There is a very simple way to bring an abundance of joy into your Nashville home: Welcome a new pet. While it is true that this requires some careful preparation and due diligence on your part, the rewards of unconditional love will be well worth the effort. For the most part, pets fall into two categories: passive or active. The passive varieties are those critters which are contained in cages, tanks or aquariums. Sure, they might seem busy in their own space but these are the kind of pets you can take out and toss the ball with. On the other hand, a cat or a dog would certainly fall into the active variety of pets.

In order to welcome a new dog or cat you first have to make sure your home is ready. The following are a list of steps to take to get the place ready for your new family member.

You’re going to need the basics: water bowls, food bowls, treats and food. With a dog, you’ll have to add a leash and collar and with a cat a litter box. If you are rescuing a pet from a shelter (and you absolutely should!) try to find out what type of food they are eating there. That should be the same food you buy. You can ultimately make a switch but it should be a gradual transition. You might also want to consider setting up a sleeping spot for the pet with a small bed. You can entice them into the spot with those treats and they’ll take it from there. And don’t forget the toys!

This is especially important if you’ll be sharing the responsibilities of the pet with other family members or a roommate. Who is going to do the walking? Who is in charge of changing the litter box? Whenever possible these should be shared responsibilities. Additionally, you should also establish the rules of the house. Will the pet be allowed on the sofa? In your bed? Will they be allowed to eat “people food?” Be clear and don’t stray from these boundaries.

You might luck out and get a dog that is house broken but that doesn’t mean they will be completely trained. Every dog should learn the basics of “sit, stay and come.”  It’s best to work with a professional trainer to help you develop the proper skills but you can also use books or training DVDs to help out. As for training a cat, good luck with that!

It won’t take long for you to discover whether or not your new pet is going to be a “chewer.”  Often a pet will chew on furniture or shoes or other household items because they are anxious when you’re not around or because “it’s there.” Bringing home a pet is great excuse to clean out the clutter of your home by calling on a professional team of junk haulers like Junk King Nashville to assist you. Gather up all your junk and let the pros haul it away in one trip. You’ll have plenty of room then for your new pooch or feline to roam around in without the temptation of chewing! Leaving a bone behind wouldn’t hurt either!