First-Time Pet Owner? Here's What We Wish Someone Told Us

Seventy-three percent of Australian households now own a pet. That’s over 31 million animals spread across 7.7 million homes — and a whole lot of people figuring things out as they go.

We asked vet nurses and seasoned pet owners the same question: what do you wish someone had told you before you brought your pet home? Nobody mentioned buying the right food bowl. Here’s what they actually said.

The first few days are weird — for both of you

Your new dog might hide under the bed for 36 hours. Your cat might refuse food and stare at the wall. Your rabbit might thump aggressively at 2am for no apparent reason.

None of this means something is wrong.

Vet behaviourists refer to something called the 3-3-3 rule: the first 3 days are decompression (expect shutdown behaviour or nervous energy), the first 3 weeks are when routines start clicking and their real personality peeks through, and by 3 months they’re genuinely settled. That timeline stretches longer for rescue animals or pets with a rough history.

The instinct is to smother them with affection and introduce them to everyone you know. Resist it. What they need right now is a quiet corner, a predictable routine, and time. Boring is good. Boring builds trust.

You don’t need to buy everything first

Every “new pet checklist” online has 30+ items on it. You need about five: food, water bowl, a bed or crate, something to chew on, and a safe space they can retreat to. That’s it for week one.

The $80 orthopaedic bed? They’ll sleep on the floor tiles. The interactive puzzle feeder? They’ll look at you like you’ve lost it. Save your money until you know what your actual pet — not the internet’s theoretical pet — likes.

Australian dog owners spend around $2,520 per year on their pets on average. That’s real money, and it adds up fast when you’re panic-buying at the pet shop. Give yourself permission to spread it out.

Learn to read them before you try to train them

One thing that comes up constantly from vet nurses: new owners misread their pets. A dog licking its lips isn’t hungry — it’s stressed. A cat slowly blinking at you is showing affection, not sleepiness. A rabbit thumping is alarmed, not playing.

Body language is one of the most common blind spots for new pet owners, and it causes real problems down the line. You correct a behaviour that was actually a stress response. You push a boundary your pet was clearly (to them) asking you not to cross.

You don’t need a degree in animal behaviour. But spending 20 minutes watching YouTube videos on your specific species’ body language will save you months of confusion. Whale eye, tucked tails, airplane ears — these are words, and your pet is using them constantly.

Budget for the vet you haven’t met yet

Here’s the number nobody wants to hear: that first year with a new pet is expensive. Vaccinations, desexing, microchipping, parasite prevention, a general health check — it stacks up.

Book your first vet visit within 48 hours of bringing your pet home. Not next week. Not “when something seems off.” Within two days. Your vet will set up a vaccination schedule, check for anything the shelter or breeder may have missed, and give you a realistic picture of the costs ahead.

And if you’re in Australia, parasite prevention is a year-round commitment. Our climate keeps fleas and ticks active through every season, not just summer. Skipping a month because it’s winter is how you end up with a flea infestation in July.

Socialisation has a closing window

If you’ve got a puppy, this one is urgent. The critical socialisation window runs from roughly 3 to 14 weeks of age. During this period, puppies are primed to accept new experiences — different surfaces, sounds, people, other animals, car rides, the vacuum cleaner.

After that window starts closing, everything new becomes harder to process. Not impossible, but significantly harder.

This doesn’t mean dragging your puppy to a chaotic dog park at 9 weeks old. It means controlled, positive exposures. Let them walk on grass, tiles, gravel. Let them hear traffic. Let them meet one calm dog, not twelve excited ones. Quality matters far more than quantity.

Kittens have a similar (slightly earlier) sensitive period, and even rabbits and guinea pigs benefit from gentle handling and varied environments in their first weeks.

You will doubt yourself

Nobody talks about this part. You’ll lie awake wondering if they’re breathing. You’ll feel guilty going to work. You’ll watch them refuse the expensive food you bought and eat something unidentifiable off the footpath, and you’ll wonder if you’re doing any of this right.

You are. The fact that you’re worrying about it is a pretty reliable sign you’re doing fine.

Every experienced pet owner went through this. The doubt fades — not because you suddenly have all the answers, but because you and your pet figure each other out. You learn their quirks. They learn yours. One morning you’ll wake up with a dog asleep on your feet or a cat headbutting you at 5am, and it’ll click.

The short version

Get a vet. Learn their body language. Buy less stuff. Give them time. And go easy on yourself — you’re both adjusting.

If you’re settling in with a new pet and could use some backup, a Lapdog vet nurse can help with those early days — from house visits to overnight stays while you find your rhythm. Find out more.