Introducing a New Pet to a Household that Already Has a Pet

Have you recently made the decision to introduce a new pet to the family? A family that already has one pet? If so, you might have already come to the realization that there is the possibility of your first pet not being able to accept the new pet which you are planning to get. Luckily, there are a number of different steps that you can take in order to help your pet accept the pet which you plan to adopt, in order to make the overall adjustment process go a lot smoother.

Adopt the Same Type of Animal

There is no doubt that there are some instances in which cats and dogs are able to accept one another. Unfortunately, this is generally not the way that things tend to work out. It is often the most difficult for older cats to accept puppies, but it is also often difficult for older dogs to accept kittens. If you are planning on bringing a new pet into the household, your best bet is to make the decision to get the same type of animal. You may be able to avoid less conflicts this way.

Opt For a Pet That is About the Same Size

If you already have a Labrador Retriever, you probably would not want to get a Yorkshire Terrier. One of your pets, or even both of your pets, may be threatened by the other's size. Smaller dogs are especially known to be afraid of larger dogs, though it is also common for larger dogs to be afraid of smaller dogs. This is also true with cats and dogs. If you have a cat, you may want to opt for a smaller breed of dog, so that your cat does not feel threatened by the size of a larger dog. Opting for a new pet which is around the same size as the pet that you already have may help both pets adjust to one another better in the long run.

Choose a Pet of the Opposite Sex

Although there are some cases in which male pets will accept new male pets and female pets will accept new female pets, there is a greater chance that your new pet will be able to adjust quicker to a pet of the opposite sex. The main reason is because they tend to feel less territorial issues with a pet that is of the opposite sex than a pet which is of the same sex. Pets, in general, are known to get along better with members of the opposite sex - whether the pet is a dog or a cat.

Do Research On Your New Pet

Certain pets, particularly dog breeds, are well known for getting along with other types of pets - or not getting along with other types of pets. It is important to do a little bit of research about the type of pet which you are thinking about introducing to the family. While certain dog breeds are known to get along well with cats, they may not get along with small dogs (or visa versa). Learning all that you can about the type of pet which you are interested in adopting will help prevent any major differences from occurring between your two pets. Of course, it is important to keep in mind that there are often certain generalizations made about certain types of pets, so what you may read will not always apply to every pet.

Allow Your Pets to Meet Beforehand

The only way for you to really know how your pet will react to a new pet is to let them meet. If you are getting your pet from a breeder, you may want to ask if you can bring your pooch along to meet the pet which you plan to adopt. Most will probably agree to allow you and if they do, you will probably find that it will be well worth it.