure you have everything you need to care for your pet by following our comprehensive pet supplies checklist. We'll cover everything from food and water bowls to grooming supplies and toys.
Before Pet / Issue 03
Checklist of Dog Supplies
1. Pre-puppy shopping list Things to get before bringing your pet home.
Up-to-Date Microchip
Food and Water Bowls
Poop Bags and Holder
Adjustable Collar
Dog Crate
A Good Leash
Pet Pads
Dog ID Tags
Dog Bed
2. Welcome home
Engaging toys and useful tools to pick up. Calming Toy
Dog Shampoo
Puzzle Toys
Brushes
New Puppy Chew Toys
Nail Care
Chase Toys
Dog Training Treats
Interactive Toys
Treat Pouch for Training
Grooming Wipes
3. Becoming part of the family Essential services to line up for your new pet
Veterinarian
Dog Walker
Pet Insurance
Dog Groomer
Pet Sitter
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Healthy Food
Before Pet / Issue 03
Checklist of Cat Supplies
1. Pre-puppy shopping list Things to get before bringing your pet home.
Calming Aids
Food and Water Bowls
Cat Trees or Scratchers
Cat ID Tags
Pet Pads
Cat Litter
Cat Bed
Cat Litter Box and Scoop
Cat Carrier
2. Welcome home
Engaging toys and useful tools to pick up. Calming Toy
Cat Shampoo
Hunting Toys
Brushes
Teaser Toy
Nail Care
Catnip
3. Becoming part of the family Essential services to line up for your new pet
Veterinarian
Pet Sitter
Pet Insurance
Cat Groomer
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Healthy Food
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Rachel Crocetti Chewy Pupford Feliway
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