The Pandemic Pet Baby Boom!

Bringing home a puppy or kitten

With this sudden spike in demand for pets, many breeders are not following ethical practices and are giving away the pups at a very young age. Ideal weaning time for a pup to be separated from its mother is approximately 90 days. Ensure atleast 50 days before you get the young one home. This is important for building its immunity & emotional stability and to avoid separation anxiety.

Once you have decided to bring in a puppy or kitten, ensure you put away things that can be destroyed, beyond reach. Young pups and kittens love to explore and bite / destroy stuff. So go around your house and ensure there are no wires, knick-knacks, footwear etc that the pet may find attractive.

Also start by slowly introducing small areas of the house, one at a time so that he familiarises himself and gets comfortable. You could also restrict access to areas that you don’t want the pet to enter. This will also help in toilet training.

Toilet training

Be it a litter box for your kitten or a toilet tray for your puppy, start from when they come home to make life easier for both of you. While one-off ‘accidents’ can continue to happen in some cases upto 6 months or even a year, most pets should be toilet trained in about 2 months after they are brought home.

When toilet training your kitten, don’t allow him access to the full house initially. Place the litter tray in the area that you want him to ‘go’. In the beginning, just after he has woken up or once you have given him his feed, place him in the litter-tray and wait patiently till he finishes his business. Cats usually dig and hide their poop. In case your kitten doesn’t do it initially, you could show him by gently by holding his paw and digging the mud. They will soon get a hang of it. After the ‘job’ is done, praise them or give them treats. Once this routine is set for a few days, they will start going to the tray on their own.

For toilet training your pup, you have to do this twice. Once indoors and once outdoor. For indoor training, you could use newspapers spread out in the area that you want him to use. You also have options of placing a toilet tray or pee pads. You could select a bathroom or a balcony to place these. Take him to this area as soon as he wakes up and after his feeds. Wait till he finishes the job and praise or reward him once he finishes. After a few days, they will start going to the place on their own. Once you start taking him for walks, don’t expect to pee or poop outdoors immediately. It will take some time to for them to make the transition. Try to take them out at set times, preferably after food. Wait patiently for them to do their ‘job’, but don’t be disheartened if they do go outside. Again, praise them and give them treats when they make the transition. And don’t forget to clean up after your dog and dispose correctly as per guidelines to avoid health complications to both humans and pets. It is always advisable to continue to have the space indoors too for emergencies like a rainy day or if you come under quarantine due to this pandemic.

Being assertive is the key

Learn to say NO. Don’t fall for their sad eyes and adorable faces. As a parent you are responsible for their emotional and physical well-being. So learn to say NO firmly. This can include biting, destroying things, begging, stealing food, access to furniture etc. Train them young to avoid problems as they grow up.

Regular Vet Visits

The vaccinations are important to build your pet’s immunity and keep it free from viruses. Ensure you meet the vet within a couple of days after you get the pup / kitten and follow the vaccination schedule suggested by him till the entire course is completed.

Patience pays

Every pup is different. Some may take time to get toilet trained. Others may take time to understand what you want them to do. Don’t lose your patience with them. And don’t forget, you yourself are a first-time parent. So you may take time to understand what your pup is trying to tell you. Be prepared for surprises!

Do things together

How you bond with your pet will define what kind of relationship you will have with them. Do things with them – like going for walks, setting aside time to play etc. While each parenting style would be different, avoid harsh punishments or physical abuse. Do not tie up your pup or leave them alone for long hours. Instead train them to not use the areas you want to restrict access to (on furniture, specific rooms etc). They can also be taught to stay alone for some time when you need to step outside. This will ensure that they do not destroy things when left alone or cry due to anxiety.

Watch out for signs

Young pets tend to pick up everything and nibble on it – grass, plants, plastic, paper etc. Some of it could cause indigestion and other health issues. So keep an eye out for this, especially when they are on walks. When you take them for regular vaccinations, keep an eye out for fever or bumps due to the injection, as some young one are known to get these reactions. Young pups are prone to infections – look of for signs that they are unwell like change in food intake, lethargy etc. There is no need to panic. But if in doubt, always visit the vet.

Read up, research, talk to other pet parents

Finally, embrace this journey of pet parenthood. No one masters it in a day, week or month. It is a new adventure every day for the rest of your lives. Talk to your family or friends who have pets, join pet communities to set up play dates, join support groups to know what other parents are talking about, read up on the internet or even discuss with your vet to know what to expect and how you can enjoy the experience!