Building Trust With a New Dog or Cat
Moving house is a stressful process for your pet. New sights and smells can be overwhelming, never mind the new humans or other pet siblings he or she will need to get used to.
If your pet is acting a little strange at first, don’t worry. Particularly with pets from a shelter, they need time to let their personality shine through.
Below are some pointers on how to build trust with your pet right from the beginning, so that they settle in as quickly as possible.
Dogs
Building trust with a dog requires a firm approach. As they learn from rewards, you need to be careful not to pander to them too often.
Particularly with a new pet, it can be really difficult not to get overexcited and feed them lots of treats. But if you give your dog a treat at an inappropriate moment it can having a lasting impact on their behaviour. Giving them a treat when they are cowering away from people, for example, will lead them to assume that this is a desired behaviour, and they’ll do it more often.
You also need to show your new pup that you’re in charge.
Dogs have an ability to sense when someone is scared or unsure, and if you show this behaviour then your dog will think he needs to take on a leadership role himself, which can lead to a number of unwanted behaviours.
A professional dog trainer can help you learn how to do this in a calm and non-threatening way.
A big way to build trust with your new companion is to being fully prepared for his arrival, so that he feels as comfortable as possible from the beginning. A comfy bed, a dog bowl, and some fun toys will help him feel right at home.
Cats
Unsurprisingly, cats are quite different to dogs. If your cat is scared or concerned, give her some space.
Unless you already have other pets, you can give her a good level of freedom to explore and get on with your usual business. This way she’ll likely fit into your existing routine and understand the lay of the land.
If you have another pet, you’ll want to wait a few days before you introduce them, just so she has the initial moving stress out of her system and doesn’t get more frightened – overwhelming her at the beginning won’t make her trust you. In the meantime, it’s more comfortable to keep her in a quiet room with her own litter box, food, and water.
Making her feel like she has a space in your home is the best way to build up trust with your new kitty. Cat trees and snuggly cat beds are some of the easiest ways for her to find her own little safe haven.
Looking for more advice? Pick up our special edition Pet’s Delight Magazine from one of our shops or by ordering online. Or view our online version here.
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