Rover will be home for Christmas
When you welcome a pet into your home, you must make him a priority until he feels comfortable as a family member. The holiday season – with its shopping, entertaining and general confusion – rarely leaves you with time or attention to spare. All the distractions can make it the worst of times to bring home a furry friend.
Here are some guidelines to consider.
The hustle and bustle and Rover don’t mix
– You will probably be too occupied with holiday preparations, celebrations, guests and overall activity to give Rover the attention he desperately needs. After all, he’s just left behind his mother and littermates, so a little companionship and compassion is in order.
– The first few days in a new home and with a new family are critical to a puppy. His transition will affect his ability to bond with and trust humans. A stressful introduction can have negative after-effects on a successful integration into the family.
– When you bring home a dog – especially a puppy – it’s important to set up a routine he can count on. If you’re too busy to feed and walk him on schedule, it’s almost impossible for him to learn the rules. He may lose his appetite, have accidents, or be destructive. It’s hard enough to keep a well-trained dog under control during the holidays, let alone a puppy in a strange environment.
– Holiday activities might present safety hazards and increased opportunities for Rover to get into trouble or hurt. When you’re not used to having a pet, it can be hard to keep ornaments, candles, and potentially poisonous holiday plants out of his reach.
– Excited guest, noisy toys, gift unwrapping, and rambunctious children can scare animals of any age, especially a puppy.
– Elderly guests may trip over the pet and get hurt.
– Always supervise dogs and children when they’re together. That’s doubly hard to do during a big holiday, so the chance of dog bites increases. Children not used to having a dog in the home are more prone to behaviour that can frighten a dog or pup, provoking a defensive bite.
– Guests coming and going presents many opportunities for a pet escape. And because he hasn’t had time to bond with the family, Rover may run farther if he escapes.
A new year is just around the corner
Gifts are unwrapped. The tree is down. Life is a little more relaxed, and you can offer a quiet, stable environment where you can focus on helping Rover adjust to a new home. Wait until after the holidays, then open the door and let him in.