Dog Adoption Tips: Bringing Home a Rescue Dog
You can adopt a shelter dog from another country or rescue stray.
You may have to work with a streetwise stray whether he was born in bushes near the laundromat, or abandoned by his once-upona-time owner. The beloved “he came home with me, mom” dog is a special animal and requires space, patience, understanding, and time.
For a pet, the first few days are very important. Your dog will be confused about his surroundings and what to expect of you. To make your transition smoothest, it is important to create a structure with your family.
Dogs need more than a home and food to thrive. They need to be loved and looked after. It may be difficult for puppies to settle in at home their first night, but it is worth it. You and your dog will have a lifetime of happiness if you establish good habits the first few weeks. Your responsibility is to ensure your puppy grows up happy and healthy. We have some tips for dog owners to get started.
Before you Bring Your Dog Home
You should determine where your dog spends most of their time. You may find that he forgets any housebreaking techniques he has been taught. It is best to have a kitchen for ease of cleaning.
You will need a crate ready for your new dog when you bring it home if you intend to crate train your dog. You can learn more about how to crate train your dog.
Dogproof the area where your dog will spend the majority of his time for the first few weeks. This could include attaching electrical cords to baseboards and storing household chemicals high up on shelves.
The first time you meet your dog, training him will begin. It is important to establish a vocabulary that all members of the family can use when giving directions to your dog. This will avoid confusion and allow your dog to quickly learn his commands. You are unsure what commands you should use? You can find out how to communicate with your dog.
You can bring your dog home with an ID tag that has your phone number. This will give your dog extra security for the journey home and the first few days. If your dog has been microchipped please register your contact details with the chip’s company.
First Day:
We understand that moving can be stressful. Our new dog may feel the same. Allow him to settle in to his new surroundings before you introduce him to other people. It is important that children are able to properly approach the dog. Learn more about introducing children and dogs.
Make sure you ask your dog about his food habits when you bring him home. You should do this for the first few days in order to avoid gastric distress. You can switch to a different brand by gradually adding one part of new food to three portions of the old over several days. Next, switch to half old food and half new food. You can find more information on dog nutrition in our section Dog Nutrition.
Your dog should be kept safe on the journey home. Car trips can be stressful for some dogs, so make sure your dog is in a secure place.
You should immediately take your dog to his bathroom and spend some time with him. This will help him get comfortable in the area and allow him to relieve himself. You should be ready for accidents even if your dog does go to the toilet. You never know what can happen when your dog moves into a new house with new people and new sounds. More housetraining tips? See our Dog Housetraining section.
You can then start to schedule your dog’s feeding, toileting, play/exercise, and rest. Your dog will need to be able to spend time with you and a brief period of solitude. Do not give up on your dog if he is unhappy being left alone. Instead, reward him for his good behavior by giving him attention like chewing on toys or sitting quietly. (Source: Preparing your Home for a New Dog).
The first few days are a time to be calm and collected around your dog. This will allow your dog to settle down quicker and it will also give you the opportunity to get to understand him better.
Leashes, hands, magazines and newspapers rolled up, sticks, feet, chairs and other pieces of training equipment may have been used on a dog who came from a different home. It is possible for words such as “come here”, “lie down”, and other phrases to cause a reaction that is not what you expected. Maybe he lived in a shelter and wasn’t exposed to children or other sidewalk activities. Your patience will be required as this dog could be the result of a series of miscommunications and unrealistic expectations.
Keep him from high places, such as balconies and decks. Make sure to keep all chemicals, such as bleach, cleaning products, bleach, and any other medications, out of reach of your dog, preferably on high shelves.
Take out poisonous plants like holly, mistletoe or holly and hang them up high so that your puppy can’t reach them.
Keep your pet safe by closing the lids of the toilet, unplugging electrical cords, and removing them from the ground.
These Weeks:
People often claim that they don’t get to know their dog’s personality until several weeks after adopting them. You may find your dog a little anxious at first, but he will soon become more comfortable with you. Keep your dog happy and calm while still adhering to the routine for walks, feedings, and so on. This schedule will tell your dog what to expect and what you can expect from him.
Talking to your veterinarian about your dog’s vaccinations is important. You might consider taking your dog to group training classes, or to the dog park. You should pay close attention to the body language of your dog to ensure he is having a great time and not afraid or being bullied at the dog park. Check out this video about safety at the dog park if you are unsure what signs to look for.
Stick to your original schedule, making sure your dog has all the food, water, and attention he requires. You will have a long, happy relationship. It won’t take long for you to bond! You’ll be bonded in no time!
Ask your veterinarian if you are having trouble with behavior issues. You and your dog will benefit from positive reinforcement training. Dog Training has more information about reward-based training.
For regular checks, take your puppy to the vet. Talk to your veterinarian about signs and symptoms that should be monitored during the first few months of your puppy’s life.
You must ensure that your puppy receives proper nutrition. For your puppy to grow well, he must also receive a healthy diet. His first year is critical for his proper growth in terms of bones, teeth, and muscles. He will need more calories as a growing dog than an adult dog. You should read the labels to find the best food for puppies. The food package will detail the recommended feeding time and the serving size. You should not feed your dog any bones, table scraps or large snacks in between meals.
Responsibilities for Parents of the Newly Adopted Dog
- Never, ever leave your child with your dog. Never even turn your head to answer the telephone. The TV version of children and their dogs is fantasy and doesn’t reflect real life.
- Family members should not encourage the dog to wrestle, rough play or chew on clothes or human parts. This is especially important if the adult in the household plays with their dog in this way. The dog could be stimulated to play in a similar rough way if the child does the same, which can lead to injury.
- Dogs should be fed in an area that is completely away from children. This is not only to give them privacy but also to avoid guarding. You should feed your dog small amounts so the dog doesn’t have to watch over the bowl. The dog should not be permitted to guard the bowl.
- Most children will not be bitten by their dog but by a neighbor’s dog or friend. It means that you should be vigilant when your child has friends or family over to your dog. Most dogs can handle a lot from their child’s family member, but they won’t tolerate a visitor. Visitors children are often less polite than their own children and may even behave differently. As a responsible parent, you should meet your child’s friend’s dog before allowing them to visit their home. It is a good idea that you check out the general size and nature of the friend’s dog before your child visits.
