2023 Animal Stories Magazine

Page 23 2023 Animal Stories Lincoln Daily News February 22. 2023 you want to keep them away from a specific area, or want to limit their space initially or introduce them to a cat or dog that you already have at home. There will be some training issues whether you’re adopting a puppy or kitten or an older pet. With the puppy or kitten house/litter training will be your first hurdle. After that there will be socialization of the puppy. This should occur much earlier than most people think. The primary socialization time for all puppies is 9-20 weeks. After that it is harder to train them to adjust to new things. It still can be done but is harder to accomplish. If you’re adopting an older pet they will require some training as well and may need some work to be introduced to an existing family member. This can be true if that family member is a pet or a human. There are several things that need to be done to make this a smoother transition. Before getting your new pet, you should get set up with their veterinarian and if needed, a groomer. It is best to have this planned out ahead of time. If you are considering a pet that will need regular grooming, start young and start early. Don’t wait until that fluffy little doodle is 9 months old before they see the groomer. Begin as early as 8 to 10 weeks. Start even earlier with at home brushing, baths, etc. Make regular appointments with the groomer in your area. This would ideally be every 2-3 weeks. Maybe the first time will be a quick bath and comb out. Maybe the second visit could be a pedicure and a bath. If you wait until your puppy is in desperate need of grooming and you haven’t exposed them to any type of spa day at all, it will not only be traumatic and difficult for the dog but also for the groomer. Combing them on a regular Continued --