How to Set Up Your New Furry Family Member + You for Success!
Do not expect them to be just like that one pet you used to have.
Recognize their mental, emotional and physical needs and create a plan to fulfill them.
Learn about the nutritional needs specific to them; how to feed them a biological appropriate meal, support their body to health and best living environments.
Take time to learn their personality, likes, fears and dislikes and don’t rush them into anything.
Recognize they have a purpose on this Earth just as much as you do - what ways can you help them to fulfill this?
Have fun! Be playful! Spend undivided 1:1 time with them.
A lot of people have either adopted or been gifted an animal over the past year and I wanted to provide some helpful tips I have learned through adopting my own animals and through the hundreds of animals I have communicated with. Take what is helpful and leave the rest.
The remaining text is additional information and elaboration with the number in the list above.
1.I know many people get an animal after another passes and thinks / feels they should get the same type of personality in the next one or perhaps come to expect all animals to be that way or forget about all the time and energy they put in early on in that animal’s life to create the expectations you currently have (Hi! Been there!). Each animal is unique. Each animal has their own soul, purpose, personality, trauma, fears and lessons they are here to bring to the world. The more you can remain open, unassuming, inquisitive and loving the better you will all be.
2. Just like us, animals have mental needs, emotional needs, physical needs and I would argue, spiritual needs, though they are pretty good at fulfilling those themselves. Take time to understand what their needs are and then look at how you are going to go about fulfilling them. When we don’t fulfill these needs dis-ease will pop up somewhere, whether it is through behavior or health or an accident or something else. Also, their needs will shift and change throughout their lives, just like ours do, so again, remain open to when and how they change and prepared to support the new needs as they arise and willing to let go of the needs that no longer serve them (hello, metaphor for us as well!).
3. Learn how to feed / support your animal from a biological species specific needs. Educate yourself, so you can make the best possible decisions for you and your animal. I caution you from blindly accepting what the marketing campaigns of brands tell you. Do your research and make your decisions from that place. When / if you do blindly accept the advice, feedback and guidance of someone else, do understand that the outcome is your responsibility. Again, just like us, when we support ourselves or our animals nutritionally we tend to see less and less dis-ease and they / we have a much more vibrant health span.
Recommended resources:
Dog & Cat -
Horse -
Dr. Geoff Tucker, The Horse’s Advocate - visit website
Equine Essential Wellness & Horse Health Hub - visit website
There is so much information out there and it can be hard to know what to believe and what to follow. I get it! I have been down the rabbit holes and am still currently finding my way with my horses health. It is a process. However, the first step of that process if beginning down the road of education and curiosity.
4. Take the time necessary to learn what your new animal likes, dislikes and fears. Don’t assume anything. For example, labs are known to water dogs, however, not every lab will love water and if you push them into it because they “should” like it you can create trauma, break your bond, create distrust and create more fear around the thing. Allow your animal to set the pace and in the process recognize their thresholds. It is through this process that you’ll develop enough trust between you and your animal and understand their cues that you can push them a little more in different places to build their confidence without creating more fear or diminishing your relationship. I have done both things. I have allowed the animal to get away with all the things because I didn’t want to push them too far and I have pushed my animal way too far and broke our bond. I was able to rebuild our bond, however, it took months of going all the way back to the beginning and starting the process all over again. If I could do it over, I would have recognized her thresholds and stopped. It is through trial and error that you will find your center and create a deep and lasting bond.
5. If I have learned anything through connecting in with animals it is that animals - all animals - have a purpose and they have lessons they are here to bring to their people. These two things may be the same and they may be vastly different. You wont know until you spend sufficient time with them, give them permission to have a voice and give them space to speak it. You can also with with an Animal Communicator to confirm their purpose and teachings for you. This is really important for them to live out their purpose, just like it is really important for us to live out our purpose. When we don’t feel like we have a purpose, we can feel depleted, depressed and lackluster - your animal will feel similarly. Once you know what that purpose is - how can you help them in cultivating it and living it out?
6. Last and certainly not least, HAVE FUN! Be playful! Spend time without your phone or distractions nearby. Give yourselves space to connect and cultivate your relationship. Don’t expect too much right after you bring them into your world. Give them time and space to decompress and get to know their new surroundings and people. During this time bring out the play for them and you. Go for a walk without headphones and notice the things they notice, they see, they smell. Don’t get too in your head about everything and make sure you are actually enjoying each other’s presence! Bring joy and play back into your life.
Adopting an animal into your life and family is a lifelong commitment that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Are you prepared to move if your landlord says “No” to your animal? Are you prepared to move them cross country or to a whole different country if that is where your life takes you? Are you willing to provide the best possible care you can? Are you willing to commit to the animal in the same way they are committing to you?
Telling an animal you are their forever home to then later on rehoming them because you are moving or they are chewing up everything or you don’t have time for them now that the baby has come, is heartbreaking and world shifting for the animal. It is not fair for you to commit to them one second and break that commit the next. If you are not sure if a certain animal is right for your family, work with an Animal Communicator or a behaviorist or a trainer for that animal to match you up with the best possible fit for you.
Are you willing to commit to training? Are you willing to say No to dinner with friends because you need to walk or let out your animal? Are you willing to create a life WITH your animal?
I hope the answer is Yes because animals may not speak English - or whatever your native tongue is - but they definitely speak. Just because you cannot hear them say “please keep me” “what did I do wrong?” “do you not love me anymore?” “I want to stay with you” and all the other various things they say, they do say them.
Animals can truly light up our entire lives if we allow them. They can give us purpose and meaning. They give us unconditional love, joy, patience and devotion. We rarely receive the same from our own kind. So, how can we show up more fully for ourselves and our animals? Here are a few ideas:
Learn about health + nutrition specific to your animal
Commit to full attention walks daily
Learn what fulfills your animal and start integrating it
Create a plan for life alterations - If I move to another state then….. If I go on a trip then….
Spend phone free / TV free / distraction free time with them
Ask them what they want
This can be such a fulfilling exercise and it can be hard to hear their answers too. I get it! I have been there! My horse, Jazz, offers up truth bombs all the time and even though they can be hard to hear sometimes, it is ALWAYS what I NEED to hear. I truly hope you have and create the most beautiful life together, create an incredible partnership and create the most magical union.
I would love to see your new additions to your family! Post them and tag me (@emma.in.design) !!
Much Love!
Emma J.