How to care for your pet while being nature-oriented

Bringing home your first pet is a very exciting time in your life, but you want to make sure you choose the right animal to become part of your family. You also want to make sure that your home remains environmentally friendly. 

Selecting the Right Pet for Your Lifestyle

There are a few things you’ll need to consider in order to choose the best pet for your lifestyle, the first of which is time commitment.  Do you travel a lot and work long days? If so, it may be a challenge to train a dog. Also, you’ll need to find someone you can trust to feed and care for your kind of pet during the time you are gone. The larger the pet, the more care they will need. For example, dogs need to be walked several times a day, so you may need to hire a dog walker.

You should also think about your budget. In addition to the costs of a food, habitat and other necessities, you must factor in costs such as annual and emergency vet care, kennels, grooming if needed, etc. What is your budget for your pet? Here is some good advice on how to care for your pet on a tight budget from SafeBee.

It’s also important to take your lifestyle into consideration.Will this pet fit in with what you want to do? Think about why you want a pet. If you want an active companion, that pet will look very different than if you just want companionship when you’re home from workand relaxing on the couch.

Also, make sure that no one is allergic to the type of pet you choose. Read this article from Health.com on how to choose a pet when you have allergies. You also need to make sure your family can handle a pet. Do you have young children or anyone who struggles to get around in your home? A large pet can be unpleasant for them. There are some helpful guides to choosing a pet for your family from Brightside Academy.

If you want a pet that is environmentally friendly, Greeningz lists the most eco-friendly pets, including rabbits, goats, chickens, and ducks. However, that will not do for an apartment dweller! You can, however, take an environmentally friendly action by adopting your pet and spaying or neutering any cats or dogs. 

Preparing Your Home with Eco-Friendly Choices

Before bringing home your pet, stock up on everything you need. For example, a dog may need a large bed, a crate (make sure your pup has enough room), or even a stroller. For a puppy, you’ll need to “puppy proof” your home to keep him safe, as recommended by Canine Journal. There are also several things you can do to keep your home green while raising a pet.

• NRDC has some environmentally friendly ideas for taking care of your pet’s poop.
• When stocking your home, buy sustainable food and products, or you can create your own dog food to be safest.
• Check out this post from Eluxe Magazine for safer ways to handle pest and fleas than traditional medicine.

Finally, talk to your family and teach them how to handle your pet, especially what not to do, to keep everyone safe — including your new furry pal.

Welcoming Your Pet

When you bring home your pet, have extra food and treats on hand. Be as calm as possible when you bring the pet in and inform your housemates not to get too excited. Your pet may need to take some time to calm down and acclimate. For example, you may not see a kitten for the first day or two – they often hide until they are adjusted. Don’t worry. Just make sure they have what they need to be comfortable and well fed, including a small space of their own.

Getting a new pet is an exciting endeavor. With careful planning and choosing the right pet, you can start a relationship that will bring you joy for years to come.