New Four-Legged Friend This Christmas? Find Great Gifts for New Pet Owners

If your family members are going to become new dog owners over the festive season, congratulations! A new pet is bound to bring them joy for years to come.

Of course, it’s absolutely vital to make sure that everyone is prepared for the responsibility this will bring, and that they fully understand what is required so that they can care for a new four-legged friend as effectively as possible.

This guide will provide the best gift ideas for pet lovers and new dog owners, as well as offering vital advice on what to expect and how to best care for the new arrival!

How to Help a Pet Settle into a New Home

A new environment can feel very overwhelming for a pup, but we have plenty of great gifts for dog lovers who have just welcomed a new furry friend into their home.

It’s often advisable to introduce the dog to a new home one room at a time to avoid overwhelming it. The same goes for that home’s inhabitants!

Try to create a “safe area” in your property to which the dog can return if things start to get a bit much. You should be prepared for this space to remain as the dog’s “territory” for the foreseeable future, so be sure to include its bed, playpen, toys and anything else it may need.

Don’t forget to provide for your dog in all areas of your life. Will you need a pet carrier - or even a special dog car seat? What will its grooming requirements be? Be sure you have all of the right grooming tools to hand!

You’ll need to familiarise yourself with all of your new pet’s needs early on, so you can stay organised. If your new dog is not toilet trained, you’ll need to be prepared with plenty of newspaper and cleaning products - and a whole lot of patience!

B&M Top Tip: It’s always good to provide your new furry friend with plenty of treats in its own personalised food bowl to help it to feel positive about its new environment. However, it’s certainly best to set a clear routine from the off. If you start by overfeeding your pup, they’ll keep expecting more!

Change up the person providing your new dog’s food regularly, to ensure effective bonding across the whole family.

How to Keep them Calm Overnight

The first few nights in a new home can be especially stressful for a dog. Be sure to spend some time with them before you head to bed. Many dogs like to have the side of their face gently stroked to settle them down at night.

If you don’t intend to allow your dog to sleep on your bed, you shouldn’t allow this at any point - even right at the start.

It may be tempting to let them do this in order to keep them company as they get used to your home for the first few nights, but it may well turn into a habit that can’t be broken!

B&M Top Tip: If you are a pet lover, you’ll likely understand the stress that fireworks can bring! To this end, New Year’s Eve is always a bit of a challenge for dog owners - whether new or experienced.

To stop your pet from getting too scared and upset, you could consider drowning out the bangs with music, distracting them with tasty treats or covering them with a stress-relieving pressure blanket and lying down with them for a cuddle.

 

What to Expect in the First Few Weeks

Try to gently interact with your new pet regularly, but don’t force things. Let your dog progress at their own pace, and don’t be too worried if they appear shy for a while.

Don’t expect to be immediately able to play rough and tumble with your pet, or to dress them up in fun accessories right from the off! It’s vital that you take time to build trust first.

As we’ve already mentioned, consistency is so important when introducing a new dog to your family. Be sure to have hard and fast rules. Are they allowed on the couch or not? If so, our wonderful set of miniature stairs makes one of the very best gift ideas for pets!

If you have another dog, it’s very important to be gentle and sensitive when introducing the two to one another. It may take some time for them to bond.

A great way to encourage this is to feed them side by side. You can pick up superb raised pet feeders that are great for this purpose - particularly if you have two pets of different heights.

Express Your Love!

If you have a new pet, or someone you love is a proud new dog parent, you should express your joy at having a new family member!

You can find excellent gift ideas for dog lovers at B&M, including gorgeous notebooks and flasks that proclaim the owner as a dedicated dog lover.

Remember - only get a new pet if you are absolutely sure you have the time and resources to dedicate to the new living creature entering your home. For more excellent gifts and accessories for new pet owners, check out our Pets range in store today.

Got any advice for new dog owners? Do you have any particular toys and accesosries you love using to interact with your pet? Share all your ideas and buys with the B&M Community over on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram!