Settling In Your New Puppy or Kitten

Congratulations on your new fur baby!

At PetO we completely understand that bringing home your new bundle of joy is a very exciting time (many of us have been counting down the days and even the minutes!) but at the same time it can also be a little daunting.

Your heart melts when you see those cute little eyes looking back up at you, suddenly you realise you are officially a pet parent and that’s where the fun begins!

At PetO we understand that many new pet parents will have lots of questions. What to feed? Which toys? Toilet Training? Just to mention a few! Here’s a guide that will help settle your new furry family member.

It is important to feed your new puppy or kitten a nutritional diet from the start. First find out what food they are currently eating and initially it’s better to continue the same food if possible. If you wish to then change, do so gradually over a period of a week by mixing both foods to avoid any tummy upsets.

We have a wide range of premium wet and dry puppy and kitten food depending on your new pet's preference! Looking for a scientifically developed diet? Check out the Hill's Science Diet Puppy Food or Kitten Food, and Royal Canin Puppy Food or Kitten Food ranges.

Or if you prefer a more holistic diet, you might want to try Black Hawk Puppy Food or Kitten Food or Savourlife Puppy Food - you may never know what suits your new fur baby best until they try a few types.

Who doesn’t love a treat! Treats are great to have on hand especially for training puppies. Positive reinforcement works really well with most dogs, and you may even be able to teach them a trick or two! View our full range of puppy treats and kitten treats

Bonding with your new fur baby through play is important and lots of fun! Puppies and kittens are bursting with energy and very inquisitive so toys will keep them occupied in between naps and feeding times.

Toys and treats are what every puppy dreams about, so why not combine both! You can find a range of interactive toys that you can fill with treats. Not only can these toys be physically and mentally enriching for your puppy, but can help minimise unwanted chewing and destructive behaviours around the house by keeping them engaged.

Kittens love to explore, why not buy your kitten a cat tunnel. Hours of fun to hide, jump on or run through! Cat scratchers can also be a great way to keep them entertained and divert their attention away from your expensive couch!

We all know that our new fur baby may have a few mistakes along the way until they learn where to do their business. Toilet training will need to start as soon as your fur baby arrives home, that way these mistakes will be limited.

It is important to clean up their little mistake straight away with a product that will remove the stain, odour and remove the pheromones from the area, especially for puppies to prevent them re-marking the area again.

Training pads are a great way to help with puppy toilet training. Sprays such as “Skip to my loo” is an attractant which replicates the pheremones found in doggy tiddle. It can be added to locations where you want to encourage your pup to go. This means you might only have one pad to throw away when you get home….and no other mess!

Some pet owners prefer a doggy pet loo, ideal for balconies or small yards. Great for puppies or dogs to use and easy to clean too! Ideal for when you go away, your pet can pack their loo too!

We have a range of litter and litter trays to help settle in your little fur baby. We know that everyone has their own preference when it comes to litter so we have extensive range to pick from including clumping, crystals and recycled paper.

With puppies and kittens comes some mischievous behaviour that can sometimes result in your best shoes being chewed or your new couch being scratched! In most situations they will grow out of this behaviour, but there are some products that may help along the way such as long-lasting dog chews and cat scratchers. Make sure that any treats are suitable for you puppies age and size, and always supervise them, particularly when introducing new treats.

All puppies and kittens will have their own preference of where they want to sleep (usually on our bed!). You may want to crate train your puppy from the start, a great idea and a crate will provide your puppy with a safe hiding place too (away from the world and a chance to chew on their favourite treat).

You kitten will love to play hide and seek and we can help with their hideaway games with some great enclosed beds, you’ll never know they are there! View our range of puppy beds and kitten beds.