I talked to the staff from Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco—The shelter that WIRED art director Elena Lacey raised the baby mice from. They give a lot of advice and review their take-home paperwork (You can find copies here) is applicable to all new pets, whether they are infants or the elderly. The shelter you adopt may also have its own paperwork for you to take home.
★ Expect some tricks and accidents in the house, even for animals that have broken houses. Don’t hit or push them in the face — that form of training is confusing and cruel. Be patient, show them where they need to go, and praise them effectively when they get there. If you are adopting a senior pet, they may have a harder time holding it. No one is saying you have to live in trash, but if the sight of some poop, uh, sends you into a rage, maybe consider getting a pet.
“Just as humans are going through a transition with a new family member, dogs are also going through a major transition,” says Kristin Hoff, Director of Adoption for Muttville. ★ “Schedule is really important for dogs so they can start to know what to expect — twice-a-day feeding and potty training more than you think your new puppy will need (expect mistakes and don’t get mad when they happen) . ”
Muttville staff also emphasize what they call the rule of 3 when it comes to dogs. The first three days can be overwhelming and they may not act like they really are. Even eating can be difficult. During the first three weeks, they will begin to get comfortable, recognize your (and their own) schedule, and hopefully form a bond with you and any other animals in the house. By three months of age, your puppy will be completely himself and completely comfortable in their home. For dogs, Muttville says, predictability is a consolation.
If you have children or other pets at home
children may not be appropriate for signs of anger, fear, or irritation, so you should monitor interactions, letting them know exactly what is appropriate. You want everyone involved to be safe and happy, and you can’t blame an animal for action if little hands are tugging at their tails, stealing toys, or disrupting mealtimes.
When it comes to introduce two dogsMuttville says to “go for a walk on a loose leash” so none of the dogs get nervous. Keep them 10 to 15 feet apart and slowly bring them closer if all goes well. Finally, you can take off their leash and let them play, if you find them comfortable around each other. At home, Muttville says to put away your other dog’s toys and food bowls, to prevent territorial disputes. When you are not at home, you should confine two dogs. Let’s start with a week of those first and see how things go. You can use crates or separate them with gates or doors for children.
★ Cats can be more difficult, whether they are meeting a cat or another dog. Keep them separate, but let them get used to each other’s scents. You can cover this with a blanket or towel and then allow each pet to smell the other in different areas of the house — so let the cat roam the living room and kitchen today. Now when the dog is in the bedroom, then move the room tomorrow. If you are introducing a dog and cat, put the dog on a leash at first, just in case. Take note and monitor them until you are sure all is well.
More tips (for adoption or fostering)
Adoptive parents, especially those with special needs and seniors, are essential and can help pets get used to life indoors rather than being trapped in a cage at a shelter. You should have all the essentials listed in this guide for any animal you’re raising, but Elena Lacey offered some advice based on her own experience as a parent. foster mom that we think also works for new pets: Buy some canned chicken, cream cheese, and hot dogs. “Often they are scared and don’t want to eat, or their stomachs are upset,” she says. “Canned chicken is a fairly common dish that won’t upset them and they’re almost always excited about it.” Lacey says if the animal needs medication, cream cheese and hot dogs are an unsafe way to get them to take it.
She also suggested looking at pet insurance. There are many pet insurance companies out there, and we haven’t tried hard enough to give a best answer. You can see if your employer offers this service in the same way they might provide you with health insurance, that way the cost will be calculated from your pre-tax paycheck. We also recommend asking around for any pet-specific groups on Facebook or Reddit and then doing your own research.
Find veterinarians and trainers stats
If you don’t already have a vet you like, try to find one before bringing your new pet home and making an initial appointment. Ask if they use any telehealth services (We have suggestions if they don’t). This will be helpful when you have questions that may not require a vet visit. You should also ask your veterinarian what kind of pet insurance they accept.
