Building Bonds: Introducing a New Pet into Your Child-Friendly Home

So you’ve decided a new pet would be a great addition to your family, but you’ve got young children in the house and aren’t sure how to safely adjust your home to make sure it’s a smooth transition.  Well, I’m here with a few pointers that will help to introduce your new pet and ensure the whole experience is seamless & rewarding.

Before your new pet comes home, be sure to sit down as a family and discuss the new pet‘s needs. Talk about pets being living beings and not a toy. They have feelings and needs. Prepare a space that is the pet’s personal space: a crate, bed, or even just a blanket on the floor. Make sure the whole household knows that this will be a place where the pet can go to get some alone time as they adjust to a new environment. Advise your children that this is a space for them to have some quiet time. Explain that while this is the new pet’s home, it will take time for the puppy or kitten to become comfortable in the house, and with new people.

When your new pet arrives at your home, everyone present should maintain a calm presence and keep some distance as they explore their new environment. Do not allow kids to run at the pet. Especially in a new place! You don’t want to catch your new pet off guard, or it could very well cause an unwanted reaction from the animal.

Teach your children to approach your new pet slowly, with an open palm, and not to immediately pet over the top of their head, but rather under the chin. This approach will be much less intimidating for your new pet. Something as simple as a light tug of a tail or a touch of a sensitive ear could cause a fight or flight reaction. Also, keep voices calm. Screaming & screeching, even out of pure joy and excitement, can be very scary to a pet trying to adjust to a new environment.

This is why a pet’s personal space is so important. When they go to this spot, leave them be. Let it be the pet’s decision when they are ready to interact with people again.

Routines are going to be essential for your new pet. Walking, feeding, and grooming are all important responsibilities that can be distributed amongst all in your home. Food time should be around the same time everyday. Walking/exercising should also be regimented. All of these tasks can be done by your child/children with supervision. It might help to create a chore chart that your children can use to make sure they are handling those responsibilities.

Introducing a new pet into the family is also a great way to encourage children cleaning up after themselves! There are foods that can be toxic to pets, and small objects can cause an obstruction if swallowed. A good approach might be “Don’t leave your grapes out or your dog could eat them & get sick” or “The cat might enjoy batting around your Legos, but if they swallow it they’ll get very sick.”

As your pet adjusts to its new space, be sure to adjust with them. Celebrate all of your new pet’s milestones & achievements together. Adapt spaces as necessary. Following these guidelines can help ensure a pleasant transition and create a lifelong bond between your new pet and your family.

Happy pet parenting!

Stephanie

Stephanie Harrigan has made pets her life’s work. She spent eight years as a dog walker, and boarding supervisor at a doggie daycare, administering medications as needed, feedings, and supervising doggie playtimes. She received her Dog Training Certification from Animal Behavior College in 2008, and specialized in training dogs and their owners in basic obedience and puppy basics. In 2015, Stephanie returned to Animal Behavior College to receive her Pet Grooming Certification, and in 2021 she expanded those skills by becoming certified in Special Needs Dog Handling with Barkleigh. Stephanie currently owns Sparta Pet Shoppe and Spa in Sparta, NJ, and mentors new groomers.