One of the most important things you can do for your guests is to make them feel comfortable. This includes a variety of things, but one thing that many people forget about is their pets. It’s not just about providing food and water for your pet but also ensuring they are comfortable when you have guests in the house.
Having an uneasy pet can really make the experience bad for everything, and this even includes increasing the chances of your guest getting hurt if your pet isn’t properly trained. This is actually something that a lot of first-time owners don’t even realize either. So, how can you make your pets more comfortable around guests? Keep reading on to find out.
Take Things into Consideration First
Many people believe bringing a guest home with your pet is a great way to get your pet comfortable around guests. This can be a good idea for some people, but it is only for some. There are some things to consider before you make this decision. For example, if you have an aggressive dog or cat, it might be better to keep them separated from the houseguest until they are more comfortable around them.
If you have other pets in the house that might threaten the guest, then it may also be best to separate them while they get used to each other’s presence over time. Ideally, you train your pet, or you’re training your pet before you introduce them to strangers.
Establish a Schedule for When Guests can Enter the Home
A good way to establish a schedule for when guests can enter the home is to start with one or two hours before your pet is home. This will give your pet time to get used to its environment and the presence of people. After this, you can slowly increase the time that guests are allowed in the house until they are able to stay for as long as they would like. Animals have biological clocks, so if guests are around at a certain time of the day, you can expect that to help too.
Create a New Location In Your Home for Pets and Guests to Mingle
If you want to host a party or have guests over for dinner, it can be difficult and stressful to make sure that your pets are both comfortable and out of the way. The solution is to create a new location in your home where pets can be.
This new area can be set up as an area where you keep the pet’s food, water, litter box, toys, a pet supplement, and bedding. It can also have a little space for them to explore outside of their cage or pen. This will allow them time away from the guests while feeling safe and secure in their own environment.
Introduce the Guest and the Pet in a Safe Environment
Introducing your pet to a guest in a safe environment outside of the home is an important step in getting your pet comfortable around guests. It would help if you remembered animals, especially dogs, are very territorial. So having a space where they can be introduced outside of the home can help out a lot, such as a dog park or a beach.
Prepare a Favorite Treat or Toy for your Pet when the Time is Right
When you are having guests over, it is important to prepare your pet for the new company. Preparing a favorite treat or toy for your pet is a great way to get them comfortable around visitors, but it takes time and patience to get them used to new people. It’s a nice way to get the pet to like the person immediately.