Welcoming your pet
If you're thinking of purchasing a new pet, it's important to spend time welcoming it in to the family. There are some dogs do not take kindly to small children, an elderly cat may object to a spritely puppy and a bird may not welcome an inquisitive kitten.
No matter which pet you choose, you'll need to spend time helping the new addition to feel at home and learn how to behave amongst their new human housemates.
Most animals can be socialized to some extent but the larger the animal, the greater the need to ensure they understand their place in the family.
Settling in
Before you start to train your pet, set some bonding time aside so they feel comfortable with you. Once your new pet is settled in to your home, invite some of your friends to the house to visit. This will help the pet to become more comfortable around loud noises and fast movements, which is very important to training. Of course, small children should always be supervised around a new pet to keep them both safe and happy.Younger pets are by nature easier to socialize, as they are more likely to feel comfortable in a crowded environment. Older animals will have formed their own routines which can be challenging to break.
Finding the balance
Balance is the key to a happy introduction. Too much independence and your dog, cat, rabbit or bird will believe they control you. This can cause them to act out. Everything your pet does is an instinct, which cannot be taken away but it is possible for animals to learn the difference between good and bad.
Equally, good behaviour should be rewarded with attention. Sometimes attention feels better to a pet than a treat because they want to please you.
Where to get started
There are detailed advice guides on offer which will help you integrate your chosen pet in to your family. Whether you choose an online guide or splash out on a trainer, your pet will benefit from the process as will your family. Make socializing your pet fun and you will find your animal will quickly behave better in social situations. Never opt for striking your pet as this will have the opposite effect.
To help you get started, we've pulled together some top resources from across the web, broken down by breed. If you have any specific questions, feel free to share them in the comments box below or contact us through Twitter via @petcompare.
Some advice resources
How to socialize a puppy
How to socialize a cat
How to socialize a bird
How to socialize a rabbit
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