{"id":5655,"date":"2022-10-07T09:47:18","date_gmt":"2022-10-07T16:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/?p=5655"},"modified":"2022-10-06T16:55:44","modified_gmt":"2022-10-06T23:55:44","slug":"adding-a-pet-to-your-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/adding-a-pet-to-your-home","title":{"rendered":"Adding a Pet to Your Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Adding a pet to your home and family can be an exciting and\nstressful task! There are many factors to consider:  the type of pet to choose, the space\navailable inside and outside of your home, the time available in your schedule,\netc.  In this article, we\u2019ll review some\ntips to help you bring home your new pet and successfully incorporate it into\nyour living space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Preparing for a New Pet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before purchasing or adopting a pet, there are a few things\nto consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Much Space Do You Have to Work With?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To make sure that you can provide your new pet with a quality life, you first need to assess the space available for it. For example, a large home with an ample backyard can accommodate different pets compared to a small home or apartment.\u00a0 There are pet options for all sizes of homes! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider both your indoor and outdoor space, and the types and sizes of animals that could exist happily in those areas.\u00a0 Will your pet need their own dedicated space, or will they roam freely and share space with you? Make sure that the pet of your choosing can coexist in your home and has an appropriate amount of space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Much Time Do You Have?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Making space for pets in your home is a starting point, but\nyou will also need to make time to care for your pets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some animals require less attention and maintenance, meaning they could be good options for families that are constantly on-the-go. For example, a fish needs daily food and regular tank cleanings, but those tasks are far less demanding than a dog who needs daily feeding, exercise, water, and the occasional grooming, veterinary check-ups, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Review your schedule to see how much time you have available to dedicate to a pet. Your lifestyle will play a big part! If you are a jetsetter or someone who works long hours, you may have less time to spend with your pets than someone who works from home or is retired. Think about partners and children who could potentially help with care, and if it is a realistic option.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember Activity Levels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When selecting a pet, many people focus on the size and type\nof their pet- especially as it relates to space and time referenced above.  However, many fail to think about the\nactivity level of a pet.  Both age and\nthe type of pet are factors in activity level, and it is important that you are\nprepared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, if your heart is set on a puppy, that puppy is\ngoing to have a much higher energy level than a senior dog.  Exercise and play will be key as it will take\nsome years for the dog to mature.  Senior\ndogs, on the other hand, may be more interested in sleep and relaxation than\nplaytime. Make sure that you are prepared to meet the energy level and activity\ndemands of your new pet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even small pets have routines that may or may not work for\nyour family.  For example, a hamster or\ngerbil demands less care and attention that other types of pets, and their\nhomes take up little space.  However,\nthese animals are nocturnal. While they may be sedentary during the day, you\ncould hear that hamster wheel spinning all night!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating Spaces for Your Pet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once you have decided on a pet, you can begin to create some\nspecial spaces within your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Utilize the Space Under Your Stairs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

New pets can come with a lot of supplies!  One great way to utilize the space in your\nhome is to add bins, shelving, and other types of storage\nunder your stairs<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use the freshly created storage area to organize things like\nfood, collars, leashes, treats, and toys. Consider alternating the colors of\nthe bins or the height of the shelves to make it look visually appealing.  In addition to providing storage for your\npet\u2019s things, it can also contribute to the aesthetic of your home!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you would prefer to utilize furniture rather than install\nshelves or cabinets, consider repurposing a TV stand or dresser. A television\nstand with cabinets or a multi-bin dresser has great storage space to keep your\npet\u2019s items tucked neatly out of sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also use the space under the stairs to place a bed,\nlitter box, or food bowl for your pet to access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hollow Out a Side Table<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another great way to create space for your pet is to hollow\nout a side table. You likely already have one beside your bed or your couch, so\nuse it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there is a door attached, take it off, sand anything that needs smoothed down, and add some bedding and a toy. This could be the perfect resting spot for a dog, cat, or other small animal. The same process works for small cages as well if there is proper ventilation and light. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t want to mess with your existing furniture? Consider buying something new.\u00a0 Many retailers are now offering crate-style furniture<\/a> that for various rooms in the home.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think Vertically<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are short on floorspace, get creative when it comes\nto using walls and the height of a room! For example, instead of putting a cat\nbed on the floor, consider hanging\na basket<\/a> near a window for nap with a view. \nYou could also install narrow walkways near the ceiling for small,\nnimble pets to travel from room to room. For fish and reptiles, consider\nvertical tanks that can fit snugly in a corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create Outdoor Safe Zones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Depending on your pet, you may need alter some of your outdoor spaces for safety reasons.\u00a0 This often involves fencing or gating specific areas of the yard. One common strategy is to build a fence and gate on a side yard to create a play area or run. This may seem restrictive, but it doesn\u2019t have to be your pet\u2019s only outdoor access. This space allows pets to lounge when they are unsupervised- especially if your yard is unfenced or if there is concern about access to the pool.\u00a0 Additionally, the fencing could be a way to keep smaller animals such as rabbits or chickens<\/a> away from larger pets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some pets may also benefit from a cage or house to protect them from the weather or predators. Do your research to determine the appropriate size structure and materials for your pet\u2019s outdoor home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of your pet choice, your home will feel\nwell-balanced when both you and your pet have the time and space you need to\ncoexist. Enjoy incorporating your new pet into your life!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Adding a pet to your home and family can be an exciting and stressful task! There are many factors to consider:  the type of pet to choose, the space available inside and outside of your home, the time available in your schedule, etc.  In this article, we\u2019ll review some tips to help you bring home … Continue reading Adding a Pet to Your Home<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[602,5651,6434],"tags":[400,621,59],"yst_prominent_words":[5502,6663,2755,1671,1436,1560,6664,1792,546,5821,6658,1873,1557,1562,6666,1083,1765,1111,6662,6665],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5655"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5655"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5655\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5657,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5655\/revisions\/5657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5655"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=5655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}