How To Prevent Your Pets From Taking Over Your Life
Many people dream of getting a pet. But when they take over your life, that idyllic vision often turns into a nightmare.
The main problem is that pets seem to take over your life. They’re like children, but they never grow up, constantly demanding your time and attention.
So, what can you do about this? It turns out that you have quite a few options. Preventing pets from taking over your life isn’t as hard as it might seem.
Stick To A Schedule
First, you’ll want to stick with a schedule. Instead of working around your pets, make sure that they understand that they need to live their lives around you.
Most people do this by following a routine. They walk their pets in the morning, feed them at midday, and then play with them in the evenings. Keeping to a schedule like this reduces some of the time pets take up and gives you more options for how you want to spend the rest of the time.
Say No To Guilt Trips
Pets are very good at guilt tripping us as their owners, but it’s also a good idea to say no to them. Yes, your cat might look cute when looking at you with “meow eyes,” but that doesn’t mean you need to respond. The more they can get into a healthy routine, the better.
Train Them
Another way you can prevent pets from taking over your life is to train them. The more orderly and responsive they are to commands, the less you’ll be running around like a headless chicken, trying to control them.
Training a pet, including cats, takes time. But once you put in the work, it’s almost always worth the effort.
No, it still won’t be perfect, and your pet will demand a lot from you, but it’s a start.
Get A Low-Maintenance Pet
Who says you always have to buy a cat or a dog? Not us, that’s for sure. There are all sorts of other options out there, as explained by this blog entitled: Tired of Noisy, Messy Pets? Meet the Ultimate Low-Maintenance Companion: Pet Snails!
Yes, you read that right–snails are pets and can become your companions. They don’t require much input, and they are a bit like dogs in that they will never let you down.
Exercise Them More
Another strategy is to exercise your dog more. Giving them opportunities to get out of the house and run around can be an intelligent way to reduce the amount of time they take up and give you back your freedom.
Exercise works because it exhausts pets. They feel tired at the end of the day when they are constantly running around. Eventually, they just settle into their beds and go to sleep, reducing boisterousness (a bit like children, really!)
Don’t Share Your Meals
Finally, you can avoid your pet taking over your life by refraining from sharing meals with them. Keeping your food to yourself will stop them from begging and encourage them to eat from their bowls.
