Rescue Rovers Dog Adoptions

Bringing Your New Dog Home!

We’re Home!!!

This is the point in the process when many people make the biggest mistake, frequently out of excitement over having a new family member. They drive home, bring the dog out of the car and to the front door, throw the door open, take off the leash, and let the dog loose to explore her new home . . . and the poor dog has no idea what’s going on or where she is. It may look like she’s excitedly investigating as she runs from room to room, sniffing everywhere, but she isn’t. You’ve just thrown her into a completely alien environment with no direction, and these early associations are going to stick. The place is unfamiliar, it smells different, and there doesn’t seem to be any way out.

These tips will help make the transition as easy as possible for you and your new pup! We also recommend the video 3 Dog Days which is available free on Amazon Prime and offers more great tips about bringing a dog home.
 

1. Keep it Mellow! Moving is stressful, and this is not your pups first move! He recently moved from a shelter to his foster home, and now he has another adjustment to make. New places and new people are exciting, but overwhelming. Give him time to acclimate to your home and family before introducing him to strangers. Make sure children know how to approach the dog without overwhelming him, or (even better) advise kids to let the dog approach them for the first few days. Keep the mood mellow and calm, limiting too much excitement for the first week to give your new dog time to settle in. This gives your new dog a chance to bond to you and lets you get to know him and his personality.

2. Set a Routine. When your dog knows what to expect from her people and environment, she’ll be much more likely to relax and show you her true personality! Your dog may be a bit uneasy at first as she gets to know you. Be patient and understanding while also keeping to the schedule you intend to maintain for feeding, walks, etc. This schedule will show your dog what is expected of her as well as what she can expect from you. A routine helps with house training and is reassuring to your dog. From day one, your dog will need brief periods of crating or tethering to allow her to relax and recharge. Think of this like nap time for toddlers and remember that stimulation without rest leads to naughty behaviors.

3. Get a Jump Start on Training! The earlier you start, the faster and easier it will be to teach good manners and the better the lessons will stick. The two most important things to teach your dog are house training and appropriate behaviors around people and dogs.

House Training - As soon as you get home take him to his potty area immediately and spend a good amount of time with him so he will get used to the area and relieve himself. If he potties, be sure to praise and/or treat him. If he doesn’t, try again soon. Remember, potty training is best done with positive reinforcement so be ready with treats every time your pup goes outside, and treat him immediately when he potties in the right spot. When he does have an accident inside avoid spanking or rubbing his nose in the mess, these things don’t help him learn and instead teach him to fear you.
 

Appropriate Behaviors - Keeping a leash on your dog is the easiest way to make sure his interactions with other people and dogs don’t get out of hand, because you can correct or pull them away easily. Build a bond with your dog before exposing them to too much. Reward verbally, with affection or with treats when your dog does a good job.

This page has all the contact information for the trainers we work with and recommend. Training has been shown to be the most important factor when it comes to keeping dogs in their homes!

Remember, dogs take time to adjust in a new home! We recommend reading this page about just how long it takes dogs to settle into a new environment
https://craftycanineclub.com/adopting-a-rescue-dog-how-to-help-them-adjust-to-the-first-3-days-in-a-new-home/