Ron Hines DVM Ph.D. 4/25/06

Adding a new pet to your family is a joyous occasion that should leave lasting good memories. Try to make it a positive family experience by involving every family member. But first, spend some time in introspection to guarantee that you are making the right decision.

Is this the right time?
Obtaining a new pet is a long-term commitment. Timing is very critical to success. In about twenty percent of the situations I see, factors that motivated clients to obtain a new pet were not be in the pets or the clients long-term interest. We often get pets soon after major life changes. The loss of a former pet, a move to a new home, commitment to a new partner and new children in the family are all common motivational factors. A common error is obtaining a new pet too soon after one of these events occur. How we adapt to the changes brought about by one of these events is unpredictable, so my advice is to wait a year after major life style changes before deciding on a new pet. Once you decide that the time is right make the decision process a thoughtful process. Selecting a pet should never be a spontaneous or spur-of-the-moment decision by a single family member.

Is this the right pet for you?
As important as timing is choice of a pet. Pocket pets such as hamsters, rats and mice have a built in advantage (or disadvantage) of a short life span. Love between a pocket pet and its owner can be as profound as between a larger pet and its owner. This is more dependent on the owner’s ability to grant the pet desired attributes in the relationship than on the pet’s intelligence and innate traits. Pocket pets may be right for you if your life stays in flux or if little scurrying creatures appeal to your nature. They appeal particularly to introspective owners. Pocket pets are also a good first pet for children over the age of ten. They encourage responsibility, stability and maturity. Pocket pets are also great for people with physical or emotional limitations. Dogs, cats, ferrets and rabbits require a longer commitment and, some would say, a deeper bond. Arguably, their ability to return affection and become family members is greater than that of pocket pets. Dogs and cats are truly domesticated meaning that they have evolved to assume significant roles within the family unit. Dogs and cats are remarkable in that they can function as the prime relationship for single adult owners. Ferrets and rabbits also fill these rolls in a smaller group of pet owners. The desire of dogs to please is often greater than a human family member.

Spend time learning about the pet you are thinking of getting. The public library is a good place to begin learning about your potential pet. There are books on the unique characteristics of each pocket pet as well as books on each breed of dogs and cats. The variation between the traits of dog breeds is enormous and greater than between species of animals. Some breeds are renown for their affection, others for their intelligence and yet others for their sensitivity. Once you have read up on the pet, get hands-on contact with at a pet store, breeder or at events such as dog and cat shows.

Adapting you home to fit your new pet:
Domesticated pets have a great ability to adapt to new environments. However, it will be up to you to make some changes at home to accommodate your new pet. At least one family member will have to accept the new pet as their responsibility. This includes purchasing food and supplies, training the new pet and seeing to its emotional needs. Furniture within the house will need to be rearranged to pet-proof the house. Thermostats may need adjustment. The yard may need to be fenced and delicate objects placed where they remain safe. Routines will need to be adjusted to meet the pet’s needs. If the pet is a new cat, dog, ferret or rabbit, food and water bowels as well as leashes, combs, collars, toys and bedding need to be purchases.

The special needs of young and older animals:
Obtaining a mature pet has several advantages. Because it’s mature personality is already established an older pet is a known commodity. Every pet has its own idiosyncrasies that are separate from breed and species. If the pet is mature, a short introductory period will tell you much about the pet’s temperament. Within a few days, barking, destructiveness, shy or gregarious nature and emotional demands become apparent in mature pets. Young pets adjust to new home situations more readily than older pets. However, they need more time consuming guidance in adapting to the family’s needs. Housebreaking, leash training, curbing destructive behavior and dominance characteristics all must be molded in immature pets.

Bringing the pet home:
Kittens and puppies ferrets and rabbits are best obtained when they are about eight weeks of age. By this time, they are quite independent and their individual personalities can be judged. Just like people, some animals are extroverts and others more withdrawn and introverted. Choose an individual animal that has characteristics that approximate your own personality. Species imparts basic traits but individual personality is independent of species. To determine the pet’s individual personality, sit quietly in the home that provided the animal. Is this an outgoing youngster that comes to greet newcomers and shows intense interest is its surroundings or is it more reserve and stand-offish? Is it a gregarious clown or a more stoic and reserved companion? Certain puppies and kittens are more fearful of new situations than others. These traits tend to remain for the life of the pet. Some welcome change and new experiences while others withdraw from these situations.

Training pets to be integrated family members:
All domestic animals want to please their owners. Domestication has given them a desire for human companionship. With this desire comes a need to enter the family unit and interact in the social structure in which it is immersed. There are many outcomes to integration and the pet relies on you to indicate how you want the relationship to progress. If you are assertive with the pet it will usually become submissive to you. If you are submissive to the pet it will usually assume an assertive role. Most traits that we identify as bad behavior in pets are attempts by the pet to adjust to a roll for which the pet is unsuited.

Common pitfalls:
A common source of stress is differing expectations of the pet from different family members. Pets have a tendency to become closest to a single family member. This can be a source of concern. Pets rely on unspoken cues that indicate the family role that is desired of it. Pets do best when they are not above any human family members in social hierarchy. Once their level in family peck order is established it becomes very difficult to change. Pets do not do well in leadership rolls within the family. They are more comfortable when owners lead and define the boundaries of the relationship. Allowing the least dominant family member to feed and care for the pet help in giving that member a dominant position. It is also important that family members be uniform in their expectations from the pet. For example, if one member enjoys a barking, vocal dog and another does not the pet will be uncertain whether to bark or not.

Bonding to the new pet:
Young immature pets bond more rapidly that mature adults. Try to obtain your new pet when you have several months of uninterrupted time to spend with it. During that time, make the pet the focus of your activity. Do not obtain pets when stressful events are looming on your horizon. Even mature pets develop strong bonds to new owners. Pets key off of your level of interest in them. If the pet is only a small part of your life then the pet is likely to reciprocate in its lack of affection for you.

Introducing a new pet to other family pets:
When you make a new pets the center of your activities do not neglect showing affection to your other pets. New pets must find their place among other pets and they will seek your guidance in forming these relationships. Give them verbal praise and pet and stroke them lavishly when they interact with other pets in the way you desire. Jealousy is a very strong emotion in pets so try to distribute your affection diplomatically. Remember that it may not be the newest pet needs praise the most.

The new pet in the extended family:
Introduce your new pet to your parents and friends in a formal way. Let these other people in your lives stroke and feed your new pet a treat to help establish a positive relationship. The introduction of a new pet is a good time to mend fences and improve relationships of your own. Pets quickly sense tensions within the extended family. Don’t bring your pets to visit your friends unless you know the visit is appreciated. Like your children, let your pets know they need to be on especially good behavior during visits.

Reinforcing the bond:
Like all relationships the bond between you and your pet will suffer if it is neglected. Pets are very forgiving in their relationships – more so than human beings. It takes no more than a kind word a pat or a stroke to bring happiness to our pets. Reserve an hour a day during which you make the pet the center of your activities. Bring them presents, celebrate their birthdays, and special occasions just as you do for your other family members. Their happiness at these occasions will mirror your own.

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